CIW alumni celebrate community's 40th anniversary
 

By Kathleen Rubino '13

On the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 14, the check-in table at the College-in-the-Woods Dining Hall was flooded with CIW alumni and guests. Hugs and greetings filled the room as alumni caught up with friends to celebrate their living community's 40th anniversary.

"Maybe that's the reason we come back, to re-experience old memories," said Bill Groner '77, who spoke at the event. "The rain, friends, relationships, freedom."

Jessica Iankowitz, a junior majoring in human capital relations, said she enjoyed seeing the CIW alumni pride.

"They're getting back to their roots," said Iankowitz (pictured at left). "CIW is their home away from home. No matter how long they've been away, they're so invested they want to come back."

The alumni and guests enjoyed a breakfast buffet while a slide show displayed more than 3,000 CIW photos in the background.

Faculty Master Anthony Preus gave a brief CIW update, then introduced the "heart and soul of CIW," Fran Hornick, a retired office administrative assistant.

"It's so good to see all of you, from the '70s to the 2000s," Hornick said. "I love all of you."

And this seemed to be the sentiment shared by the attendees – a close-knit group of people who weren't just strangers, but family united by CIW. Groner (pictured at right) told the group about his encounter earlier that morning with the young man who is occupying his old room.

"I think we come back for more than memories, we come back for that connection," he said. "Things change but the one thing that is stable in this crazy world is Binghamton University and CIW. They're always going to be here and I'm always going to come back."

See more photos from this event at the Alumni Association Shutterfly site.