50th Reunion Schedule for 1974
Items with an are links to additional information.
Use one of these links to go directly to the activities for that day:
Thursday, May 30
4:00 p.m. Registration opens
Location: Davison Lobby
6:00–9:00 p.m. Campfire Casual Welcome Back buffet dinner
Location: Davison Tent
Refined yet relaxing dinner in a “come as you are” casual attire style. Enjoy Adirondack chairs and campfires on Joss beach and the makings for s’mores after dinner. President Bradley will be stopping by to help us kick off our 50th Reunion weekend. Sit back, relax, and have a drink and dinner with friends!
9:00 p.m. Meet Your Stars: An Astrological Icebreaker
Location: Davison Tent
Classmate Robbie Rothman will offer a fun way to reconnect with one another. If interested, please contact Robbie at robertrothman@techie.com for more details.
9:30–11:30 p.m. 1974 Hospitality
Location: Davison Multipurpose Room
Beer, wine, and soft drinks available
9:30–11:30 p.m. Lounge ’74—Demitasse
Location: Davison Parlor
Friday, May 31
8:00–10:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
Location: Davison Tent
8:00–10:00 a.m. Full Breakfast
Location: Gordon Commons (formerly ACDC)
9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Reunion Information Center is open
Location: Main Building Lobby
9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Davison House open for check-in
10:15 a.m.–Noon Class dedicated sneak peek of The Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts
Location: Meet in front of Davison
Join Robert Brigham, Professor of History and the Inaugural Faculty Director of The Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts, and Olympia Management for a tour and presentation about the College’s newest community resource and a sneak peek into early Institute programming.
Noon Worldview Inspired Lunch
Location: Alumnae House Dining Room
Class photo opportunity before lunch at the Alumnae House front steps.
1:00 p.m. Reflections on Coeducation at Vassar
Location: Alumnae House Living Room
M. Glen Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, and Anne Constantinople, Professor Emerita of Psychology
2:00–3:00 p.m. College-Sponsored Lectures and Tours
Honoring Childhood for 96 years at the Wimpfheimer Nursery School
Location: Rockefeller 200
Capital Project Planning: Past, Present and Future
Location: Rockefeller 300
Tour: The Environmental Cooperative and Vassar Preserve
Location: Shuttles depart from Main Circle
3:30–4:30 p.m. College-Sponsored Lectures and Tours
The Road to an AI Future: Promises and Pitfalls
Location: New England Building 105
Sounds and Science: Grants in Action at Vassar
Location: Meet at the Bridge for Laboratory Sciences Atrium (Chapel side)
Flight of the Wasp: The Rise, Fall, and Future of America’s Original Ruling Class
Location: New England Building 206
Tour: Walking Tour of the Vassar College Arboretum
Location: Meet at the entrance to Main in front of Main Circle
4:00–5:00 p.m. Labyrinth Walk and Pratt House Open House
Location: Pratt House
Come experience the new labyrinth on campus and get a tour of Pratt House, the new hub for Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices (RSLCP) at the College.
The labyrinth tour will be hosted by Associate Professor Carolyn Palmer of Psychological Science and Katilau Mbindyo '14, an alum who advocated for a permanent labyrinth at Vassar throughout her student years.
The open house will be hosted by Saba Ali, Advisor for Muslim Student Life; Rabbi Bryan Mann, Rachlin Director for Jewish Student Life and Assistant Director, RSLCP; and Rev. Sam Speers, Associate Dean of the College for RSLCP. Refreshments will be served.
5:00 p.m. Night Owls Rehearsal
Location: Rockefeller 200
5:00 p.m. Class of 1964 presents: Bricks, Mortar, and More
Location: Rockefeller 300
Did you know that Main was the largest building in the country when it was completed in 1865? Or that Marcel Breuer’s masterful Ferry House was tucked behind Main so that its mid-century modern design would not offend the eyes of traditionalists? Join Margaret McCurry ’64, FAIA, and Virginia Gerst ’64, veteran architecture docent, to learn about the cultural history of Vassar as seen through its architecture in this presentation, updated from a talk originally given at the Class of ’64’s 50th Reunion.
5:00 p.m. Class of 1974 sponsors a concert featuring classical and jazz from Vassar music faculty
Location: Skinner Hall
Featuring Mary Nessinger (mezzo-soprano), Tom Sauer (piano), and James Osborn (trumpet) with Peter Tomlinson (piano) and Lou Pappas (bass, emeritus). All are welcome.
5:30–6:45 p.m. Shabbat Service
Location: The Bayit (51 Collegeview Avenue, North Gate)
6:00–7:00 p.m. Faculty Reception
Location: Fergusson Quadrangle Tent, Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film
6:30–9:15 p.m. Tropical Breezes
Location: Terrace and Bridge for Laboratory Sciences
Join us on our own island paradise for our buffet complete with tropical décor and signature cocktail! Enjoy views of Skinner and the fireworks. Don’t forget to pack your favorite Hawaiian or floral outfits!
9:30 p.m. Fireworks over Sunset Lake
9:30–11:30 p.m. 1974 Hospitality
Location: Davison Multipurpose Room
Beer, wine, and soft drinks available
9:30–11:30 p.m. Lounge ’74
Location: Davison Parlor
Join us for throwback ’70s Soul Night
10:00 p.m.–Midnight The Mug
Location: Lower Level, College Center
Join us at the Mug for music from the 80s and 90s. Don’t forget to wait in line. Everyone 21 and older is welcome. Cash bar, DJ, and dancing.
10:00 p.m. Movie Night: The Group
Location: Rosenwald Theater, Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film
Based on the 1963 novel of the same name, this 1966 American ensemble film directed by Sidney Lumet follows the lives of a group of eight female graduates from Vassar from 1933 to 1940.
MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY
Saturday, June 1
7:30–9:00 a.m. Full Breakfast
Location: Gordon Commons (formerly ACDC)
8:00–10:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
Location: Davison Tent
9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Reunion Information Center is open
Location: Main Building Lobby
9:30 a.m. Hour with the President
Location: The Chapel
Remarks by Vassar’s 11th President, Elizabeth Howe Bradley
10:30 a.m. Line Up for Parade of Classes
Line starts with 1954 at the chapel along the path and ends with 2019. Look for your class banner along the parade route. Golf carts will be available. Class photo opportunity at the start of the parade.
10:45 a.m. Parade of Classes
11:30 a.m. Celebrate Vassar
Location: Noyes Circle Tent
Alums from the 5th to the 75th reunion classes, guests, and children gather together to celebrate extraordinary volunteers and gifts, and our shared Vassar legacy. Remarks by Monica Vachher ’77, AAVC President, and Kat Mills Polys ’93, Vassar Fund Committee Chair.
12:30–1:00 p.m. Class Memorial Gathering
Location: Class tree, in front of Swift Hall (rain backup: Lobby of the Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film)
1:00–2:00 p.m. Al fresco Italian Buffet Luncheon and class meeting
Location: Frances Fergusson Quadrangle Tent, Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film
2:00–3:00 p.m. Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center Curatorial Tours
More information coming soon.
2:00–4:00 p.m. The Loeb Art Center
Location: Hildegard Krause Baker, class of 1911, Sculpture Garden
Enjoy afternoon iced tea and refreshments.
2:00–4:00 p.m. Open House at the A. Scott Warthin Jr. Museum
Location: A. Scott Warthin Jr. Museum (next to the Aula)
The A. Scott Warthin Jr. Museum is one of Vassar’s many hidden gems! Housed in Ely Hall, the museum has over a dozen active display cases with exhibits curated by Vassar students and faculty alike, in addition to an artistic Geologic Timeline, lots of wall art, a working geyser model, and all the fun facts you could want. Come by to get a personal tour of the museum from our Assistant Museum Curator, a current Vassar geology student, Harrison Walker!
2:30–3:30 p.m. College-Sponsored Lectures and Tours
Paula Williams Madison ’74—Finding Samuel Lowe: From Harlem to China
Location: Rosenwald Screening Room in Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film
Celebrating the Alumnae House Centennial: Honoring the Past, Reimagining the Future
Location: Alumnae House, Living Room
Climate Tales from a Southwestern Lake: Lessons for the Future
Location: Rockefeller 210
Enhancing Resilience: Strategies for Mental Health at Vassar and Beyond
Location: New England Building 206
Cuba and América: Entangled Histories, A Conversation with Ada Ferrer ’84 and Jennifer Adair ’99, moderated by Katherine Hite
Location: Rockefeller 300
Tour: Walking Tour of the Vassar College Arboretum
Location: Meet at the entrance to Main in front of Main Circle
2:30–4:30 p.m. Vassar Devils & Angels Ice Cream Tent
Location: Quad Lawn
3:00–4:00 p.m. Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center Curatorial Tours
More information coming soon.
3:00–5:00 p.m. Alum Author Meet and Greet
Location: Vassar College Store (aka, the Juliet), Raymond Avenue
3:00–5:00 p.m. Multicultural and Affinity Group Receptions
Location: Main Building, 1st and 2nd floors, and the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center
Join us for an unforgettable experience at the Multicultural and Affinity Group Receptions! Connect with alums from diverse backgrounds and establish lasting relationships in an inclusive and intersectional setting. Indulge in delicious ethnic foods while you visit receptions tailored to Alum-athletes, Black/African American alums (AAAVC members), First-generation, Low Income (FLI) alums (formerly Transitions), International alums, LGBTQ+ alums, and WVKR alums.
The receptions will take place in the Campus Center North Atrium and Main parlors. Additionally, the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center will host an ALANA Alum Open House during the same time. All ALANA Center affiliated alums are welcome, including Black/African American, Latiné, Asian, Asian American, South Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Indigenous alums, and former members of ALANA student organizations. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect and create new memories!
3:30–5:00 p.m. Annual Ferry House Mini-Reunion at Reunion
Location: Ferry House Outdoor Patio (weather permitting)
Calling all Ferries for an informal reception with light refreshments.
4:00–5:00 p.m. College-Sponsored Lectures and Tours
Stop Making Sense: The Art of Inspiring Anybody
Location: Rockefeller 210
A Conversation About Health and Education in America
Location: Rockefeller 200
Sneak Peek at The Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts
Location: Rockefeller 300
5:00-6:00 p.m. Night Owls Concert (tentative)
Location: Taylor 102
5:30–6:30 p.m. Donor Societies Reception (by invitation)
Location: Thompson Memorial Library Lawn Tent
A special reception for members of the 1861 Loyalty Society and Matthew Vassar Legacy Society in appreciation for those who have made Vassar a philanthropic priority.
6:15 p.m. Class Photo
Location: Rockefeller steps (facing the library); Rain location—library lobby
6:45–7:15 p.m. Elegant Dinner and Drinks
Location: Reception, Rose Parlor, 2nd floor Main Building
Be your most glamorous self and cap off our 50th Reunion weekend!
7:15–9:30 p.m. Dinner
Location: Villard Room, 2nd floor Main Building
10:00 p.m.–Midnight 1974 Hospitality
Location: Davison Multipurpose Room
Beer, wine, and soft drinks available
10:00 p.m.–Midnight Lounge ’74
Location: Davison Parlor
10:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. All Class After Party in Noyes Circle Tent
Location: Noyes Circle Tent
Cash bar, DJ, and dancing to a multigenerational playlist.
Sunday, June 2
7:30 a.m.–noon Breakfast/Brunch
Location: Gordon Commons (formerly ACDC)
8:00–10:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
Location: Davison Tent
8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Reunion Information Center is open
Location: Main Building Lobby
8:45 a.m. Choir rehearsal
Location: The Chapel
9:00 a.m–1:00 p.m. Davison is open for check-out
Please return room keys to Guest Services Coordinators in residence halls.
9:00 a.m. Fun Run with Cross-Country Coach Ron Stonitsch
Meet in front of the Athletic and Fitness Center
10:00–11:00 a.m. Service of Remembrance
Location: The Chapel
An inter-religious service drawing upon religious and humanist traditions to honor and celebrate the women and men of our reuning classes who have died since the last reunion, as well as faculty, administrators, and staff who have died. This year Katilau Mbindyo ’14 will give the memorial address. Mbindyo is a Mkamba PhD Candidate at Harvard University’s African American Studies Department, writing on Akamba traditional interpretations of the Anthropocene epoch. After graduating from Vassar with a major in Italian, she received her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. The Alumnae/i Choir will sing, directed by Gail Archer, College Organist.
1:00 p.m. Reunion Adjourns/Check-Out
Please return room keys to Guest Services Coordinators in residence halls.
1:00 p.m. NYC charter bus departs from Main Circle
