A beloved Michigan Week tradition has literally gone down the drain.
The annual Mirror Lake Jump, an annual exercise in school spirit and questionable decision-making won’t happen this year. That’s because there’s no water to jump into.
The school drained the lake last week in an effort to end the decades-old tradition of students jumping in during the week of the Michigan game.
As of last Wednesday, there was just a small amount of water left in the center of the lake, with an overflow drain sitting several feet higher than the water level.
Signs reading “Do Not Enter Lake Basin” and warning of potential criminal trespass charges are positioned around the entire lake.
Starting in 1990, the Mirror Lake Jump drew thousands of students and spectators most years, with people jumping, swimming, and even boating in the lake, regardless of the weather. You can watch video of the 2012 and 2014 Mirror Lake jumps at the bottom of this article.
However, the event turned tragic in 2015 when a student dove into the shallow water head-first, broke his neck, and died.
The University paid out a $450,000 settlement to his family.
Mirror Lake was closed in both 2016 and 2017 as it underwent a massive, multi-year renovation.
That project included new sloping edges and shallower water, along with native plants surrounding the lake.
The lake officially re-opened this summer.
The full release from Ohio State is below.
The safety of our campus community is always our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution and with the university’s focus on safety at top of mind, Mirror Lake has been temporarily drained. The lake will be refilled at a later date.
Mirror Lake is not intended or approved for recreational use of any kind or at any time. In 2015, Undergraduate Student Government approved a resolution calling for the end of the “Mirror Lake Jump.” The recent lake restoration, as well as this week’s draining, supports the university’s compelling commitment to end the Mirror Lake jump.
Entering the lake, or empty lake basin, is both destructive and hazardous and is considered criminal trespassing. The Ohio State University Police Division is continuing to monitor the area, and public safety officials have discretion to determine appropriate enforcement action.
Public Safety thanks the university community for its patience and understanding.
2012 Mirror Lake Jump
2014 Mirror Lake Jump
