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Full Schedule
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Thursday, May 19
| 9 A.M.–5 P.M. |
Usdan Cafe Hours Food and beverages available for purchase on site. Usdan University Center |
| 10 A.M.–10 P.M. |
Registration Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for a final weekend schedule (with updates and event locations), meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more. Usdan University Center |
| 5 P.M.–1 A.M. |
Senior Class Semiformal Attendance is limited to graduating seniors only. |
| 6 P.M. |
50th Reunion Welcome Gathering for the Class of 1961 Cocktails and buffet will be available. This meal is included in the flat fee for all 50th reunion attendees, but please register so we know to expect you. Patricelli ’92 Theater |
| 9 P.M.–1 A.M. |
5th Reunion "Wednesday Night on Thursday Night" Relive our undergraduate Wednesday nights at The Gatekeeper. With live music by The Band Cover Band (Band), paying tribute to “The Band.” Shuttles will be available to and from campus. Cash bar. Band members include: John Wesley ’06 on vocals/trumpet/jaw-harp, Willie Gould ’06 on guitar/vocals, Jesse Galdston ’06 on lead vocals, Ari Brand ’06 on keys/accordion/vocals, Jake Lewis ’07 on drums/vocals, Chris Carmody ’06 on lead guitar/vocals, and Greg Donahue ’07 on bass/vocals. The Gatekeeper, 73 Ferry Street, Middletown |
Friday, May 20
| 8:30 A.M.–2 P.M. |
Espwesso Cafe Hours Wesleyan's student-run cafe, offering premium coffee and espresso drinks. Cash only. Basement, Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life |
| 9 A.M.–5 P.M. |
Usdan Cafe Hours Food and beverages available for purchase on site. Usdan University Center |
| 9–10:15 A.M. |
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission Main entrance, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission |
| 9 –10:30 A.M. |
Psi Upsilon Breakfast Psi Upsilon |
| 9 A.M.–MIDNIGHT |
On Campus Registration Everyone– alumni, parents, students, and families– please check in for a final weekend schedule (with updates and event locations), meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more. Usdan University Center |
| 10 A.M. |
50th Reunion Class of 1961 Discussion Millett Room, Russell House |
| 10 A.M.–2 P.M. |
Within These Walls: One House, One Family, Two Centuries An opening reception for a new exhibit on the General Mansfield House, the families who lived there, and the Middletown they lived in. Curator: Charlotte Cottier '12Middlesex County Historical Society, 151 Main Street, Middletown |
| 10 A.M.–4 P.M. |
Senior Class Diploma Pickup Members of the Class of 2011 may pick up their diplomas in the Registrar’s Office, North College. Graduates should be prepared to show a photo ID. Note: Any 2011 graduate who will not have use for the diploma cover that is handed out during Commencement may recycle the cover by dropping it off in the lobby of North College in the box marked “Diploma Cover Recycling” after the ceremony. Registrar’s Office, North College |
| 10:30–11:30 A.M. |
Psi Upsilon Chapter Meeting Psi Upsilon |
| 10 A.M.–4 P.M. |
Senior Projects in Film Studies View a series of 16mm films and digital videos made by members of the graduating Class of 2011. Powell Family Cinema, Center for Film Studies |
| 11:30 A.M. |
WESEMINAR How to Learn to Like the Art You Love to Hate Are you skeptical about the art of the last 100 years? Do you think your child could do it? Simply haven't taken or had the time to investigate it on your own? Or do you like Modern Art and would like an opportunity to enjoy it more? Art changes constantly. Some of the most interesting ideas at any given time are from artists. Open yourself to the possibility of, if not loving it, liking it. With intriguing visuals, historical context, deep reading of some choice examples, and a touch of humor, John Hallmark Neff will challenge you to suspend your disbelief long enough to see the substance in and behind the art of our time. Presenter: John Hallmark Neff '66, a Matisse and Anselm Kiefer scholar, taught 19th and 20th c. history of art at Williams College while completing his Ph. D. from Harvard. A David E. Finley Fellow of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C., he directed five museums, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and built major collections for The First National Bank of Chicago, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the American Medical Association Andersen Meeting Room (Room 110), Usdan University Center |
| 11:30 A.M. –1:30 P.M. |
Welcome Picnic Lunch - SOLD OUT This event has reached capacity and unfortunately we can't accept on-site registration for the picnic. Other lunch options include the Wesleyan Farmers' Market (Huss Courtyard, Usdan University Center) or any local restaurant. Join friends, classmates, and family members for lunch when you arrive on campus for the weekend. This lunch requires advance purchase/registration. Meals are included for members of reunion classes with a flat rate fee (5th, 10th, and 50th reunion classes). Lunch is complimentary for WESeniors (Classes of 1929 through 1960) and their guests. All other reunion classes and parents and families of graduating seniors will be charged the following for lunch: $20 per person for all other adults and children over age 12 (including graduates) $5 per person for children 12 and under If you plan to attend the picnic, please register. Tent, Russell House |
| NOON–1:15 P.M. |
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission Main entrance, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission |
| NOON–2 P.M. |
Wesleyan Farmers’ Market The Wesleyan Farmers' Market is a student-run initiative committed to supporting local agriculture, providing fresh, affordable, nutritious food, and building community in Connecticut. It is held every other Wednesday during the academic year, and we are pleased to offer this special Friday market for alumni, families, and guests. A variety of produce, baked goods, cheese, meat, and freshly-prepared foods will be available for purchase on site. Vendors may include: Sweet Memories Bakery, Sugar Maple Farms, Auntie Arwin Spices, Three Sisters Farm, Shoreline Roasters, Urban Oaks Organic Farm, Meriano's Bake Shoppe, River Chocolates, George Hall Farm, and Chaplin Farm. Beckham Hall, Fayerweather |
| 12:30–1:30 P.M. |
Psi Upsilon Luncheon Psi Upsilon |
| 1 P.M. |
WESEMINAR Shining Hope: Building A School For Girls In Kenya's Kibera Slum Kennedy Odede '12 was born and raised in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya-the largest slum in Africa and second largest in the world. The first time Odede ever had extra money, 20 cents in 2005, he bought a soccer ball and started SHOFCO-Kenya, the first organization in Kibera founded and run by slum residents. After his arrival at Wesleyan, Odede and Jessica Posner '09 transformed the organization into an internationally recognized non-profit: Shining Hope for Communities. In 2009, they founded The Kibera School for Girls: the first school exclusively for girls and the only completely free school in the Kibera slum. Shining Hope has also started The Shining Hope Community Center adjacent to The Kibera School for Girls. The community center makes essential social services such as green-toilets, a library, gardening tools, and job training available to the entire community through The Kibera School for Girls. By investing in health and economic success through a school for girls, Shining Hope demonstrates that benefiting women benefits the whole community, cultivating a community ethos that makes women respected members of society. Shining Hope has recently expanded programs to include Margaret's Safe Place, a boarding facility for students who have been raped or are especially vulnerable to abuse, and the Johanna Justin-Jinich '10 Memorial Clinic, the first community-run health clinic in Kibera that is accessible to all residents. Wesleyan alumni volunteers will present on their year abroad working for the Shining Hope projects, and current Wesleyan students will present how the SHOFCO-Wesleyan chapter supports the work of Shining Hope in Kibera through fundraising, promoting awareness, and volunteerism. NOTE: At the conclusion of the WESeminar, all are encouraged to exit through the Zelnick Pavilion to view 'Peace Wanted Alive,' an exhibit featuring the work of professional photographer Bella Zanesco, as well as photos taken by students of the Kibera School for Girls. Scenes of life in Kibera, as well as photographs featuring Kibera School for Girls students and community members will be featured. The gallery will be open for viewing through May 23rd. Presenters: Leah Lucid '10, development director; Arielle Tolman '10, programs director; Ilana Nelson-Greenberg, health services director; Inslee Coddington '10 Memorial Chapel |
| 1 P.M. |
WESEMINAR What, There Are Showers in Space? Yes, Space Weather Affects You, Me, and Things We Depend On Our Sun is a variable star. Although its brightness in visible wavelengths changes little over time, dramatic changes in other outputs can have severe consequences for us. Sometimes showers of energetic protons from the Sun make it unsafe for astronauts to be outside the shuttle or space station; radiation will be a major problem for astronauts going to Mars. Often, there are million-mile-per-hour ejections of ionized gas and magnetic field; when one of these collides with Earth's magnetic field, sometimes airlines cannot fly the short routes to Asia over the North Pole, folks using GPS for precise positioning have to shut down, communication satellites are at risk, and operators of the nation's electric grid go on high alert to prevent outages. Predicting and accommodating space weather storms are important. How solar storms occur and how they affect the near-Earth space environment and, as a result, our technological systems, will be the focus of this talk, with examples drawn from several industries. Presenter: Dr. Ernie Hildner '61 is the former director of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center. Under his direction, SEC conducted research and consulted on space weather instrument development for NOAA, NASA, and the US Air Force. Hildner led the Center's transition from a laboratory in NOAA Research into an operational National Center for Environmental Prediction in NOAA's National Weather Service Taylor Meeting Room (108), Usdan University Center |
| 1 P.M. |
Jumuah Services for the Muslim Community All are welcome. Contact: Marwa Aly, Muslim Chaplain Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center |
| 1:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR Objects Tell Stories: Community Partnership and Scholarship at Wesleyan During the spring semester, students in Professor Magda Teter's class on east European Jewish history have been exploring studying history through objects. This was possible thanks to a new partnership developed between Wesleyan and the local congregation Adath Israel. The congregation houses a small, but impressive, collection of Judaica. Students in this class examined, researched, and curated an exhibition using objects related to east European Jewish history. The seminar will showcase the students' work by taking participants on the tour of the exhibition and will aim to highlight the exciting experience such collaboration with a local community can bring. NOTE: Seating is limited. Please meet at Broad Street Books and we will walk to the WESeminar together. Presenter: Magda Teter, Jeremy Zwelling Associate Professor of Jewish Studies Adath Israel's Nester Center, 8 Broad Street |
| 2 P.M. | Reception for Sigma Nu Members All Sigma Nu alumni and their guests are invited to a wine and cheese reception in the former Sigma Nu house (now the University Relations Office). Hosted by: Gary Miller '56 1st floor, Office of University Relations, 318 High Street |
| 2 P.M. |
WESEMINAR The Senior Thesis-A Showcase for Academic Excellence The senior thesis is a year-long, in-depth project that provides students with a unique opportunity to explore fresh ideas and produce new knowledge. In this session several senior theses will be highlighted, representing a cross section of student research and creative output from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. Students will share their work and discuss the process that guided their investigations. Moderator: Noel R. Garrett, PhD, dean for the class of 2011 Presenters: Michael LeVine '11, chemistry; Rhee-Soo Lee '11, religion; Ellen Bartolini '11, psychology; Davis Knittle '11, English and African-American Studies Millett Room, Russell House |
| 2 P.M. |
WESEMINAR Wesleyan's 2012 Reaccreditation In early fall 2012, Wesleyan will undergo a site visit by a team of faculty and administrators from peer institutions, who will then make a recommendation on our reaccreditation to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In advance of this visit, Wesleyan faculty and administrators will write a 100-page self study; during their visit, the team will evaluate what they see and hear in person in relation to what was said in the self study. To write this self study, faculty and staff are working together, in 11 sub-committees, to identify the core issues and tell Wesleyan's story. We are looking for input from all members of the campus community–including alumni, parents, and community members, as well as students, faculty, and staff–on how to tell Wesleyan's story and how to present our core values. In this seminar, we will give a brief overview of our steps toward reaccreditation, and invite you to add your voice to this process. What issues do you think Wesleyan should highlight? What makes Wesleyan distinctive? What do we do well? What areas have room for improvement? Presenters: Karen Anderson, associate provost; Ann Wightman, chair of the faculty, professor of history, chair and professor, Latin American studies Room 113, Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life |
| 2–3 P.M. |
Office of Admission Information Session McKelvey Room, Office of Admission |
| 2–5 P.M. |
WESU 88.1 FM Open House Parents, family, alumni, and students are all invited to attend an Open House at Wesleyan University's radio station, WESU. Stop in to check out the studios, browse the expansive and eclectic music libraries, and meet current Board members and DJs. WESU, 2nd Floor (above Broad Street Books), 45 Broad Street |
| 3 P.M. |
WESEMINAR Heading for the High Country: Change and Science Fiction Join members of Wesleyan's former science-fiction club in a conversation about the societal impact of evolving technology and the role played by science fiction. Science fiction has inspired the development of everything from fluorescent lights and weather satellites to the Internet and String Theory. Science fiction does not necessarily predict, but it inspires, and the results of that inspiration feed back into the genre both to motivate and to caution as our technological society progresses. How will society deal with the science that allows us to triple our life spans, radically improve the IQ of the next generation or provide an almost limitless supply of cheap energy? Utopia or meltdown? Science fiction may not have the answers, but it is asking the right questions. Reception to follow. Presenters: Dave Miller '81 P'09 is a former NASA engineer and a co-founder of KISS Institute for Practical Robotics. He currently holds the Wilkonson Chair in Intelligent Systems in the School of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. In 1978 he was one of the organizers of the WesSF Club which started during the infamous Battlestar meets Camp David television event. Jack McDevitt MALS '72 is a science-fiction writer who was awarded a Nebula in 2007 for Seeker, which featured McDevitt's futuristic antiquarian, Alex Benedict. His work has been on the final Nebula ballot for nine of the past ten years, including this year for his most recent Benedict novel, Echo. Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center |
| 3 P.M. |
WESEMINAR Re-Branding Russia Russia managed to shake off communist ideology, but twenty years after the Soviet collapse many features of Russia's authoritarian past have resurfaced. Is Russia doomed to follow its own 'special path', characterized by a deep gulf between an uncontrolled state apparatus and a fragmented society? Despite Russia's embrace of market capitalism, the civilizational gap between Russia and its European neighbors has not diminished. Part of the reason lies in Russia's oil and gas wealth. The influx of petrodollars has provided the resources for the repressive state to clamp down on political dissent, and it has fueled the emergence of a free-spending oligarchic class who coexist in uneasy partnership with the Kremlin power elite. The political system is dominated by the figure of Vladimir Putin: understanding his role is key to unraveling the Russian enigma. Presenter: Peter Rutland, Colin and Nancy Campbell Professor in Global Issues and Democratic Thought, and a 2010 recipient of the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching Room 121, Exley Science Center |
| 3 P.M. |
WESEMINAR Pinnacles of Poetry: Highlights from Wesleyan's Collections Wesleyan's rich and varied poetry collections reflect the passions, generosity, and intellectual curiosity of alumni donors, faculty, and librarians over the decades. From John Gower's Confessio Amantis (Westminster: Caxton, 1483) to the first edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass (Brooklyn, 1855) to Beat poet Gregory Corso's shaped poem Bomb (San Francisco: City Lights, 1958) to a fine press edition of Wesleyan faculty member Elizabeth Willis's The Oldest Garden in the World (Northampton, MA: Propolis Press, 2006), there's truly something for everyone. Join Suzy Taraba, Head of Special Collections and University Archivist, for a look at some of the pinnacles of Wesleyan's poetry holdings. This WESeminar is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Poetry at Wesleyan on view in Olin Library. Space is limited to 20 people. Presenter: Suzy Taraba '77 MALS'10, head of Special Collections and University Archivist Sponsored by: The Friends of the Wesleyan Library Davison Rare Book Room, Olin Library |
| 3–4 P.M. |
Jam Session Warm-Up The Class of 1976 is hosting an open jam session at 7 p.m. at Russell House. Join hosts Tom Kovar '76 and Nat Needle '76 at 3 p.m. to run through your song or learn a group number. Bring your own instrument or improvise. Alpha Delta Phi |
| 3–4:15 P.M. |
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission Main entrance, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission |
| 3–5 P.M. |
55th Reunion Reception and Panel Discussion: Fayerweather Fantasies: Athletics at Wesleyan 1952-1956 A humorous, nostalgic, and occasionally accurate reconstruction by a panel of four former jocks who have allegedly showered since 06-10-56, led by Jim Gramentine. Audience participation will be encouraged following the presentation. Indeed, a prize will be given for the most amusing anecdote bearing some resemblance to truth. For members of the Class of 1956 and their guests. Cash bar. Shapiro Creative Writing Center, Allbritton 311 |
| 4 P.M. |
Psi Upsilon Open House Psi Upsilon |
| 4–5:30 P.M. |
Champagne Reception for Graduating Seniors and Their Families Hosted by: David '78 and Leslie Dannin Rosenthal, parents of James '08 and Elise '11, and other proud parents of the Class of 2011. Tent, Russell House |
| 4–6 P.M. | 5th Reunion Reception
For members of the Class of 2006 and their guests. Cash bar. Fauver Frosh Lounge |
| 4–6 P.M. | 25th Reunion Reception
For members of the Class of 1986 and their guests. Zelnick Pavilion and Patio |
| 4–6 P.M. | 60th Reunion Reception
For members of the Class of 1951 and their guests. Cash bar. Lounge, Downey House |
| 4:30 P.M. |
Alpha Delta Phi Reception and Banquet For members of Alpha Delta Phi and their families. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Alpha Delta Phi |
| 5–6:30 P.M. |
President’s Reception Honoring Members of the Donor Associates Honoring members of the Trustee Associates, President’s Circle, Founders Club, Willbur Fisk Associates, College Row Society, John Wesley Associates, 1831 Society, Douglas Cannon Club, Foss Hill Club, Day Society, and Olin Associates. By invitation only. President's House Lawn |
| 5–9 P.M. |
Red, Black and Green! All-College Dinner Join friends, classmates, and family members for an informal, eco-friendly buffet dinner in the Marketplace at the Usdan University Center. This dinner requires advance purchase/registration. Meals are included for members of reunion classes with a flat rate fee (5th, 10th, and 50th reunion classes). Dinner is complimentary for WESeniors (Classes of 1929 through 1960) and their guests. All other reunion classes, parents and families of graduating seniors will be charged the following if they register for dinner: $20 per person for adults and children over age 12 (including graduates) $8 per person for children 12 and under If you plan to attend, please register here. Usdan University Center |
| 6 P.M. | Wesleyan Spirits 30th Anniversary Celebration Dinner For Spirits alumni, students, and their guests. Please register here. Tent (with red flag), North College Lawn |
| 6 P.M. |
President’s Reception and Dinner in Honor of the 50th Reunion Class of 1961 and Their Guests By invitation only. Beckham Hall, Fayerweather |
| 6 P.M. |
Shabbat Services Please join Wesleyan’s Jewish chaplain, Rabbi David Leipziger Teva, and the Wesleyan Jewish community for Shabbat services. All are welcome. The Bayit |
| 6 P.M. |
Psi Upsilon Dinner Psi Upsilon |
| 6–7 P.M. |
Second Stage Open House All alumni, parents, and guests are invited to meet members of Wesleyan's student-run theater production team and tour the Patricelli '92 Theater (formerly Rich Hall, Wesleyan's original library). Since 1973, Second Stage has helped to sponsor well over 600 individual performances. Funded by The Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA), with strong ties to the Theater Department, Second Stage provides a variety of services to student directors, choreographers, technicians and performers. Join current and past Second Stage members to share memories and celebrate the rich history of student theater at Wesleyan. Patricelli ’92 Theater |
| 6–8 P.M. |
40th Reunion Reception For members of the Class of 1971 and their guests. Cash bar. McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid Office of Admission |
| 7–8:30 P.M. |
WEStand-Up It probably comes as no surprise that not all Wesleyan graduates go on to become lawyers, doctors, and bankers. Of the diverse array of alternative careers, a few Wesleyan graduates have found their way into stand-up comedy. Wilson McDermut ’86, a comic in New York City, will host this show featuring Wesleyan graduates who, in addition to acting, writing, storytelling, and other forms of comedic expression, have made their mark as stand-up comics. These comedians are guaranteed to make you laugh (and maybe even make you think a little too): Jennifer Blaine '92 (Philadelphia), Calvin Cato ’06 (New York City), Brendan Eyre '05 (New York City), and Todd and Adam Stone ’05 (New York City). Note: This event is not ticketed, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. CFA Hall (formerly CFA Cinema) |
| 7–9 P.M. |
35th Reunion Reception and Jam Session Alumni and guests from all classes are invited to join members of the Class of 1976 for cocktails and a jam session. Bring your own instrument or improvise. Tom Kovar '76 and Nat Needle '76 will be your MC's. Cash bar. Russell House (all rooms) |
| 7–9 P.M. |
45th Reunion Reception For members of the Class of 1966 and their guests. Cash bar. Downey Lounge |
| 7–9 P.M. |
30th Reunion Reception and Wine Tasting Featuring the wines of Nancy Parker Wilson's ’81, P'10 Greenvale Vineyards and and Ariel Rubissow Okamoto's '81 Rubissow Vineyards. For members of the Class of 1981 and their guests. Zelnick Pavilion and Patio |
| 7:15 P.M. |
Shabbat Dinner At this special dinner for returning alumni, graduating seniors, and their families, we will welcome Shabbat with song, food, and joyful fellowship. This dinner requires advance purchase/registration. $20 per person for all and children over age 12 (including graduates) $8 per person for children 12 and under If you plan to attend this memorable celebration of the Wesleyan Jewish family, please register here. Hosted by: The Feldman Piltch Family Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center |
| 8 P.M. |
Wesleyan Spirits 30th Anniversary Closed Rehearsal Memorial Chapel |
| 8–10 P.M. |
15th Reunion Reception For members of the Class of 1996 and their guests. Cash bar. McKelvey Room, Stuart M. Reid Office of Admission |
| 8–10 P.M. |
20th Reunion Reception For members of the Class of 1991 and their guests. Cash bar. Nicolson Lounge |
| 8:30 P.M. |
Tickets On Sale Now! A Benefit Concert for Wesleyan's Green Street Arts Center After School Arts & Science Program Featuring Jazz Vocalist Tierney Sutton ’86, Flutist Hubert Laws, and Guitarist Larry Koonse Tierney Sutton was a Russian major at Wesleyan when she first heard the jazz greats and fell in love with their music. She was influenced by the late Bill Barron, jazz saxophonist and former faculty member. Barron brought major jazz performers to campus who opened Tierney's mind to the possibilities of this musical form. It wasn’t until she discovered jazz here that she seriously considered a career as a performer. A scholarship took her to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where within a few years she performed through New England, opening for such notables as Max Roach and the Billy Taylor Trio. Since then, she has performed at many prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Rainbow Room, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. The Tierney Sutton Band has been nominated three times for a Grammy in the category of Best Jazz Vocal Recording, the most recent of which was the 2009 recording "Desire". Internationally renowned flutist Hubert Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm-and-blues genres; moving effortlessly from one repertory to another. He has appeared as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta, with the orchestras of Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Cleveland, Amsterdam, Japan, Detroit and with the Stanford String Quartet. He has given annual performances at Carnegie Hall, and has performed sold out performances in the Hollywood Bowl with fellow flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal and was a member of the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera Orchestras. Born into a musical family, Larry Koonse has been playing the guitar since he was seven years old. In 1984, Larry was the first recipient of a BM in Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California. Immediately after graduating from USC Larry toured extensively for six years as a member of the John Dankworth quartet, traveling all across the globe and backing up Cleo Laine. He is currently a member of Billy Child's landmark chamber sextet which just released a CD entitled "Lyric" featuring Brian Blade and received a Grammy nomination for instrumental jazz album of the year. Larry has been a faculty member at the California Institute of the Arts since 1990. Tickets (general admission) on sale now through the Wesleyan University Box Office: $65 post-performance meet and greet reception with Tierney Sutton ’86 and preferred seating at the performance $40 performance only $25 performance only for students and GOLD (graduates of the last decade) Note: For GOLD purchasers, please select the Wesleyan student rate when buying your tickets online The proceeds from every ticket directly benefit students in Wesleyan's Green Street Arts Center 2011-2012 After School Arts & Science Program. Performance: Crowell Concert Hall, Center for the Arts Reception for $65 ticket holders: Davison Art Center Courtyard |
| 9 P.M. |
Wesleyan Spirits 30th Anniversary Open Rehearsal Memorial Chapel |
| 9 P.M. |
Stargazing - Program Canceled Due to the iffy weather forecast and the incredibly high humidity, the Astronomy department has decided to cancel the stargazing event for this evening. Van Vleck Observatory |
| 9–11 P.M. |
Academic Department Open House ASTRONOMY: Van Vleck Observatory |
| 9 P.M.–2 A.M. | Reunion Party at Eclectic Featuring alumni bands Laura Goldhamer & the Silvernail (with Laura Goldhamer ’06), Kelly McFarling (with Kelly McFarling ’05 and Micah Dubreuil '07), Princess Music (with Laura Goldhamer ’06 and Psyche Cassandra Dunkhase '06), and The Stanky Panthers (Jesse Young ’06 on guitar and vocals, Nat Webb ’06.5 on guitar and vocals, Russell Barlow ’06 on drums, Adam Bernier '06 on bass). Laura Goldhamer & the Silvernail mixes avant garde with traditional American music and stop-animation films for a "jaw-dropping" show. She has earned numerous accolades, including Westword magazine's 2010 Mastermind Award, given to her for being a "cultural visionary" in the Denver arts community. http://lauragoldhamer.tumblr.com/ The music of Kelly McFarling has been described as "original rhythm and bluegrass," as it delivers a fresh folk perspective using McFarling's powerhouse vocals, and oldtimey instrumentation. Homegrown and haunting, her music is inspired by hard truths and transitions, landing her in the back rooms of San Francisco bars singing siren songs. http://listn.to/kellymcfarling or www.kellymcfarling.bandcamp.com Princess Music is an all-star cast of classically trained players, with backgrounds in a spectrum of musical stylings, from chamber music to math metal. The music is both for the heart and the head, with poignant narratives and spiritually evocative content found within classically influenced rock structures. http://princessmusic.bandcamp.com/ The Stanky Panthers started as a one-off band to play a sophomore-year show in the Butts and ended up as a multi-year odyssey of collegiate rock righteousness. Back for a reunion show, The Panthers are excited to once again spread the gospel of dance-friendly garage rock at Wesleyan and hope for a show as crazy as the one they played to an entirely nude crowd in the WestCo Cafe. Bring your friends, and get ready to dance! Eclectic |
| 10 P.M. - 1 A.M. |
Malcolm X House Party Alumni and graduating seniors are invited to the Malcolm X House for an opportunity to socialize, network, and dance the night away! Cash bar, ID required. Music provided by Soundwavve. Sponsored by the Class of 1986, Class of 1991, and the Alumni of Color Council Malcolm X House |
| 10 P.M.–2 A.M. |
10th Reunion Welcome Event Kick off our Reunion Weekend reliving the jams of DJ Reach and the Sundance Kid! Mezzo Grill, The Club (2nd Floor), 106 Court Street, Middletown |
Saturday, May 21
| 8 A.M. | Informal 55th Reunion Breakfast Join the class for an informal breakfast and talk with Dave ’56 and Beryl Fricke about their years of medical missionary work In Afghanistan. Food and beverages available for purchase at the Usdan Cafe. Andersen Meeting Room (110), Usdan University Center |
| 8–10 A.M. | Annual Family Swim Enjoy a morning swim in the Freeman Athletic Center pool. Towels will be provided. Freeman Athletic Center |
| 8 A.M.–4 P.M. | Pi Cafe Hours Food and beverages available for purchase on site. Exley Science Center |
| 8 A.M.–5 P.M. | Usdan Cafe Hours Food and beverages available for purchase on site. Usdan University Center |
| 8 A.M.–1 A.M. | On Campus Registration Everyone– alumni, parents, students, and families– please check in for a final weekend schedule (with updates and event locations), meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more. Usdan University Center |
| 8:30 A.M. | Cardinal Loop Fun Run (2.1-, 3.2-, 4.3-Mile Courses) Start the day off with an exhilarating run through campus. Meet at the base of Foss Hill |
| 8:30 A.M. | Class of 1981 5K Run Meet at the base of Foss Hill |
| 8:30 A.M. | Crew Reception and Alumni Row Relive good times on the water. All former oarsmen, oarswomen, and friends are invited to gather at the boathouse for a morning row. Macomber Boathouse, 35 Harbor Drive |
| 8:30–9:30 A.M. |
Continental Breakfast for Class Agents, Class Secretaries, and Reunion Volunteers Hosted by Richard P. Swanson '77, Chair of the Wesleyan Fund. Please confirm your attendance with Eileen DeVille at thecardinal@wesleyan.edu or (860)685-2689. McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission |
| 8:30 A.M.–2 P.M. |
Espwesso Cafe Hours Wesleyan's student-run cafe, offering premium coffee and espresso drinks. Cash only. Basement, Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life |
| 9 A.M. | WESEMINAR Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime: The Ocean's Oddest Creatures and Why They Matter Dr. Ellen Prager presents images and stories from her just released book highlighting the strange cast of characters that live within the oceans' depths and how they are connected to society in everything from our food supply to our economy, in biomedical research, and biotechnology. From the tiny, but voracious arrow worms whose rapacious ways may lead to death by overeating, lobsters that seduce with their pee, the hagfish that ties itself into a knot to keep from suffocating in its own slime, and the sea slug whose sexual encounters can truly turn into a dangerous liaison due to untimely cannibalism. It's an entertaining ocean tell-all and a realistic look at why we should all care about the loss of species in the sea. Introduction: Peter Patton, Alan M. Dachs professor of science and chair of Earth & Environmental Studies Presenter: Dr. Ellen Prager '84 is a marine scientist and author, widely recognized for her expertise and ability to bring science to the layperson. She was formerly the chief scientist for the Aquarius Reef Base program in Key Largo, FL, which includes the world's only undersea research station, and a freelance writer and consultant for clients such as the world-renowned Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami, the President's U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, Microsoft Research, and Celebrity Cruise Lines Kerr Lecture Hall (Shanklin 107) |
| 9–11 A.M. |
Academic Department Open House FILM STUDIES: Lobby, Center for Film Studies |
| 9:30 A.M. | WESEMINAR A Retrospective Look at Wesleyan Have you ever looked at a photograph and wondered what was happening behind the scenes when it was taken? Come join retired University Photographer Bill Burkhart as he takes a photographic walk through the past twenty years at Wesleyan. He will share many of the shots that he has taken over the years and the stories that are behind them. This is a wonderful opportunity to reminisce with your classmates and learn a new story or two about Wesleyan. Presenter: Bill Burkhart was the university photographer at Wesleyan from 1991-2011. Known particularly for his portraiture work, he was the principal photographer for Wesleyan magazine and provided images of classrooms, faculty and staff, students at work and play, alumni across the country, and just about every aspect of campus life one could imagine. His work contributed to the magazine's receiving several national awards Room 103, Allbritton |
| 9:30 A.M. | WESEMINAR When the Marching Began: Looking Back at Where We Are Now This seminar will revisit and reflect on what has and what hasn't changed in American life with respect to civil rights and racial equality in the closing decades of the 20th century. Each panel members will talk about how his life took shape and the direction it went after their time at Wesleyan and their individual experience of change as the 20th century ended and a new one began. Presenters: Jack Woodbury '61 P'05, retired superintendent of schools and former New Jersey deputy commissioner of education; Robert B. Carey '61, professor of historical and religious studies, former associate dean and dean of graduate programs at SUNY/Empire State College; Dominic J. Squatrito '61, Senior United States District Judge; Jim Thomas '61 P'90, director of People's United Bank, director of United Illuminating Company, trustee of Yale-New Haven Hospital System, retired associate dean of Yale Law School Hansel Lecture Hall (Room 001), Public Affairs Center (PAC) |
| 9:30 A.M. | WESEMINAR The Special New York Times Crossword Puzzle That'll
Have You Smiling The clues are clever, so the first thing we have to learn is how to "decipher" them. Once you've got the hang of it, you're hooked. Enjoy the challenge as we solve this unique puzzle together in this 14th WESeminar on crossword puzzles. Presenter: Ed Stein '60 is a veteran puzzle solver and occasional puzzle constructor for The New York Times. He has taught puzzle-solving courses in adult education and senior centers, and he has conducted sessions on crossword puzzles for Elderhostel Room 210, Fisk Hall |
| 10 A.M. | WESEMINAR The Wesleyan Media Project's 2010 Analysis of Political Advertising - This event will be webcast. The midterm election in 2010 was anything but ordinary. The battle for control of U.S. Congress featured nearly 1.6 million political ad airings nationally at a record breaking cost of $735 million, a 61 percent increase over 2008. The Wesleyan Media Project, supported by grants from John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Sunlight Foundation, Wesleyan University, and its partner institutions, tracked and analyzed all political ads aired on television in real-time throughout the fall election cycle. Information disseminated by the project was carried on virtually every major media outlet and over 100 unique outlets nationwide. Join us for an inside look at how we do what we do. Introduction: Alberto Ibargüen '66 P'97 HON'11, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, chairman of the board of the Web Foundation in Geneva, former publisher of The Miami Herald and emeritus board member of the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Presenter: Erika Franklin Fowler, assistant professor of government Tishler Lecture Hall (Room 150), Exley Science Center |
| 10 A.M. | WESEMINAR 'Could This Be Something Serious?' Doctors, Patients and Patient-Centered Care Effective health care depends on being "patient-centered"--involving patients and their families in care and honoring their unique needs and preferences. Patient-centered care depends on healing relationships and clear, empathic communication. However, patient-centered care is threatened by the structure of health care institutions, health care professionals' failure to understand patients' needs, and patients' own expectations about health care. Using provocative examples and videos from research exploring the patient-doctor relationship, this seminar will focus on issues such as how health-related information should be shared in clinical contexts, the role of patient empowerment, how doctors and patients make difficult decisions, and how self-awareness can contribute to healing relationships. Presenter: Ron Epstein '76 P'11 is a professor of family medicine, psychiatry, oncology and nursing at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and board-certified in family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine. He is a recipient of the Lynn Payer Award from the American Academy on Communication in Healthcare for lifetime achievement in communication research and has been a Fulbright scholar at the Institute for Health Studies in Barcelona, Spain, and a visiting scholar at the University of Sydney. Room 116, Judd Hall |
| 10 A.M. | WESEMINAR Thinking Critically about the Environment Regardless of one's opinions about issues such as climate change or carbon taxes, it is clear that environmental issues will dominate national and international politics and news over the next century. To fully prepare students to participate effectively in these important discussions, Wesleyan has taken a major step to support environmental research, communication, teaching, and policy development, with its Environmental Studies Program and the College of the Environment (COE). Come hear short presentations of senior thesis research from two of our graduating environmental studies majors and the exciting details of the Environmental Studies Program and the College of the Environment. Moderator: Barry Chernoff, Robert Schumann Professor of Environmental Studies, and director of the College of the Environment Millett Room, Russell House |
| 10 A.M. | WESEMINAR The State of Queer Connecticut Connecticut has recently undergone changes that respond to the current national climate regarding queer identity. This panel will reflect a portion of the wide range of issues reflecting Connecticut's queer community and allies. Please join us for a discussion of recent developments in Connecticut as well as adversities the queer community continues to face. Continental breakfast served. Moderator: Claire Potter, Professor of History and American Studies Presenters: Campbell Barrett, co-author of Same Sex Marriage; Robin McHaelen, executive director of True Colors, a sexual minority youth and family service provider; The Reverend Debra W. Haffner '76, Executive Director, Religious Institute, Faithful Voices on Sexuality and Religion Organized by Wesleyan's Green Street Arts Center Green Street Arts Center, 51 Green Street |
| 10 A.M. | Mystical Seven Society Annual Meeting Tent (with black flag), North College Lawn, near the Center for the Americas |
| 10 A.M. | Skull and Serpent Society Annual Meeting The Tomb |
| 10 A.M. | Reunion Memorial Service The service remembers all alumni and specifically honors those who passed away during the past year. Individuals are invited to offer personal remembrances. Officiant: Megan Lloyd Joiner '01, MDiv Chaplain Resident, Pastoral Care and Education New York Presbyterian HospitalMemorial Chapel |
| 10 A.M. | Celebration of the Jones Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Women's Athletics at Wesleyan Dave ’51 and Ann Jones P'83 P'86 invite alumni, student athletes, and guests to celebrate thirty-two years of Jones Award recipients and to honor the 2011 recipients. All are welcome. Main Lobby, Freeman Athletic Center |
| 10 –11:30 A.M. | Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Celebration & Reception Join Shining Hope volunteers, members of the Board, and other supporters for a celebration of an incredible past year in Kibera, Kenya! With the overwhelming support of the Wesleyan community last spring, the health center honoring Johanna Justin-Jinich '10 turned into a reality this winter, and is now serving 50-80 patients a day. The Johanna Justin-Jinich Community Clinic is just one of many projects that has been a success this year. Wesleyan alumni and volunteers will share their stories of volunteering for the projects in Kibera. Please join us for this special opportunity to hear from the Wesleyan community behind Shining Hope, to celebrate recent accomplishments, and to get excited for another year ahead! Presenters: Leah Lucid '10, Development Director; Arielle Tolman '10, Programs Director; Ilana Nelson-Greenberg, Health Services Director; Rob Rosenthal, Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs, John E. Andrus Professor of Sociology, Secretary of the Board of Directors of SHOFCO Tent (with yellow flag), near Alpha Delta Phi |
| 10 A.M.–NOON |
Academic Programs and Departments Open Houses
ARCHAEOLOGY: Lounge, Downey House CLASSICAL STUDIES: Lounge, Downey House DANCE: Davison Art Center Courtyard MEDIEVAL STUDIES: Lounge, Downey House MUSIC: Davison Art Center Courtyard THEATER: Davison Art Center Courtyard |
| 10 A.M.–1 P.M. | Senior Projects in Film Studies View a series of 16mm films and digital videos made by members of the graduating Class of 2011. Goldsmith Family Cinema, Center for Film Studies |
| 10:30 A.M. | WESEMINAR Immigration Policy, Principles and Politics Immigration has been difficult and contentious throughout the history of the United States. As an issue, it combines enormous technical complexity with emotionally charged concerns about ethnicity and race. What are the historical, global and local contexts for understanding current debates over immigration to the United States? How do native-born citizens and newly arrived immigrants understand each other? What principles are at stake in competing proposal for reforming immigration policy and what are the prospects for a breakthrough? Join Noah Pickus for a discussion of his experiences addressing immigration at the local and national levels and to share your experiences and perspectives. Presenter: Noah Pickus '86 is the director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics and associate research professor of Public Policy Studies at Duke University. He is the co-director of the Brookings-Duke Immigration Policy Roundtable and his publications include True Faith and Allegiance: Immigration and American Civic Nationalism and Immigration and Citizenship in the 21st Century Room 004, Exley Science Center |
| 10:30 A.M. | WESEMINAR The Senior Thesis-A Showcase for Academic Excellence The senior thesis is a year-long, in-depth project that provides students with a unique opportunity to explore fresh ideas and produce new knowledge. In this session several senior theses will be highlighted, representing a cross section of student research and creative output from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. Students will share their work and discuss the process that guided their investigations. Moderator: Noel R. Garrett, PhD, dean for the class of 2011 Presenters: Amanda Sweeny '11, classical civilizations/medieval studies; Nora Vogel '11, environmental studies; Jessica Bowen '11, government; Harrison Schaaf '11, East Asian studies; CaVar Reid '11, African American studies Room 002, Public Affairs Center |
| 10:30 A.M. | WESEMINAR Collecting Photographs: Ellen G. D'Oench and the Growth of a Collection When Ellen G. D'Oench, affectionately known as "Puffin," was appointed Curator of the Davison Art Center in 1979, photographs were only beginning to be accepted as a serious art form. Building on the work begun by previous Curator Richard Field, over the next 19 years, D'Oench added more than 4,000 photographs to the collection, about two-thirds of the total today. With foresight, wide-ranging curiosity, and the help of many dedicated supporters of Wesleyan, D'Oench gathered a significant collection of photographs. Organized in conjunction with the exhibition at the Davison Art Center, this panel discussion will consider the rise of photography as a field for collecting, the pleasures of hunting for photographs, and the role of photographs in teaching. Above all, the panel will remember a master teacher, colleague, and friend. Congratulations to Philip '56 and Ina Trager P'81 GP'11 and Michael D. '81 and Mariella G. M. Trager P'11, who will be presented with a Wesleyan University Service Award at this WESeminar. Moderators: Andrew Szegedy-Maszak, Jane A. Seney professor of Greek and professor of classical studies. He is the author of Atget's Churches (1992) and co-author of Antiquity and Photography: Early Views of Ancient Mediterranean Sites (2005); Clare Rogan, curator, Davison Art Center Panelists: Karl Kusserow '86 is curator of American art at the Princeton University Art Museum and a lecturer in art & archaeology. He is a specialist in American art before 1945 and his publications include Picturing Power: The New York Chamber of Commerce, Portraiture and its Uses (2011); Joanne Lukitsh '76, professor of the history of art, Mass College of Art and Design, has published on many topics in the history of photography, particularly on the Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron; Philip Trager '56 P'81 GP'11 and Ina Trager P'81 GP'11. Philip Trager has published numerous books of his photography, including The Villas of Palladio (1986) and Dancers (1992). In 2009-2010, a retrospective exhibition of his work was organized by the Library of Congress and held at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center |
| 10:30 A.M. | WESEMINAR A Short Workshop to Improve Your Negotiation Skills You negotiate every day. Meanwhile, scholars at Wharton, Harvard and elsewhere are thinking hard about best negotiation practices. Steve Blum has been teaching negotiation to MBAs, undergraduates, and executive education students at Wharton for 18 years. He will lead you in a short, interactive workshop designed at Wharton to highlight some of those best practices and help you sharpen your skills. Steve has modified this seminar to ensure that it will also be fun and entertaining. Presenter: Steven G. Blum '81, JD EDM LLM is a teacher and consultant originally trained as a lawyer. Blum has been teaching in the Department of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania for the past eighteen years and has been a visiting professor at the ALBA Graduate Business School in Athens, Greece since 1996. Room 121, Exley Science Center |
| 11 A.M. | College of the Environment Reception Russell House |
| 11 A.M. | International Student-Family Welcome Brunch Center for the Arts Courtyard (Rain site: Butterfield A413 and Butterfield A414) |
| 11 A.M. | WESEMINAR Writing at Wesleyan and the Wesleyan Writers Conference: Media, Men, and The Internet: Are We Addicted to Stories of Men Behaving Badly? Join a provocative discussion with journalist Tom Matlack. Recent stories in The Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, and Slate announce "the end of (good) men." Such pieces, often written by women, have become Internet sensations, as have tales of Tiger Woods and Charlie Sheen. What are the issues here, Matlack asks, and what shapes such stories? A coming gender war? New roles for men and women in the 21st century? New roles for the media? Moderator: Anne Greene, adjunct professor of English, director of writing programs, director of the Wesleyan Writers Conference, and a 2006 recipient of the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching Presenter: Tom Matlack '86 is the founder of The Good Men Project and has blogs on Men's Health and Huffington Post. His work has appeared in Jezebel, The Boston Globe, Penthouse, Rowing News, and Wesleyan among many other publications. He founded and ran Megunticook Management, a venture capital firm, for a decade, and prior to that was the chief financial officer of The Providence Journal who took that company public and sold it in 1996. Taylor Meeting Room (Room 108), Usdan University Center |
| 11 A.M. | WESEMINAR The Great Recession and the Receding Rights and Powers of the Guaranteed American Middle Class The worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has resulted in calls across the country by Republican and Democratic governors for billions of dollars in concessions and givebacks from public employee unions. In Wisconsin, governor-sponsored legislation proposes to revoke public employees right to unionize. New Jersey's governor has stated that "unions are trying to break the middle class." Have unions overstayed their welcome? Can public employees legally be stripped of their right to unionize? As states struggle to balance their budgets, school teachers, police officers, fire fighters and other public servants seek to retain the privileges attendant to the American middle class that unions have historically offered their members. Ronald Schatz, a scholar on the history of unions in America; Thomas Brockett, an attorney with experience representing unions and serving as a former officer of the once dismantled air traffic controllers' union; and Joseph Summa, a labor law attorney who has represented the executive branch and management in negotiations with public employee and private unions- will discuss the history of the union movement and the effect that their growth and retreat has on state budgets and this country's socio-economic structure. Attendees will gain insight on the legal wranglings likely to unfold in this historic tug-of-war between crippling state budget deficits and workers that serve the citizens of those states. NOTE: There will be an opportunity for networking just prior to the WESeminar, 10:30-11 a.m., in the lobby just outside of ESC 58. Presenters: Ronald W. Schatz, professor of history; Thomas M. Brockett, Esq. '87; and Joseph B. Summa, Esq. '71 Organized by: The Wesleyan Lawyers Association Room 58, Exley Science Center |
| 11:15 A.M. | Assemble for the Annual Parade of Classes Seniors and their families are invited to join alumni for this traditional Wesleyan festivity featuring a live Dixieland band (with special guest Evan Drutman '86 on trumpet) and Hardy Spoehr '66 on the bagpipes. The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. and is followed immediately by the Assembly and Annual Meeting. Lawn in front of North and South College (towards High Street) |
| 11:30 A.M.–1 P.M. |
Academic Program and Department Open Houses
ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES: Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies EAST ASIAN STUDIES: Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies |
| 11:30 A.M.–2 P.M. | Wesleyan's Green Street Arts Center Open House Join the students and staff of Green Street for an Open House like no other! Tours led by After School Students, Wesleyan Volunteers and Staff include a visit to our world-class recording studio, performances by the Fresh Obsessed Team, and opportunities to meet our fabulous teaching artists. Shuttle service available. Green Street Arts Center, 51 Green Street |
| NOON–1 P.M. | Wesleyan Assembly and Alumni Association Annual Meeting Featuring Theodore M. Shaw ’76: "Reflections on the Continuing Journey of Wesleyan's American Bicentennial Class: Privilege, Opportunity, and Debt" - This event will be webcast Including the presentation of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards and Outstanding Service Awards. Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients Jack Mitchell '61 Michael S. Yamashita '71 Theodore M. Shaw '76 Michael B. Bay '86 Tierney M. Sutton '86
Outstanding Service Award Recipients David P. Jones, Sr. '51, P'83, P'86 Allan F. Williams '61, P'89 Featured Speaker and Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient Memorial Chapel |
| NOON–4 P.M. |
Special Collections and Archives Open House Drop in at the University’s Special Collections and Archives to remember your student days—yearbooks, The Argus, Hermes, face books, and many other historical Wesleyan materials are all here. Chat with SC&A staff about the riches of the University’s rare book collection and how it supports Wesleyan’s educational mission. Special Collections and Archives and Davison Rare Book Room, Olin Memorial Library |
| 1–2:30 P.M. |
Academic Department Open House
ENGLISH: Lounge, Downey House |
| 1–3 P.M. | President’s Lunch in Honor of the WESeniors – Classes of 1932 Through 1960 By invitation only. Patricelli ’92 Theater |
| 1–3 P.M. | All-College Picnic and Festival on Foss Hill This lively festival of entertainment and games is a great place to connect with friends and family members between WESeminars and other weekend programs. Don’t miss the magic show, face painting, tattoos, caricaturist drawings, and more. Lunches are portable and can be picked up on your way to Foss Hill, afternoon WESeminars, or other events and destinations. This lunch requires advance purchase/registration. Meals are included for members of reunion classes with a flat rate fee (5th, 10th, and 50th reunion classes). All other reunion classes and parents and families of graduating seniors will be charged the following if they register for lunch. $10 per person for adults and children (including graduates) If you plan to have lunch, please register here. Tent, Andrus Field and Foss Hill |
| 1–3 P.M. | WESEMINAR 5,000 Women A\This is a satellite production of a project called "5,000 Women" whose mission is to have 5,000 women artists performing in tandem. The name comes from the fact that every hour 5,000 women are giving birth at the same time throughout the world. "5,000 Women" honors that amazing creativity, by showcasing the creativity of women artists. The performance will include singer-songwriters, comedians, dancers, actresses, spoken word artists, independent films by independent filmmakers, and one-woman shows. Come sample the dazzling array of creativity of Wesleyan alumnae. Performers: Naaz Hosseini '74, Aleta Staton '80, Heidi Kole, Lisa Porter '86, Jennifer Blaine '92, Elizabeth Liang '92, Nafeesa Monroe '94, Karen Gross '01, and Stephanie Fungsang '08 Center for the Arts Hall (formerly CFA Cinema) |
| 1–3 P.M. |
Academic Departments Open Houses
ECONOMICS: Tent (with red flag), North College Lawn GERMAN STUDIES: Room 403, Fisk Hall GOVERNMENT: Tent (with red flag), North College Lawn HISTORY: Tent (with red flag), North College Lawn PSYCHOLOGY: Shapiro Creative Writing Center, Allbritton 311 RELIGION: Tent, Religious Studies SOCIOLOGY: Tent (with black flag), North College Lawn |
| 1:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR The Obesity Epidemic in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities Approximately 17% of children and adolescents and 30% of adults in the United States are now obese. Furthermore, the costs of obesity in 2008 amounted to almost 10% of the national disease care budget. These costs reflect the major contribution that obesity makes to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. In this seminar Bill Dietz will examine the factors that have contributed to the epidemic of obesity in the U.S., and describe strategies underway to change the environments that have contributed to it. Presenter: Bill Dietz '66, MD, PhD is the director of the division of nutrition and physical activity in the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the CDC. Prior to his appointment at the CDC, he was a professor of pediatrics at the Tuft's University School of Medicine and director of clinical nutrition at the Floating Hospital of New England Medical Center Hospitals Tishler Lecture Hall (Room 150), Exley Science Center |
| 1:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR What Good Is A Red Tent If You Hate Camping? Reflections on 21st Century Jewish Motherhood - This event will be webcast. Ayelet Waldman, novelist and author of Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities and Occasional Moments of Grace, will discuss the perilous imbalance of contemporary motherhood, with a particular emphasis on the pleasures and challenges of being a Nerf-spined, guilt-ridden Jewish Mother in an iron-willed, Tiger Mother world. Introduction: Dalit Katz, adjunct assistant professor of religion and of Jewish and Israel studies Presenter: Ayelet Waldman '86 is the author of Red Hook Road, Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, Daughter's Keeper and the Mommy-Track Mysteries. Kerr Lecture Hall (Shanklin 107) |
| 1:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR From Idea to Impact in 18 Months: the Journey of Music National Service Kiff Gallagher is founder and CEO of Music National Service (MNS), a nonprofit organization that supports the use of music as a strategy for public good. MNS serves as leader in the field of music-based service through direct programs, public education and leadership development. MusicianCorps, MNS's flagship program, trains and places musicians to serve full-time as teachers and mentors in low-performing public schools, youth centers, hospitals and other high-need community settings. Gallagher will discuss the triumphs and challenges he experienced when launching a national social enterprise in the midst of a economic recession and the demonstrated impact of music-based initiatives in education, youth development, healthcare and social entrepreneurship. Presenter: Kiff Gallagher '91 has led a creative and dedicated career of service, entrepreneurship and music. Soon after graduating from Wesleyan, he joined the White House legislative team that created AmeriCorps while moonlighting with his funk band and volunteering as a youth mentor. He recently served on President Obama's National Arts Policy Committee and as an advisor to the Presidential Transition Hansel Lecture Hall (Room 001), Public Affairs Center (PAC) |
| 1:30 P.M. | Magic Show For children of all ages! Andrus Field |
| 1:30–3 P.M. |
Academic Department Open House
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL STUDIES (SENIORS RECEPTION): CSS Lounge, Public Affairs Center |
| 1:30–3:30 P.M. |
Academic Programs and Departments Open Houses
AMERICAN STUDIES: Center for the Americas FEMINIST, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY STUDIES: Russell House PHILOSOPHY: Russell House SCIENCE IN SOCIETY: Russell House LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES: Center for the Americas |
| 1:30–3:30 P.M. | Reunion Class Photos Group photos of the Reunion Classes of 1961–1986 will be taken at this time. Alumni who pre-register for a photo in advance of the weekend will receive free shipping ($4 for unframed prints and $15 for framed prints). Alumni should follow the class links below for this special savings. All are encouraged to browse through the Panfoto website where you can view earlier reunion class photos along with special Wesleyan images–all for purchase. 1986 - 1:50 P.M. 1981 - 2:50 P.M. 1976 - 2:30 P.M. 1971 - 2:10 P.M. 1966 - 3:10 P.M. 1961 - 1:30 P.M. Denison Terrace (behind Olin Memorial Library) |
| 2 P.M. | SteveSongs Concert Don't miss this appearance by Steve Roslonek '93, also known as SteveSongs or Mr. Steve (PBS Kids). Learn more and listen to some songs at www.stevesongs.com. Andrus Field |
| 2 P.M. | WESEMINAR Innovation & Tradition in Japanese Printmaking: Lecture and Demonstration Keiji Shinohara, acclaimed contemporary master print maker, will demonstrate and discuss the spirit and creative process of ukiyo-e printmaking, as well as introduce his own work, which is included in numerous private and museum collections in Japan and the United States. The ukiyo-e style is a 1,000 year-old woodblock printing tradition that usually depicts landscapes and beautiful women. The word ukiyo refers to the world of common people, and e means "picture." There will be several of Shinohara's prints on display in the demonstration room. Presenter: Keiji Shinohara, artist-in-residence, East Asian studies Mary Houghton Freeman Room, Freeman Center for East Asian Studies |
| 2–3 P.M. |
Grandparents Dessert Reception Join grandparents and their graduating seniors for a dessert reception. Enjoy remarks by Wesleyan staff members and a student a cappella performance. NOTE: Due to space restrictions, we respectfully ask that only graduating seniors and their grandparents who RSVP'd by May 6, attend this event as it has reached capacity. We regret that we are no longer able to accept responses. Congratulations to Jeffrey Compton P'11, who will be presented with a Wesleyan University Service Award at this reception. Hosted by: Jeff Compton P'11Beckham Hall, Fayerweather |
| 2–4 P.M. |
Academic Departments Open Houses
ANTHROPOLOGY: Anthro, Room 6 ART & ART HISTORY: Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, Center for the Arts *Note: The Art & Art History Open House is part of the Theses Art Exhibition Reception BIOLOGY: Terrace, Exley Science Center CHEMISTRY: Terrace, Exley Science Center COMPUTER SCIENCE: Terrace, Exley Science Center COLLEGE OF LETTERS: COL Lounge, Butterfield C EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Terrace, Exley Science Center MATHEMATICS: Terrace, Exley Science Center MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY: Terrace, Exley Science Center NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR PROGRAM: Terrace, Exley Science Center PHYSICS: Terrace, Exley Science Center ROMANCE LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES: Lounge, Romance Languages RUSSIAN: Lounge, Romance Languages RUSSIAN AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES: Lounge, Romance Languages |
| 2–4 P.M. | 5th Reunion Kickball Tournament Jackson Field (formerly North Field) |
| 2–4 P.M. | Thesis Art 2011 Exhibition Reception Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2011's thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History's Studio Art Program. Thesis students are invited to select a single work to represent them in this year-end exhibition of drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media and architecture curated by Kristina Newman-Scott. Curator Talk at 2:30pm. This event also serves as the Open House for the Department of Art & Art History. Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, Center for the Arts |
| 2:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR Michael Bay: Action, Advertising, Music Videos and Blockbuster Success Michael Bay, award-winning director of The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and the Transformers series, broke into the business one week after finishing film school-first directing music videos for Meat Loaf, Aerosmith, and Tina Turner, and commercials for the American Red Cross, Nike, Budweiser, Coca Cola, Reebok and others. He won the coveted Best Music Video award in 1992 and 1999 and the Clio for best television spot in 1992. At the young age of 27, Bay was honored by the Director's Guild of America as Commercial Director of the Year, becoming the youngest director to have won nearly every award bestowed by the advertising industry. His "Got Milk? Aaron Burr" commercial won the Gran Prix Clio, was voted into the top ten classic spots of all time, and resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Bay owns a digital effects house and is expanding into the production of video games. Introduction: Jeanine Basinger, Corwin-Fuller Professor of Film Studies, chair of the Film Studies Department, curator of the Cinema Archives, and a 1996 recipient of the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching Presenter: Michael Bay '86, award-winning director of The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and the Transformers series Goldsmith Family Cinema, Center for Film Studies |
| 2:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR Conversation with Anne Martin, Wesleyan's Chief Investment Officer Please join us for a discussion of Wesleyan's endowment with Chief Investment Officer Anne Martin. Prior to joining Wesleyan in August, 2010, Ms. Martin served as one of six directors of Yale's endowment, where she had primary oversight of Yale's venture capital, energy and commodities investments. She will be joined by Adam Usdan '83 who can offer his perspective as a member of Wesleyan's Board of Trustees and chair of the Investment Committee. Presenter: Anne Martin, chief investment officer, Wesleyan University Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center |
| 2:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR Work on Purpose: Create a Career that Matters Do you wake up energized by the prospect of beginning your workday? Does your job make you feel alive? Are you in alignment with your life's greatest purpose? If not, it may be time for you to learn how to develop a career that has meaning. It is possible for you to craft a career that is both personally fulfilling and has positive societal impact. However, to do so, you must learn how to utilize both your passion and your best talents. In this interactive, group workshop, Lara Galinsky, author of Work on Purpose, and Senior Vice President of Echoing Green-a celebrated nonprofit with the bold mission to unleash next generation talent to solve the world's biggest problems-shares what she's learned from successful change-makers about how they have developed meaningful careers. You will be challenged by thought-provoking questions that will help you identify your sharpest skills and innate gifts as well as what moves you most deeply. You will leave the workshop with a simple, yet powerful, framework for developing a career that aligns your heart with your head. Presenter: Lara Galinsky '96 is senior vice president of Echoing Green, the perfect laboratory in which to study meaningful work. Echoing Green offers seed funding fellowships to the world's most promising social entrepreneurs, having invested $30 million in funding to over 500 visionaries from around the world. For more information on Work on Purpose, visit: www.echoinggreen.org/work-on-purpose. Room 116, Judd Hall |
| 2:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR Reinterpreting (Her)Story: Women of the USO and a Female Richard III Please join senior theater majors Samantha Joy Pearlman and Emma Sherr-Ziarko as they present excerpts of the performance components of their Honors Theses in Acting. As part of Pearlman's research of the female performers in the United Service Organization's (USO) Camp Show Inc, Pearlman wrote and compiled a show entitled Devotedly, Sincerely Yours based on found text about the lives of female USO entertainers, as well as the radio broadcasts designed to boost morale of the US servicemen in World War II. With the help of senior music major Ian Coss and an eight-piece student band, she sings music from the '40s as she tells the story of a girl going overseas to entertain in the "Theater of War." After performing excerpts, she will discuss her process in her archival research and creation of a new theatrical work. Sherr-Ziarko's thesis is a study of the Western theatrical Villain, and for the performance portion she portrayed the title character in the Wesleyan Theater Department's production of William Shakespeare's Richard III directed by David Jaffe. Sherr-Ziarko will perform excerpts from this play that focus on Richard's relationship with women of power, featuring Sabina Friedman-Seitz as Lady Anne, Arielle Levine as Margaret, and Samantha Pearlman as Queen Elizabeth. Presenters: Samantha Joy Pearlman '11, Emma Sherr-Ziarko '11, Ian Coss '11, Sabina Friedman-Seitz '11, and Arielle Levine '11 Crowell Concert Hall, Center for the ArtsNOTE: This event is part of the "5,000 Women" festival |
| 2:30 P.M. |
Freeman Scholars Reception Freeman Scholars and their families, friends, and alumni are invited to a program honoring the Freeman Scholars of the Class of 2011. Campbell Reference Center, Olin Memorial Library |
| 3 P.M. | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Alumni Reception Please join members of the LGBTQ Alumni Network, parents and friends as we welcome graduating seniors to the alumni community. McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission |
| 3–4:30 P.M. | Eclectic and Phi Nu Theta Alumni Reception Eclectic undergraduates welcome all Eclectics and Socrats back for the annual Commencement reception and meeting (meeting is at 5 p.m.). Reminisce about the glory days, see old housemates and the newly refurbished GOTE room, and enjoy a glass of punch. Visit www.eclectic.wesleyan.edu to sign up for an account to receive a free newsletter and reconnect with your old pals. Eclectic |
| 3 P.M. | WESEMINAR Gamelan Workshop Dominated by colorful, bronze percussion instruments, the Gamelan ensemble features gongs, bronze and wooden xylophones, two-headed drums, a female soloist, and a male chorus. Some of the instruments date back to the 12th century in Java, an Indonesian island located between Sumatra and Bali. Get some real experience playing the Gamelan in this lively, hands-on workshop. Presenter: Sumarsam MA'76, adjunct professor of music World Music Hall, Center for the Arts |
| 3 P.M. | WESEMINAR Innovation and Entrepreneurship So you're interested in starting a company one day. Being an entrepreneur is both an exciting and scary journey. It requires a solid idea, a great team, good market timing, strong planning, focused execution and most important, luck. This seminar will focus on answering some of the questions that can help you create your luck, such as: How do I take my idea to next level? What are the mistakes that I need to avoid? What are the necessary actions that I need to take to get my company off the ground? Steven J. Spinner will also share best practices and ways to manage career development in order to increase the chances for success. Presenter: Steven J. Spinner '91 is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and advisor to Silver Lake Sumeru. He has advised over 30 cleantech and internet start-ups in Silicon Valley over the past decade. Spinner recently served as loan programs advisor for the Secretary of Energy in the Obama Administration Room 58, Exley Science Center |
| 3:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR Love and History: Screening and Interactive Discussion with Award Winning Documentarian In this seminar, film director Michele Ohayon will present segments from her award-winning documentary Steal a Pencil for Me (2007), as well as segments from her graduation film, Pressure, which won the Israeli Best Film Award in 1984. Both films are love stories, framed within specific historical contexts. The first film tells the story of Jack and Ina who fell in love while imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. Pressure is one of the first dramatic films on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is based on a true a story. Michele Ohayon will conduct a question/answer session with the audience, and walk through the process of depicting history in film. Introduction: Dalit Katz, adjunct assistant professor of religion and of Jewish and Israel studies. Presenter: Michele Ohayon P'14, award-winning director and producer, whose feature length documentary Colors Straight Up won various awards, including the Golden Spire Award for the Arts at the San Francisco Film Festival, and was nominated for an Academy Award. Tishler Lecture Hall (Room 150), Exley Science Center |
| 3:30 P.M. | WESEMINAR Making It In the Performing Arts–Is it Possible? This seminar, conceived by Wesleyan alumnae who have established careers in the arts, is a forum to share experiences and insights. For those who are contemplating a career in the arts we may ask ourselves: How can I make it as a performer?, Will I be able to support myself?, In what ways can I distinguish myself and establish a career? Through this seminar we hope to create a network of support for students and alumni in these challenging fields. All students, graduates and artists are welcome to attend and contribute their experiences, questions and concerns. Networking session and screening of Fly Away, a film by Janet Grillo '80, will follow. Presenters: Dana Leslie Goldstein '86, playwright and poet; Heidi Kole, author, singer-songwriter; Lisa Porter '86, actress and vocal coach; Jennifer Blaine '92, actress and one-woman show; Karen Gross '01, cabaret artist and singer song-writer; Grace Overbeke '08, director of marketing at Theater J; Martha Meade '76, muralist; and Tamina Davar '90, filmmaker. Center for the Arts Hall (formerly CFA Cinema) |
| 3:30–4:30 P.M. | Japanese Tea Ceremony Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies |
| 3:30–5 P.M. | Alumni of Color (AOC)/Students of Color (SOC) Network Reception All alumni, students, and parents are welcome to join the AOC network as we welcome the graduating seniors into the alumni community. Tent, Davison Art Center Courtyard |
| 3:30–5 P.M. | 40th Reunion Discussion Forum: "Our Years at Wesleyan–What the Hell Happened? How Did It Affect Our Lives in the Last 40 Years?" The eventful years of Class '71 Wesleyan days deserve a retrospective look. Many of us look back fondly and wistfully on our college days from 1967-1971, perhaps some of us less so. This session will provide a window back on what did transpire–the political forces, the social shifts, the classroom experiences, and the musical expressions, etc–and what kind of legacy they have left on our society and on ourselves. Were these 4 years real "inflections" or were they overhyped in retrospect? What were the lasting effects and which faded in time? How does it look different today in retrospect than it did at the time? How have we embodied and transmitted our experiences and learnings to others since we graduated? Moderated by Todd Jick ’71 P'11.Panelists: David Lindorf '71–Politics, Protest, Values..Then and Now; Marvin Williams '71–Race Relations Then, and Now, Fran Pawlowski '71–Education and Learning from our Professors; Joanne Young '71–Coeducation Then, and Now; Todd Jick '71–McConaghy Music In Our Lives, Then and Now. Room 002, Public Affairs Center (PAC) |
| 3:30–5 P.M. |
Academic Department Open House AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES: Center for African American Studies |
| 4 P.M. | WESEMINAR Wesleyan Alumni in Philanthropy and Public Service: How and Why to Engage-Emerging Trends and Issues Hear from Wesleyan alumni about what they've been doing in these arenas, how and why they got there. Panelists will also speak about: key trends and issues they and their organizations face (such as the evolving roles of non-profits and public/private and non-profit/for profit partnerships); how to make an impact or be an agent for change (from inside or outside, grass roots or top down); how to get involved. Q&A will follow. Moderator: Liza Page Nelson '81, venture partner, Investor Growth Capital, Crossroads Community Services, WAPPS member Presenters: Michael A. Golden '81, diverse "public mission" experience in private, nonprofit, and public sector organizations; Elysa Gordon '89, assistant child advocate, Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate; Matthew McCreight '81, managing partner, Schaffer Consulting; Julie Meyer '79, executive director, The Next Step Public Charter School, RDB Consulting Guest: WAPPS co-founder Steven J. McCarthy, '75, senior vice president KCG Capital Advisors Hansel Lecture Hall (Room 001), Public Affairs Center |
| 4 P.M. | DKE Open House Open house for DKE Alumni, family and friends. Snacks will be provided. DKE |
| 4–5 P.M. | Phi Beta Kappa Initiation Guest speaker: Alberto Ibargüen '66 P'97, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and 2011 honorary degree recipient
Memorial Chapel |
| 4–5:30 P.M. | Annual Reception Honoring Retiring Faculty All are welcome to honor members of the faculty who will retire this year: Henry Abelove, Wilbur Fisk Osborne Professor of English Judith Brown, Professor of History Ann duCille, Professor of English Charles Lemert, John E. Andrus Professor of Social Theory (attending) Alvin Lucier, John Spencer Camp Professor of Music (attending) Russell Murphy, Professor of Government (attending)
In addition, we will honor faculty retired in 2010: Philip Pomper, William Armstrong Professor of History, Emeritus (attending) Jeremy Zwelling, Associate Professor of Religion, Emeritus (attending) Susan B. and William K. Wasch Center for Retired Faculty, 51 Lawn Avenue |
| 4:15 P.M. | Class of 1991 Memorial Courtyard dedication Join classmates and friends as we dedicate the Class of 1991 Memorial Courtyard to celebrate the lives of our classmates who have passed away. All are welcome to attend. Fauver Courtyard |
| 4:30–5:30 P.M. |
Songwriters' Summit David Hamburger '86, Frank Randall '86 and Chris Erikson '87 are performing musicians whose musical paths have crossed occasionally over the years, despite residing in a triangle of distant musical hotbeds: Austin, Minneapolis and Brooklyn, respectively. To celebrate 25 years of postgraduate work reconciling traditional American musical idioms with the postmodern sensibilities instilled by four years of liberal arts study, they'll join forces to play songs drawn from a well of literate blues, atypical folk, expansive country and an understated but optimistic brand of rock and roll. World Music Hall |
| 5 P.M. | Tree Dedication in Memory of Mark Smuckler ’91 WestCo Courtyard |
| 5 P.M. | Tree Dedication in Memory of Samuel Aaronian '01 To make a donation, visit http://give.wesleyan.edu and mark your gift in memory of "Samuel Aaronian." All money raised will go to financial aid through the Wesleyan Fund. Observatory Circle |
| 5:30–9 P.M. | Class Reunion Receptions and Dinners WESeniors (Classes of 1932–1960) and the Classes of 1951, 1956*, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2006 gather for their Class Dinners and special programs at the following locations. Please register here. WESENIORS: Taylor Meeting Room (Room 108), Usdan University Center 1946:Andersen Meeting Room (Room 110), Usdan University Center 1951: Exley Science Center Library Reading Room (146) 1956*: Warren Street Lobby, Freeman Athletic Center 1961: Campbell Reference Center, Olin Memorial Library 1966: Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center 1971: Norm Daniels Lobby, Freeman Athletic Center 1976: President's House Lawn 1981: Tent (with black flag), North College Lawn 1986: Beckham Hall, Fayerweather 1991: Mink Dining Hall (East Dining Wing), Usdan University Center 1996: Patricelli '92 Theater 2001: West Dining Wing, Usdan University Center 2006: Russell House Tent *Featuring testimonials on "Reinventing Yourself after Retirement" and a presentation by Mort Paterson ’56 on "Doing Shakespeare." Congratulations to the following alumni, who will be presented with Wesleyan University Service Awards at their class dinners: Robert N. Zearfoss '36 William H. Allison '41, P'71, GP'06 Theodore F. Goodchild '41 Mark Barlow, Jr. '46 Seth S. Faison, Sr. '46, P'81, P'84 David J. Batdorf '51 David W. Peterson '51 Thomas L. Plimpton '56 Robert S. Runyon '56 J. Dennis Huston '61, P'91 Jon K. Magendanz '61 Hardy Spoehr '66 Leo Y. Au '71 Lawrence H. Davis '76, P'06 James F. Haddon '76 Cornelia Bodine McCann '76 Daniel S. Haar '81 Kathy Prager Conrad '81, P'11, P'14 Judith Schneider '81 David S. Bagatelle '86 Eric S. Howard '86 Eileen Cheigh '91 Brian J. Glenn '91 Beth A. Haney '91 Scott Benjamin Moore '91 Jeremy D. Sacks '91 Johannah Dunham Townsend '91 Natalie Suhl Bernardino '96 Samuel A. Effron '96 Samantha A. Fiske '96 Tracey K. Gardner '96 Dacque E. Tirado '96 Kagiso Daniel Bond '01 Andrew J. Calica '01 Kathleen Madelaine Clyde '01 Meredith Alderman Ritsch '01 Calvin Senechal Cato '06 |
| 6 P.M. | Senior Voices (Baccalaureate) Come join the class of 2011 as they reflect, share and recap some of their unique and transformative moments from their years at Wesleyan. You don’t want to miss this. All are welcome. Featured speaker: Mary-Jane Rubenstein, Assistant Professor, Department of Religion Reflections by: Laurel Dezieck '11, Jared Gimbel '11, Amanda Sweeney '11 Sponsor: Office of Religious and Spiritual Life Memorial Chapel |
| 6 P.M. | Wesleyan Spirits 30th Anniversary Pizza Party
For Wesleyan Spirits students, families, alumni, and guests who do not have other plans. Nicolson Lounge |
| 9 P.M. | Traditional All-College Sing Steps of North College |
| 10 P.M. | Wesleyan Spirits 30th Anniversary Concert Memorial Chapel |
| 10 P.M.–1 A.M. | All-Campus Party Featuring Bands Mamarazzi and Mad Wow Mamarazzi, much like the ripe grapefruits known to fly through the air at their live shows, blends unlikely but succulent elements–juicy funk, acidic groove, and nectar of ancient lullaby–that when simmered live, result in a mathrobeat revival. Check them out at http://www.mamarazzisounds.com, and don’t miss them live under the tent on Andrus. With: Andrew Aprile ’06 (guitar); Rob Cohen ’06 (keys); Eric Herman ’05 (bass); Sam Bathrick ’05 (percussion); Tacuma Bradley ’04 (tenor saxophone); Tavi Fields ’02 (MC, percussion); Mike Buckley (bari saxophone); Paulo Almeida (drums). Mad Wow is Wesleyan's resident super-funky soul group. With dynamite singers, sassy horns, and a groovin' band, they'll invade your immune system with funky vibes. There is no cure but to shake it out on the dance floor. Check out some tunes at http://www.myspace.com/madwowmusic. With: Garth Taylor '12, Claire Randall '12, and Emma Daniels '13 (vocals); Spencer Hattendorf '12 and Owen Callahan '12 (saxophone); Jake Schofield '12 and Myles Potters '12 (trumpet); Isaac Silk '14 (trombone); Nate Mondschein '12 (drums); Louis Russo '11 (bass); Graham Richman '11 and Jordan Kenna '12 (Guitar); Gabe Gordon '11 (keys); and Donovan Arthen '11 (percussion). Cash bar (ID required), no outside beverages will be permitted at this event. Tent, Andrus Field |
Sunday, May 22
| 8 A.M.–1 P.M. | All-Campus Brunch Buffet Wrap up a great weekend with a hearty brunch in the new Usdan University Center. This brunch requires advance purchase/registration. Meals are included for members of reunion classes with a flat rate fee (5th, 10th, and 50th reunion classes). Brunch is complimentary for WESeniors (Classes of 1929 through 1960) and their guests. All other reunion classes and parents and families of graduating seniors will be charged the following if they register for lunch. $18 per person for all other adults and children over age 12 (including graduates) If you plan to attend, please register here. Usdan University Center |
| 8–11 A.M. |
Pi Cafe Hours Food and beverages available for purchase on site. Exley Science Center |
| 8 A.M.–2 P.M. | Information Usdan University Center |
| 8 A.M.–1 P.M. |
Usdan Cafe Hours Food and beverages available for purchase on site. Usdan University Center |
| 8:30 A.M. |
45th Reunion Brunch For members of the Class of 1966 and their guests. Food will be available in the Usdan Marketplace (second floor). Please register for the All- Campus Brunch Buffet if you plan to attend this event. Taylor Meeting Room, Usdan 108 |
| 8:30 A.M.–2 P.M. |
Commencement Beverage Kiosk Beverages available for purchase. Huss Courtyard, Usdan University Center and Andrus Field near Zelnick Pavilion |
| 8:30 A.M.–2 P.M. |
Espwesso Cafe Hours Wesleyan's student-run cafe, offering premium coffee and espresso drinks. Cash only. Basement, Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life |
| 8:45-9:45 A.M. | First Generation Reception Please join us for a pre-graduation reception in honor of those members of the class of 2011 who are the first in their family to graduate from college. Students and families are encouraged to attend. Continental breakfast will be provided. McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission |
| 9 A.M. | Roman Catholic Mass Sponsored by: Catholic Chaplain, Fr. Hal Weidner, CO, and the Catholic Student Association Memorial Chapel |
| 9 A.M. |
Commencement Preparation for MA and PhD Graduates The Graduate Marshal will prepare the graduating MA and PhD students for the Commencement Ceremony. Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center |
| 9 A.M. |
50th Reunion Class of 1961 Brunch Daniel Family Commons |
| 9:30 A.M. |
GLSP Graduates’ Commencement Preparation GLSP staff will prepare graduating students for the Commencement Ceremony. Lounge, Downey House |
| 10 A.M. | Faculty and Undergraduates Assemble for Commencement Top of Foss Hill |
| 11 A.M. | The 179th Commencement Ceremony - The ceremony may also be viewed online. Dr. Paul Farmer, known worldwide for co-founding Partners In Health to serve the world's poor, will receive an honorary degree and deliver the commencement address at Wesleyan University's 179th Commencement in May. Wesleyan's other honorary degree recipients at Commencement include a legendary singer of the American Songbook, an alumnus envisioning the future of online journalism, and two local friends of the institution long dedicated to serving the Middletown community. Wesleyan's Baldwin Medal (highest award bestowed by the Alumni Association) recipients are Robert Patricelli '61,P'88,P'90 and Margaret Sweetland Patricelli. Paul Farmer, M.D., Ph.D Paul Farmer is an inspirational scholar, doctor, teacher, and leader. As a physician-anthropologist, he has dedicated his life to serving the world's poor and to raising the standard of health care around the world. In 1983 he co-founded Partners In Health, an international nonprofit organization that provides direct health care services and undertakes research and advocacy activities on behalf of those who are sick and living in poverty. His work focuses on community-based treatment strategies for infectious diseases, health and human rights, and the role of social inequalities in determining disease distribution and outcomes. Dr. Farmer and his colleagues have successfully challenged the policymakers and critics who claim that quality health care is impossible to deliver in resource-poor settings. Dr. Farmer is the Kolokotrones University Professor and Chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School; Chief of the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham and Women's Hospital; and United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Haiti, under Special Envoy Bill Clinton. His most recent book is Partner to the Poor: A Paul Farmer Reader. Dr. Farmer has received numerous awards and recognitions, but none so typifies his life and accomplishments as the Heinz Award for the Human Condition, which he received in 2003. "To say that Dr. Paul Farmer is a life saver does not begin to describe the impact of his work," said Teresa Heinz, chairman of the Heinz Family Foundation. "Dr. Farmer and his extraordinary organization have been a force in making the world confront the health care needs of those who historically have never had access to proper care." Barbara Cook Barbara Cook's pure soprano voice has delighted audiences around the world for more than 50 years. She was considered to be "Broadway's favorite ingenue" during the 1950s and ’60s. Her continuing popularity is evidenced by her 1997 birthday concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Albert Hall in London; a succession of six returns to Carnegie Hall, where she made a noteworthy solo concert debut in 1975; and honors including the Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards; as well as her citation as a Living New York Landmark and her induction into the Theatre Hall of Fame. In November 2007, Ms. Cook celebrated her 80th birthday in concert with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall. In January 2006, Cook made her solo concert debut at the Metropolitan Opera Company, making her the first female pop singer to be presented by the MET in the company's 123-year history. Cook's studio recordings include eight original cast albums; two Ben Bagley albums of songs by Jerome Kern and George Gershwin; an album titled Songs of Perfect Propriety, featuring poems by Dorothy Parker set to music by Seymour Barab; and As Of Today on the Columbia label. Her most recent DRG recordings also include Close as Pages in a Book, featuring the lyrics of Dorothy Fields; Barbara Cook: Live from London; Oscar Winners: The Lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein; All I Ask of You and The Champion Season: A Salute to Gower Champion; the Grammy nominated Count Your Blessings, a collection of traditional Christmas songs; Tribute, based on her sold-out Cafe Carlyle concert; No One Is Alone, based on her most recent Carnegie Hall concert; and the recently released Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder. Alberto Ibargüen ’66, P'97 Alberto Ibargüen was named president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in January 2005. In this capacity, he is taking a leadership role in helping journalists everywhere explore new ways of communicating news in a rapidly changing environment brought on by the Internet. He is the former publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. During his tenure, The Miami Herald won three Pulitzer Prizes and El Nuevo Herald won Spain's Ortega y Gasset Prize for excellence in journalism. A graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Ibargüen served in the Peace Corps in Venezuela's Amazon Territory and in Colombia. He practiced law in Hartford, Conn., before joining The Hartford Courant, then Newsday in New York. He is chairman of the board of the World Wide Web Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing the Web as a medium that empowers people worldwide to bring about positive change. He serves on corporate boards and the boards of ProPublica and the Council on Foreign Relations. Over the years, he has served on the boards of arts, education, and civic organizations, including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Wesleyan University, Smith College, the Trustees' Council of the National Gallery of Art, and as chairman of the board for the Newseum. He served as board chairman of PBS and of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1996, Wesleyan honored him with a Distinguished Alumnus Award, and in 2010, he was the Dwight L. Greene ’70 Symposium speaker on campus. For his work to protect journalists in Latin America as part of the Inter American Press Association, he received a Maria Moors Cabot citation from Columbia University.) Jean Adams Shaw P’79 and Ralph "Biff" H. Shaw II ’51, P'79 The Shaws have provided remarkable examples of service to Wesleyan and to the greater Middletown community in a myriad of ways. They have been bridge builders between Wesleyan and the Middletown community, and numerous local organizations have benefited from their dedication. Jean Shaw P'79 received her B.A. from Skidmore College in 1952, the same year she married Mr. Shaw. She served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy from 1952–53. She began working at Wesleyan as a gallery assistant for the Department of Art in 1969. As events manager and then director of the Center for the Arts from 1974–1999, she helped to establish the center's reputation as a cultural magnet for the University and the state. She then acted as coordinator for Reunion & Commencement from 1999–2002 and as coordinator of the Wesleyan Lecture Series from 1999–2004. Ms. Shaw has served as president of the Friends of the Davison Art Center. She was a member of the Wesleyan Landmarks Advisory Board for more than two decades. She served on the advisory board of the Green Street Arts Center; both she and her husband, Biff, are mentor-volunteers. Ms. Shaw has participated in numerous community organizations, including the Middletown Foundation for the Arts and the Middlesex United Way, which she served as president and campaign co-chair (with her husband) and currently as a member of the Community Impact Council. She also devotes her time to the Friends of the President Committee at Skidmore College. Biff Shaw received his M.B.A. from the University of Hartford after graduating from Wesleyan. Following his service in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps from 1952–1954, he joined the Shaw Belting Company in Middletown, where he became president in 1963. He remained in the community to serve as president and CEO of the City Savings Bank in 1977. After a merger, he became president and CEO of Farmers & Mechanics Bank from 1983–1992 and proceeded to become Community Liaison for Middlesex Health System, Inc., until 2003. At Wesleyan, Mr. Shaw was president of his fraternity and captain of the track team. He has chaired his Class Reunion activities since graduation. He served on the Alumni Council for 12 years, was chair of the National Alumni Fund for two years, and was area chairman for the 15th Decade Fund. Mr. Shaw has devoted many years to community service. At Middlesex Hospital, he has served as director, chairman of the board, and vice chairman. For the Middlesex United Way, he has been director, president, treasurer, and campaign co-chair. He also was a founder of Middlesex County Community Foundation and has been director, chairman, and secretary. He has had numerous civic activities that range from school building committees to local economic development to oversight of inland wetlands, including service for eight years as chairman of the Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission. The Raymond E. Baldwin Medal Recipients: Robert Patricelli '61, P'88, P'90 and Margaret Sweetland PatricelliRobert and Margaret Patricelli are among the Hartford area's leading citizens and friends of Wesleyan. Their philanthropic and service activities have ranged from the arts to a science museum; from hospitals and educational institutions to programs that assist low-income neighborhoods. Robert Patricelli is chairman and chief executive officer of Women's Health, USA. He previously was founder, chair, and CEO of both Value Health, a NYSE company and the nation's leading company in specialty managed care (sold in 1997), and Evolution Benefits, a provider of electronic payment solutions (sold in 2010). After graduating from Harvard Law School, he began his career in the federal government, starting as a White House Fellow and then serving as minority counsel to a U.S. Senate Subcommittee, deputy under secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, and administrator of the Urban Mass Transit Administration. He then joined CIGNA Corp., rising to executive vice president of the parent company and president of the health care group. At Wesleyan, he served as a trustee for 15 years and is now an emeritus trustee. In 1986, he received Wesleyan's Distinguished Alumni Award. He and Margaret are major donors to Shining Hope for Communities, founded by Wesleyan students to ameliorate conditions in the Kibera slum outside Nairobi. Margaret is board chair and Bob is a board member, and Shining Hope's facilities, which they have visited, include "Margaret's Safe Place" for housing vulnerable girls. In addition, the Patricelli '92 Theater is named in honor of Robert's father, Leonard J. Patricelli '29. Mr. Patricelli's many other affiliations include service as a director of numerous companies and nonprofit entities including Newman's Own Foundation, Newman's Own food company, Northeast Utilities, the MetroHartford Alliance, and the Connecticut Science Center. He is chairman of the board of the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. He likes to cook and drive tractors on their home on Folly Farm in Simsbury, Connecticut. Margaret Patricelli is president and CEO of the Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation, which focuses on programs designed to assist low income neighborhoods in Hartford. It played a leading role in creating the innovative TeacherDollars program in Hartford public schools, which awards principals and teachers in high performing Hartford schools special debit cards that allow them to purchase classroom supplies and equipment. The foundation also created GospelFest at the Bushnell (featuring an all-Hartford 40-church gospel choir), and provided initial funding for Hartford's CrimeStoppers Program. Ms. Patricelli previously worked in health planning at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, marketing and communications at Connecticut General and CIGNA, and public affairs at ConnectiCare, where she created the ConnectiCare Foundation. She is active in numerous local, national, and international philanthropic activities, having served on the boards of the Mark Twain House and Museum, Foodshare, Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, the Hartford Ballet, and the Simsbury Public Health Commission. She currently serves on the boards of Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and the Friends of Simsbury Public Library. Ms. Patricelli has made several trips as a volunteer health worker in rural communities in Haiti. She is a graduate of Goucher College, and has a master's degree in public health from University of California, Los Angeles. She likes cats and rhythm and blues. Andrus Field |
Commencement Ceremony Inclement Weather Plan The Commencement Ceremony is held outdoors, rain or shine. Under certain weather conditions, the ceremony may be shifted from the open field, where seating is unlimited, into the large tent on Andrus Field. Although the tent accommodates numerous spectators, seating is limited. In this scenario, we respectfully request that each graduate limit his/her guests to 3 seats under the tent. Please come prepared with raincoats and umbrellas. Information will be posted on the Wesleyan homepage and the Reunion & Commencement website, and graduating seniors will be notified via email. Details will also be available at Registration (Usdan University Center) and an outgoing message will be on the main University phone number at 860/685-2000. The ceremony will be simulcast in the Memorial Chapel, Patricelli ’92 Theater, Crowell Concert Hall, and Tishler Lecture Hall (Room 150) at Exley Science Center, rain or shine. The ceremony may also be viewed online. Please check http://www.wesleyan.edu/rc/ or http://wescast.wesleyan.edu for details the week of May 16, 2011. Tent, Andrus Field |
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| Immediately following the ceremony | President’s Commencement Celebration A reception celebrating the Class of 2011 will take place immediately following the Commencement ceremony. Due to the size of the gathering, families and students who wish to meet during the reception are encouraged to identify a “meeting place” in advance (e.g., one of the buildings on College Row). Light refreshments will be available. North and South College Lawn |
| Immediately following the ceremony | GLSP Champagne Reception and Diploma Distribution GLSP graduates and guests are invited to this reception. We will distribute diplomas and raise our glasses in a toast to the graduates! Tent, Russell House |
| 1:30–2:30 P.M. | Graduate Student Champagne Reception All MA and PhD degree graduates and their guests are invited to a special post-commencement champagne reception to celebrate this special occasion. Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center |