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October 2007
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CAMPUS NEWS |
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See What You've Been Missing at Alumni Weekend 2007
Alumni Weekend is just a few weeks away and you won’t want to miss the festivities. This year’s celebration will maintain many of the events that alumni have enjoyed year after year, but also introduce new programs that promise to be fun and engaging, and, of course, provide the opportunity to load up on new AU gear and see the newly renovated Mary Graydon Center. In what has become its own AU tradition, Alumni Weekend will be held in conjunction with Family Weekend. The last two years have proven that the commingling of alumni, current students, and family members really serves to heighten the AU spirit on campus. With luncheons and barbeques, tours and classes, reunions and political speakers, there’s a little something for everyone.
Alumni from the Class of 1957 and earlier can look forward to a day of special events on Friday, October 26, featuring the Golden Eagle Luncheon, held on the stage of the Abramson Family Recital Hall in the beautiful Katzen Arts Center. Graduates from the Class of 1957, celebrating their 50th class reunion, will be honored as our newest Golden Eagles, and all attendees will enjoy a live student performance from the Department of Performing Arts, as well as an optional tour of the AU Museum. Reunion celebrations will continue that evening, as the Classes of 1977, 1982, 1987, 1997, and 2002 commemorate their milestone reunions with private parties. The Classes of 1977, 1982 and 1987 will share a joint reception honoring their 30th, 25th, and 20th reunions, respectively, at the historic National Press Club in downtown D.C. Graduates from 1997 will enjoy a private party at Gordon Biersch Brewery in the happening Gallery Place-Chinatown area, and the Class of 2002 will celebrate its 5-year reunion at Ireland’s Four Fields (formerly the 4Ps) in Cleveland Park.
The always-popular AU Picnic will be held on Saturday, October 27. This is the perfect time for AU alumni, current students, and their families to mix and mingle over a delicious gourmet barbeque, including hamburgers, hot dogs, vegetarian chili, pumpkin cake, and apple bread pudding. There will be live music as well as AU alumnus Bubbles the Clown, who will keep children entertained with face painting and balloon art. Of course, Alumni Weekend wouldn’t be complete without the all-alumni gathering on Saturday evening. This year’s event, "Port and Politics," will feature a tapas cocktail reception on campus in the Butler Boardroom, at which AU’s new president, Neil Kerwin, SPA/BA ’71, and AU Alumni Board President Brian Keane, SPA/BA ’89 will recognize 2007 Alumni Award winners James Brett, SPA/BA '73 and Ken Biberaj, SPA/BA '02. Following the reception, alumni can proceed to Bender Arena for a special presentation, cosponsored by AU’s Kennedy Political Union (KPU), from White House correspondents, Helen Thomas and David Gregory, SIS/BA ’92. The discussion, “From Kennedy to Bush: Covering the White House from the Front Row,” will be moderated by School of Communication Professor Lenny Steinhorn and promises to be an entertaining and intellectually stimulating end to a day of campus activities. Register now for these and other Alumni Weekend 2007 events at: http://www.alumni.american.edu/alumniweekend, e-mail reunion@american.edu, or call 202-885-5900. -Tara Sherwin | |||||||
