ALUMNI GATHERINGS
Best-selling author Anita Diamant, MA '75, returned
to campus recently to discuss her books. Through a live interview with
Bat-Ami Bar On, professor of philosophy and women’s studies, director
of the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and chair of
the Judaic Studies Department, as well as a question-and-answer session
with members of the audience, Diamant talked about her first novel, The
Red Tent, as well as her latest book, Day After Night, a work of
historical fiction that focuses on a detention camp run by the British
in Palestine immediately after World War II. This event took place at
the Anderson Center on campus. We will add the full
event video to Binghamton University's iTunesU site.
Stephanie McCurry, PhD '88, returned to campus late last month to discuss how the Confederacy was challenged by the might of
the Union, and by two groups of people Southern
leaders took for granted. McCurry, a professor at the University
of Pennsylvania, wrote the bookConfederate Reckoning: Power and Politics in the Civil War South, which was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in history. Read more in Inside BU. We will add the full lecture audio to Binghamton University's iTunesU site.
The Alumni Association cooking team - known as "Smoldering Spoon" - had its best-ever showing at the New York State Chili Championship held May 7 on the Binghamton University campus. Brad Kaminsky, MBA '00, and Dan Polhamus '00 won the state title, earning a spot in the international chili championship event, which will be held this fall in Terlingua, Texas. Smoldering Spoon also took first prize in the showmanship competition. See more photos from this event at the Alumni Association's KodakGallery site.
More than 250 students and alumni gathered on campus May 7 for the men's and women's Rugby Club Alumni Day (see photos from this event). Men's and women's alumni teams relived their playing days, competing in friendly matches against current club members. The unveiling of new training equipment - purchased with support from several men's alumni - began the day as a new foundation of support toward the club. With continuous drives by all teams up and down the pitch, both alumni teams scored go-ahead tries by the end of regulation, resulting in victories and leaving both current clubs waiting for rematches next year. This annual tradition enables current club members to build professional networks with alumni. As one of the larger alumni groups within Club Sports, the men continue to reorganize and improve their efforts to support the ongoing development of the club they have grown to love. For additional information on either club, contact Craig Dube, assistant director of campus recreation.
On May 19, the Alumni Association and Student Association hosted a special event for graduating seniors only. The VIP Senior Stop took place at Terra Cotta in downtown Binghamton. About 850 people came to this event, which welcomed graduating seniors into the Alumni Association and provided an informal setting for them to network with fellow alumni. See more photos from this event.
About 250 TAU brothers came back to Binghamton to celebrate the fraternity's 50th anniversary during the weekend of April 29-30. Among other activities, the brothers enjoyed golf, Texas Hold 'em poker, and a semi-formal dinner. We are producing a video commemorating this special occasion and it will be posted to the Alumni Association Facebook page and University's YouTube site early this summer.
