NEW PALTZ — The State University of New York at New Paltz will celebrate its annual Alumni Reunion Weekend on Oct. 15 through 17 with events ranging from a seminar on the history of the sauna to an ’80s retro dinner party, where guests are encouraged to wear their Jordache jeans and punk hairdos.
“Our plans are developing for a wonderful celebration this fall,” said Rayna Wendell, director of Alumni Affairs at SUNY New Paltz. “We had a great turnout last year, but we hope to have even more alumni back on campus this year. We’ve added several very special opportunities to connect, including an alumni, faculty and staff luncheon, an ‘Open Tent’ reception on Saturday, and new departmental gatherings for alumni to connect with faculty and staff.”
The weekend’s events will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 15, at the Hopfer Admissions and Alumni Center with a welcoming reception and registration. Other events on Friday include: an alumni, faculty and staff luncheon; a series of alumni seminars, including “Saving the Peregrine Falcon” with Dr. Heinz Meng, New Paltz’s beloved resident author, lecturer and SUNY Distinguished Professor; “Oxyvita: A Transfusable Replacement for Whole Blood” with retired New Paltz professor Doug Baker; and “Sauna: The Naked Truth” with New Paltz’s own resident master of the Finnish sauna, Dr. Mika Roinila of the department of Geography.
Then, at 5:30 p.m., President Steven Poskanzer will induct members of the class of ’54 into the Lantern Society, followed by an 8 p.m. theatre production of “Sunday in the Park with George” by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.
Among the many activities planned for Saturday will be a number of departmental receptions. These events are an opportunity for faculty, staff, students and alumni to visit and network. Academic departments participating include Art Education, Asian Studies, Athletics, Communication and Media, English, Geography, History and Study Abroad.
Also on Saturday, there will be a walking tour of the New Paltz campus, led by Dennis O’Keefe, local historian, photographer and current archivist of the New Paltz collection at Sojourner Truth Library; an all-class and campus barbeque at 11:45 a.m., on the Old Main Quad, complete with live music, Frisbee and football games; individual class dinners for ’54, ’59, ’64, ’69 and ’74; and an ’80s retro dinner and party, for which graduates from all classes and their guests are invited to wear their Members Only jackets and leg warmers.
On Sunday, there will be an Athletics Alumni Golf Outing at 9 a.m. at Apple Greens Golf Course in New Paltz. In addition, beginning at 11 a.m. there will be a First World Reunion Brunch and Business Meeting, where alumni from 1960 to the present join together. All alumni are also invited to join students and fellow alumni for brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday morning at the Hasbrouck Dining Commons.
The Office of Alumni Affairs is also establishing several displays across campus for Reunion Weekend to showcase memorabilia. If you have any items you would like to donate to this program, please bring them with you when you return to campus for Reunion Weekend.
For a full schedule of events, registration forms, list of attendees and hotel accommodations, please go to www.newpaltz.edu/alumni/reunion.
Note to Editors: Most activities of Reunion Weekend 2004 are open to media. If you would like to cover one or more of these events, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at (845) 257-3245 in advance so that we may facilitate your campus visit.
