Alumni House on Main Street is reunion central this weekend. (Bill Giduz/Davidson College photo)
It’s reunion weekend at Davidson College, with more than 1,000 alumni and hundreds of guests registered for events that run morning to night, Thursday to Sunday. College officials say it’s the biggest reunion ever. Returning Davidsonians will feast, listen to lectures and poetry readings, and hear a little bit about the town and the college on their shared 175th anniversary.
“Reunion 2012 will be the largest reunion we’ve ever held, with 1,007 alumni and 1,733 total guests registered so far,” according to a college spokesman. Ten classes will celebrate major 10-year reunions: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, and 2007. Many will be staying in residence hall rooms.
Reunions are also a chance to do some fundraising, and the college said Thursday that those reunion classes have given more than $1 million.
Davidson College reunions are limited to registered alumni. But you’re sure to see more than a handful around town, at off-campus receptions and events at local restaurants. Thursday night receptions were planned at Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse, North Harbor Club, Campania Cafe, Brickhouse Tavern and other local watering holes. Friday night parties were scheduled on campus, and many off-campus spots.
A somewhat related event Thursday night has basketball coach Bob McKillop as the guest bartender from 7-10 p.m. at Flatiron, 215 S. Main St. His tips go to Ada Jenkins Center, the regional community services center on Davidson’s west side.
Alums are in town from 39 states, and 13 are traveling from outside the U.S., from Argentina, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Davidson reunions always give alumni a chance to go “back to school” and this year’s schedule includes classes from: Gill Holland on “Readings from 19th century British Literature,” Tony Abbott reading poetry, and Jan Blodgett and Ralph Levering talking about their new town history, “One Town, Many Voices.” Dan Murrey ’87 will be talking about the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, Marc Menchel ’77 will lead a discussion of the economic downturn and Dr. Sallie Permar ’97 and Prof. Dave Wessner will lead a session on developments in HIV/AIDS research.
A reunited Cast Iron Filter (this is an old photo) is among the bands of Davidson alumni playing reunions this weekend.
Alumni will have memorial services for their class members who have died and a ceremonial tree planting is planned in honor of the late Missy Woodward Boaz ’73, Davidson’s first female graduate.
There’s an Alumni Cake Race, a “Conversation with President Carol Quillen,” a golf tournament at River Run, a big barbecue and lawn party on Saturday afternoon, and formal class dinners on Saturday night.
The music this weekend will include three bands comprised largely of alumni, who will be playing on campus Saturday evening. Other events include a gathering of GSAND (Gay-Straight Alumni Network of Davidson) and a reception for Alumni of Color Engagement (ACE).
For more on Davidson reunions, see Davidson.edu
For a list of other events going on in the area this weekend, see our Weekend Calendar, in THE GUIDE»
