Reunion 2007

Large numbers return for Reunion 2007

View a slideshow of Reunion 2007

The skies parted and storms, for the most part, held off as over 1,200 Connecticut College alumni, friends, and families gathered on campus June 1-3 for Reunion 2007.

Alumni attended a number of social activities during the weekend, including a lobster feast (a popular event despite drizzly skies and a bit of lightning), a performance by The Capitol Steps, a wine tasting, and several receptions hosted by President Lee Higdon.

In addition to visiting with friends and staff, alumni had numerous opportunities to reconnect with their alma mater during the weekend. Many alumni attended mini-courses offered by Connecticut College professors like "Israel – a Case Study of a Country Confronting Terrorism," led by Professor of Government William Rose.

Rose said suicide bombings, the focus of his research, could be controlled. But he added that no method had been shown to stop terrorism in Israel entirely. "The thing is, we can't protect everything all the time," he said.

A number of tours were also offered throughout the weekend, including walks through the rowing center and the Arboretum.

As alumni made their way through the "dawn redwood" and "crimson queen Japanese maple" during a tour of the Caroline Black Garden, Glenn Dreyer '83, the Charles and Sarah P. Becker '27 Director of the Arboretum, provided some background on the garden's history.

Caroline Black, the College's first chairperson of biology, established it as the College's first teaching garden in 1928. "After she died in 1930, the garden was named after her," Dreyer said. "She’s become an important part of our history."

Donald Crouch '77 attended a tour of the newly renovated classrooms in the Blaustein Humanities Center. "I’ve been really pleased with all the programs and tours," he said, "It's been great to see everybody, too."

Crouch was able to catch up with fellow alumni Brian Glassman '77 and Michael Tulin '77 for the first time in 30 years.

"It's nice that it's still possible to reconnect even when you haven't seen someone in so long," Glassman said.

Tulin said that the campus looked dramatically different since he, Glassman, and Crouch were all undergraduate students. The three of them shared a laugh over some of the more significant building changes.

"There actually used to be a bar where the post office is," Tulin said, "and you go in Cro now and think, 'Where's the pool?'"

75th Reunion

Myra Ross '32 celebrated her 75th Reunion this year but wouldn't have been there without some prodding from her daughter, Susan Jolson. Ross, who received a standing ovation at the Sykes Society Luncheon, said she was glad she decided to attend.

"It's been great walking around the campus with my daughter," Ross said. Her walk included marching in the Alumni Parade on Saturday.

Ross, who attended the College as a commuter, used to catch a bus from Groton to downtown New London then rode a trolley to the campus. She noted that there have been many changes in both the campus and student life since she graduated.

"I remember when we had to dress up if we were going downtown," Ross recalled, "You couldn't go otherwise. I imagine that's not the case today."

Her celebrity status over the weekend gave Ross the opportunity to meet alumni of all ages.

50th Reunion

In addition to Ross's reunion, this year also marked the 50th reunion for the class of 1957, and 66 members gathered to celebrate their golden anniversary.

Barbara Alpert '57 said arriving to the campus and seeing the residence halls, which she said have "changed dramatically," sparked memories of old friends and a very different era, when many women expected to be married or engaged by the time they graduated.

Alpert eagerly caught up with Nancy LeFevre '57 at the Sykes Luncheon on Friday. LeFevre said that she saw more members of her class this year than at any other point since graduation.

"It's the people that mean the most, and I'm seeing everybody," she said.

Celebration VII

This weekend also marked a Reunion year for alumni of color with Celebration VII. Events included a special panel discussion entitled "Looking Back, Stepping Forward." The program provided an opportunity for past Unity House directors like Ernestine Brown and Grissel Benitez-Hodge '86 to discuss the evolution of Unity House and multiculturalism on campus.

"It's a time to remember and a time to be reminded that we still have a long way to go," said the panel's moderator, Frank Tuitt '87.

Several of the panelists, some of whom had not returned to campus for many years, were nearly moved to tears as they discussed the impact Unity House had had on their lives.

"I can't talk about Unity without getting emotional," former director Janet Foster '80 said.

 

 

Last Modified: Friday, September 28, 2007 12:18