OXYFARE FROM THE BOG PRESIDENT
Volume 40, Number 1 oxy.edu/magazine OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE
Jonathan Veitch President Wendy F. Sternberg Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Rhonda L. Brown Vice President for Equity and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer Charlie Cardillo Vice President for Institutional Advancement Vince Cuseo Vice President of Enrollment and Dean of Admission Rob Flot Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Amos Himmelstein Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Marty Sharkey Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications Jim Tranquada Director of Communications
No matter the occasion, one’s 50th is a milestone with many connotations—birthdays, marriages, retirements, and yes, reunions. There often is a mixture of anticipation and anxiety about going to a reunion—who do I want to see, who won’t I recognize—but I am feeling a sense of gratitude about this one, my 50th, that is grounded in stories I tell of my Oxy years. And that may be true for all alumni who are about to celebrate a reunion. As I think about the stories I tell about my Oxy years—1964 to 1968—they have a number of themes. One is imagery. From my first day on campus, having driven 300 miles in my VW Beetle from Modesto, I visualize meeting my roommate, Wilbert Bennett ’68, who arrived on campus before me and rightfully claimed the bed by the window. The beauty of the campus, the special walkways and quads, the dining hall and other locations, all easily come into view. Other stories are about personal
Save the Dates: June 22-24
Alumni Reunion Weekend 1968
1973
1978
1983
1988
1993
1998
2003
2008
2013
Welcome the Class of 1968 into the Fifty Year Club! (And, hey, Class of 1993— it’s your 25th anniversary!) All Tigers are welcome back to Occidental! Join your fellow alumni returning to campus to reconnect with friends, relive your youth (or at least try to), and rediscover the magic of Oxy.
Get involved! If you have any questions about Alumni Reunion Weekend or would like to serve on your class reunion planning committee, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement at 323-259-2601 or alumni@oxy.edu.
Fireside Chat in Washington, D.C. Oct. 18, 2017
editorial staff
Dick Anderson Editor Samantha B. Bonar ’90, Jasmine Teran Contributing Writers Marc Campos Contributing Photographer Gail (Schulman) Ginell ’79 Class Notes Editor SanSoucie Design Design DLS Group Printing Carolyn Deanne Adams Executive Assistant to the Dean of the College
Black Occidental College Tigers jacket with Carefree Colorblock by U-Trau. 60/20/20 Cotton/Poly/Rayon blend. Sizes S-XL. $45.95
OCCIDENTAL MAGAZINE
Published quarterly by Occidental College Main number: 323-259-2500 To contact Occidental magazine By phone: 323-259-2679 By email: oxymag@oxy.edu By mail: Occidental College Office of Communications F-36 1600 Campus Road Los Angeles CA 90041-3314
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Letters may be edited for length, content, and style. Occidental College online Homepage: oxy.edu Facebook: facebook.com/occidental Twitter: @occidental Instagram: instagram.com/occidentalcollege On the cover: The images of many Oxy gridiron greats are plastered on this 1940s-era football, which is on display in the Roy Dennis Trophy Room inside Alumni Gymnasium. Photo by Marc Campos. Oxy Wear photo: Marc Campos
Occidental Jazz Quartet members Ron Leachman ’68, Charles McClintock ’68, Marty Maner ’68, and Roland Pang ’69 are putting the band back together for the Class of ’68 reunion dinner.
experiences—the exhilaration of Orientation in the Greek Bowl while trying to learn “Io Triumphe,” the mixers, lectures in Thorne Hall, small seminars, Greek rush, lifelong friendships, heartthrobs, musical connections, still-favorite professors, learning to learn, and figuring out plans for post-1968. Still other stories frame Oxy through societal experiences—Vietnam, the rich and countercultural pull of Los Angeles, the assassination of beloved leaders. Whether we tell our stories of Oxy to ourselves or to others, this invaluable lore is an enduring part of our adult development and serves as a touchstone for how many of us have experienced life since graduation. College tuition covered much more than a first-rate liberal arts education. It offered the opportunity to have formative experiences that continue to give meaning to our lives. The resulting stories are like gems. Sharing them at reunion is priceless. Charles McClintock ’68 President, Board of Governors
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1. Dozens of alumni and friends of the College were on hand as President Emeritus Ted Mitchell and President Jonathan Veitch discussed what’s new at Oxy and the state of higher education. 2. Trustee Susan DiMarco P’17, Matthew Cibellis ’86, Debbie Afar ’10, Caroline Kim-Palacios ’07, and Shumway Marshall ’05. 3. Karen Akerson M’83, Bailee Brown ’15, and Keith Jones ’16. 4. Ellen Mignoni P’17, center, enjoys an animated conversation before the talk.
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