Share the Love Month

The Summer of 1967 was known as the Summer of Love. But at CSU, February 2018 was Share the Love month with special events to bring Vikings together. We’ll be sharing the love again next February!

Dances of Love
Music was in the air as alums put on their dancing shoes for a fun-filled evening at Viva Dance Studio in Cleveland. The event included a mini lesson on the history of Latin dance in Cleveland and a dance demonstration and lesson from Viva’s talented pros. Guests enjoyed wine and cheese as they danced the night away and honed their skills in Salsa, Argentine Tango, Ballroom, Swing, Waltz, Cha Cha, Kizomba and Zouk.

Very Viking Valentine Reception and Overnight
Guests enjoyed an evening reception at the Kimpton Schofield, voted Best Hotel in Cleveland and Top Hotel in the Midwest. The reception included cheese and wine pairings with a sommelier as guide.

Guests had the option of extending their visit with an overnight stay at the hotel, dinner for two at Parker’s and a Love in Cleveland concert by the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra at Playhouse Square. Concert selections included love songs from Rodgers and Hart to the Beatles.

Alumni Night at the Q
Alumni showed their love for the Cleveland Cavaliers by gathering at Quicken Loans Arena to watch the Cavs take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. The excitement lasted until the final buzzer, with fans cheering a 140-138 Cavs victory.

About Manhood
As part of CSU’s new About Manhood series, Scott Phillips Jr. discussed A Series of Crashes – his story of how by failing forward and resolving his blind spots, he became a millionaire by age 31. Phillips is the chief executive officer of real estate firm Keller Williams Greater Cleveland.

Vowed Vikings Share Love Stories

As part of Share the Love Month, the CSU Alumni Association asked Vikings to share their love stories. Vowed Vikings — alumni couples who found true love at CSU — responded with remembrances of their campus courtships.

In a random drawing, Ryan and Stacey Aroney received a basket of chocolates for their account of finding each other
on campus.

Here’s a recap of some stories of how CSU changes lives.

I met my husband, Chris, in 2009 at the Wolstein Center. He was a basketball player and I was a cheerleader. A few weeks later, he asked me to attend his away game at Butler. He ended up driving back to Cleveland with me. We talked the entire drive and began hanging out, with a lot of late nights at Viking Hall with Rascal House pizza. Those sparks that began at CSU have stayed with us. Nine years later we are married and recently had our first child.

Jessica Moore, BEd ’12 and
Chris Moore, BA ’09

We first met at the TKE house, then had a date at the Sig Ep house. Rick later came to my place of work, Taco Bell, and asked me out over the lunch rush. Nine months after our “second” first date, we got married. We’re still together after 31-plus years.

Becky Wing, BA ’82 and
Richard Cubberley, BBA ’84

We were in the same section at law school and realized we could speak the same language — Korean. We spent a lot of time together studying and learning how to think like lawyers and within a month, decided to get married. We had a civil ceremony in October 2006 and had to rush to our contract class together.

Suwan Park, JD/MPA ’10 and
Woo Song Jun, JD ’10

It was the second week of my first year of law school. We met in the Academic Success program taught by second- and third-year law students. On the last day of the semester, I asked him for his phone number, we went our separate ways but then he texted me. We set up a date at Zocalo on East Fourth St. a few weeks later. He proposed at the end of his third year of law school. We married after I took the bar exam. Who ever thought love would blossom in law school?

Nina Nager, MPA ’14 and JD ’17 and Scott Ruebensaal, BA ’13 and JD ’16 

After a day of construction with some fraternity brothers, three of us went to the “library” (a bar just off campus) for a few beers. My friend’s girlfriend and my future wife were coming from a concert. We met at the library and they introduced Karen to us. The race was on as to who would be the first to call her. I won and have been married for 48 years.

Dennis Wessel, BSME ’72 and
Karen Wessel, BA ’70

In July 1974 I was a new transfer student to CSU. My brothers and I went to Fat Glenn’s and I met a young lady who was entering CSU as a freshman. I had just met my future wife. On the ride home the sky was fully lit by the Aurora Borealis, which I have not seen with such magnitude since that night.

Michael Doyle, BA ’77 and
Mary Elizabeth Doyle

While working at the Rec Center, I noticed a new employee named Stacey who always seemed to greet me with a smile and polite conversation. I finally realized I should ask her out. I invited her to join me at the next night’s basketball game and maybe a burger and some curly fries at Becky’s afterward. Luckily for me, she said yes. While watching the game, I quickly realized this girl knew her hoops. She was calling out plays, cheering loudly and even heckling the refs. I instantly became smitten. Although the Vikings lost that game to Butler on a half-court buzzer beater, we had a great time and ended the night with our first of many trips to Becky’s. Almost 10 years later, we’re happily married. We spent this Valentine’s Day celebrating in the most romantic of ways – over a burger and curly fries at Becky’s.

Ryan Aroney, BA ’07 and Stacey Aroney

My wife Leanne and I actually met in preschool and were childhood sweethearts. In second grade I told her when I grew up I was going to marry her. She promptly kicked me in the shins. In fifth grade her family moved to Strongsville and we both grew up wondering what happened to the other.

In 1983 at the CSU bus stop next to Main Classroom, a young lady asked “Are you Chip Hautala?” It was her, my childhood girlfriend. We found out we were in several classes together at CSU and even rode the same bus home, the 51X. We started dating, were engaged within a month and recently celebrated 34 years of marriage.

Chip Hautala, BA ’86 and
Leanne Hautala, BA ’86