Winter 2008: Register

Reunions bring class(es) to Homecoming

By Eric Rangus

Members of the Emory community who skipped Emory Homecoming Weekend 2007 missed a good party.

From the Homecoming men’s lacrosse game against Clemson (a 10-8 loss, though the more than five hundred refreshingly rabid fans didn’t seem to mind), to the Everclear concert (still rocking past their 1990s peak), to more sedate fare like award ceremonies honoring distinguished alumni from Emory College, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, and Goizueta Business School, Emory Homecoming Weekend provided something for all 4,500-plus attendees.

“We’re completely thrilled with the Homecoming turnout this year,” said Gloria Grevas, assistant director for reunions with the Emory Alumni Association (EAA). The EAA, Division of Campus Life, and Student Programming Council partnered to pull off this year’s celebration.

And Grevas already has started working to bring the next batch of reunion classes back to campus for the next Homecoming, September 25–28, 2008. The first Reunion-related activity actually will take place much sooner—the Corpus Cordis Aureum induction for members of the Classes of 1958 and earlier. That ceremony will take place during Emory Commencement Weekend May 8–12.

Anchoring Homecoming 2007’s activities were nine class reunions—a dramatic expansion from the previous standard of three reunions. Undergraduate classes at five-year intervals (2002, 1997, 1992, and so on) came back to campus to reminisce and reconnect.

“Our class reunion was wonderful,” said Lee Kramer 97C, president of the Philadelphia Chapter of Emory Alumni, on campus for his 10-Year Reunion. “The event went really smoothly; those who attended really enjoyed themselves, and it was great to reconnect with classmates. There was tremendous attention to detail. It was a memorable experience.”

Each reunion had its own character. Music harking back to senior years played a major role in the atmosphere. The classes took time to bond in other ways, as well. For instance, to celebrate their 25-Year Reunion, the Class of 1982 announced a campaign to create a $1 million endowed Class of 1982 Scholarship. The goal is to raise all the funds in time for the Class of 1982’s 30-Year Reunion in 2012. (For good measure, several of the attendees were decked out in silver to honor the class’s silver anniversary).

While human activity was certainly the core of the weekend, bricks and mortar got their day in the sun as well. Ground was broken for Emory’s new psychology building. The mass of attendees spilled out from under the tent for the event, which also included a eulogy for Gil-Thom (the departed Gilbert and Thompson residence halls the new building will replace).

Newly completed structures, such as the School of Medicine building and the new Turman Hall freshman residence made their official debuts and hosted many guests for tours.