Alumni, families arrive on campus for Reunions

Alumni gathering under class tents

Friends Laurie Henneman (left) and Benjamin Kramer arrived at Princeton for their 20th reunion, adorned in matching hats and contrasting class of 1990 shirts. Some 20,000 Princeton alumni, family members and friends are expected on campus through Sunday for Reunions activities.

Photos: Denise Applewhite

Hat and streamers

Several classes will be celebrating major reunions, including the class of 1980, which is commemorating its 30th.

Alumnus waving

Princeton junior Jeff Fardink tagged along on an Orange Key tour of the campus for Reunions on Thursday to learn how to be a tour guide.

Princeton alumni, family members and friends have arrived on campus for Reunions activities, which run through Sunday, May 30.

Highlights will include annual activities such as: the P-rade throughout campus beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday; alumni-faculty forums and department open houses during the day Friday and Saturday; the "Battle of the Alumni Bands" from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday on the Frist Campus Center South Lawn; performances by student groups including Quipfire!, the Princeton University Players and Triangle Club on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings; receptions and student/alumni arch sings on Friday and Saturday evenings; and the University Orchestra's lawn concert at 8 p.m. Saturday on Finney and Campbell fields, followed by fireworks at 9:15 p.m. The concert and fireworks are open to the entire community.

In addition, some new activities are part of this year's Reunions schedule (unless otherwise noted, activities are open to alumni, friends and the campus community):

  • An exhibition celebrating the art and history of the Nassau Hall Faculty Room will be on view from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Faculty Room. The class of 1970 underwrote the exhibition, titled "Inner Sanctum: Memory and Meaning in Princeton's Faculty Room at Nassau Hall," in honor of its 40th reunion. The exhibition will close Sunday for Commencement activities and reopen Wednesday, June 3.

  • A "green tour" of campus hosted by the Office of Sustainability will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday. The tour, which starts at Dillon Gymnasium, will include an overview of the University's Sustainability Plan, student environmental initiatives and Dining Services' sustainable food sourcing and waste disposal efforts. The tour also will visit the Forbes College organic garden and include a focus on the Butler College green roof.

All alumni and University representatives again will be required to have wristbands to participate in Reunions activities in the major reunion headquarters courtyards (wristbands are not required for attending lectures, watching the P-rade or attending the concert and fireworks).

Faculty and staff who ordered wristbands in advance from the Alumni Association may pick them up during the following times at Maclean House: between 1 and 5 p.m. and 7 and 11 p.m. Thursday, May 27; and between 7 and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 28-29. A University ID card and valid driver's license with photo will be required for pickup.

For the second year, attendees also can access the Reunions schedule and other key content on their smartphone via the Reunions Mobile website. For more information on Reunions activities, visit the Reunions 2010 Web page or call (609) 258-1900.

Alumni pinning on class button

Looking snazzy in his tiger-patterned class of 1960 jacket, Edward Flynn celebrated his 50th reunion with his wife, Marge. A highlight of Reunions weekend is the P-rade, the annual parade of alumni and their families, which will take place Saturday.