The weekend, themed "Tradition with Change," began with a reception to honor retired Professor of Mathematics James Denton, which included remarks by Leslie G. Cohen '76 and Uthman F. Muhammad '70. Alumni gathered later that evening at Amherst Brewing Company to catch up with old friends, meet new ones and reminisce about their time at the College.
Saturday's events, designed to provide time for alumni and current students to interact, proved successful. Current students joined alumni in the Mezzanine for breakfast, with alumni meeting with Dean of Students Ben Lieber and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Tom Parker afterwards.
Discussion concerning the Report of the Committee on Academic Priorities with President Tony Marx, Professor of Black Studies and English and Special Assistant to the President for Diversity Rhonda Cobham-Sander and Associate Dean of the Faculty Frederick Griffiths followed. Alumni voiced their concerns to the deans and president and then joined current students for lunch in the Mezzanine.
Following lunch, two Round Table Discussions, "African Americans in Academia" and "The First Steps out of Amherst College" took place. Evening events, a reception honoring Dean Onawumi Jean Moss, a Banquet featuring keynote speaker, Vice President of Government Relations at Viacom David Sutphen '91 and a dessert social hosted by the Black Students' Union and Charles Drew House were enjoyed by all.
The weekend closed with the Hermenia T. Gardner Bi-Semester Worship service, and plans for next year are already in progress.