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AROUND THE QUADS

Casual Dinners Bring Together Alumni, Students

As part of a continuing effort to offer opportunities for alumni and student interaction, the Alumni Office, working with the Division of Student Affairs, has begun a program of informal, intergenerational dinners. These “parent” and “grandparent” events, hosted at alumni homes, restaurants or on campus, have an open agenda — no program or speaker — making it easy for alumni and students to share their experiences and get to know each other.

Two recent events, comprising the Classes of ’05-’55 and ’06-’56, were well-received, successful and fun, noted Kathryn Wittner, assistant dean of student affairs. “Both times, we had to cut off the conversation because Faculty House was closing,” she said. “Both groups can’t wait to tell their stories — the same stories. A lot has changed in 50 years, but a lot has not.”

Alan Miller ’56 said of his class’ dinner: “I cannot get over what a superb experience our get-together was. I certainly am planning to continue the interaction between the two classes on various levels.” In agreement was Radha Ram ’06: “I had an amazing, memorable night. I returned to my dorm with a new perspective on my life as a Columbia student … I fully support the idea of more interaction between alumni and students. Such interactions seem to instill a renewed sense of school pride in students and alumni.”

Members of the Classes of 1956 and 2006 shared their Columbia stories and experiences at a recent informal dinner at Faculty House.

The ’05-’55 dinner left attendees with a sense of goodwill and a hope for more interaction. “It was wonderful to spend time in such an intimate setting with alumni who were just as eager to share their stories and hear our experiences at the College,” said Bridget Geibel ’05. And while Larry Balfus ’55 joked, “Some of our conversations could have gone all night, except the students had to study and some of my older classmates had passed their bedtime,” he echoed what other students and alums have said of the program: “Events like these are a must for the future.”

Several more dinners are in the works, including opportunities for classes to gather at campus events such as Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Thus far, attendees at events have been active alumni and student leaders. Wittner is excited about moving forward to include younger classes. A March event is planned for the Class of 2007 at Faculty House, and the Class of 2008 will receive a letter this summer introducing the program.

Lisa Palladino

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