Some College Graduates are Deciding to Spend an Eternity on Campus

Some College Graduates are Deciding to Spend an Eternity on Campus


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Paul Nelson, KSL NewsradioCollege graduates may think some of their classes seemed like they lasted an eternity. Now, some graduates are deciding to spend eternity on campus.

Some colleges across the country are joining fight songs with funeral marches.

Midwest Casket Company co-owner Mick Skola says, "There were some BYU players that were killed four or five years ago. We actually got permission from BYU to match the color, [and] we made the helmet."

Skola says he gets plenty of requests for caskets to be decorated in University of Utah or BYU colors, and they even slap on the school logo. He says the schools never seem to mind. "They've never had a problem at all. We get the permission, they sign the release or the form and they say, ‘Go right ahead.'"

Skola says it costs a bit more to add the logo, but not much. Some colleges like The Citadel and Duke are taking school spirit to the next level and letting alumni be buried on school grounds. Skola says this is news to him. He says, "I've never heard of it."

USA Today reports you can buy a crypt at Notre Dame for a cool $11,000. I graduated from the University of Utah. I wanted to see if I could stay close to my alma mater and get buried there. I spoke with University of Utah Alumni Association Executive Director John Ashton. He said with a touch of sarcasm, "I could bump that up to President [Michael] Young and he would probably have to make the final decision, but, in your case, we can probably do something for you."

Ashton says my chances are slim. I told him, "I'd like a lot in President's Circle. How can we make this happen?" He responded by asking me what my net worth was. I asked if it really mattered. He said, "It might. Basically, I don't think it's going to happen."

Well, how about BYU? Will they bury students on campus? School officials are saying "no." Funeral directors say people can only be legally buried in designated cemeteries, and unless you have one in your backyard, you can't even bury a pet there.

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