Reunion Co-Chair Bob Bruner writes:

Our Yale College Class of 1971 “50th+1” Reunion is fast approaching.  Registrations are open for our gathering on June 9-12.  It’s time to book your place at the Reunion.

The good news is that when the registrations opened, the volume of Reunion registrations exceeded our expectations — and is growing.  And word-of-mouth encouragement to attend is spreading through dozens of classmates who have volunteered to reach out to everyone.  Our splendid class book, co-edited by Dori Zaleznik and Jay Gitlin, yields insights into the deep wealth of talent and life experience of our classmates.  The only missing ingredient is YOU!  If you haven’t already done so, register now for the Reunion here.

In making the hundreds of calls through which Lupi Robinson and I have engaged classmates in this event, we’ve discovered a genuine interest in renewing acquaintances, an appetite to experience again the conversation with diverse, talented, and interesting classmates, and a curiosity about Yale’s own growth over time.

Once in a while, though, a classmate says something like:  “Thanks, but I left Yale behind long ago.  I moved away, started a family, got deep into a career, retired, had to deal with health issues…you get the picture.  I haven’t thought about Yale in a long time.  I’m in a much different place than I was in 1971.  Frankly, Bob, I’m just so past Yale…”

I reply, “I hear you…but please consider three questions:

  • Are you past your old friends? If they meant a lot to you then, chances are they still do.  And they’re probably wondering whatever became of you.
  • Are you past what Yale idealized for you? To some extent, we’ve all been ‘mugged by reality’ in the intervening 50 years.  But what about the thrill of self-discovery, the debates over ideas and values, and the mentorship of particular teachers?  These and other ideals persist today.  Can you re-engage with them?
  • Is it about our past — or about our present and future? A great reunion is mostly not about who we were a half-century ago.  It’s much more about who we are today, the journey by which we got here, and the outlook we bear for the future.  We have all changed.  A great reunion can help us all to make sense of that change.”

Do these questions speak to you, as well?  Join our milestone reunion by registering here.

PS:  Reminder that the Class is also hosting a pre-reunion webinar on May 17th at 5:00 pm ET:  Meritocracy: The Debate Over Its Role in Education, Careers, and Modern Life.  Register for the webinar here.