Clark University - Clark News summer 2003
Reunion 2003
Highlights from Alumni Weekend
Photos by Frederick Peck
More than 1,000 alumni and friends returned to Clark to celebrate Reunion 2003, May 15-18. The weekend included new events, as well as many traditional favorites, that allowed alumni to reconnect with friends and classmates.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the dedication of the Thomas M. ’62 and Joan E. ’60 Dolan Field House on Saturday morning. Alumni and friends took the first look at the new field house and athletic-field complex, which opened officially during Reunion Weekend. The Dolan Field House is named for Clark’s Senior Vice President Tom Dolan and his wife Joan, in honor of their many years of service to the University. A second hub of athletic activity on campus, the field house includes practice facilities and locker rooms for spring and fall teams. This project also involved the reconstruction and relocation of the tennis courts and soccer, baseball, field hockey and lacrosse fields. The regulation fields allow tournament play, and all fields and the tennis courts are lighted.
Alumni and friends also enjoyed the following Reunion events.
Alumni volunteers attended a special reception honoring their efforts on behalf of the University. This new Reunion event was held at the Traina Center for the Arts. The New England Clambake, held Friday evening under the “Big Top” behind Harrington House, continues to be a Reunion favorite. The New England Clambake, held Friday evening under the “Big Top” behind Harrington House, continues to be a Reunion favorite. After the clambake, alumni toured their favorite haunts on the Pub Crawl, which was a new activity this year. Alumni and friends went “Back to the Classroom” with presentations by historian and Dean of the College Douglas Little, who discussed his recently released book “American Orientalism: The United States and the Middle East since 1945,” and screen-studies Professor Timothy Shary, who discussed his research into the portrayal of youth in contemporary American cinema. Many alumni from the Class of 1953 and the 50-Year Association closed the weekend with “A Golden Opportunity,” leading the commencement procession on Sunday afternoon. New webcasts from the registration area in the Higgins University Center and the “Big Top” behind Harrington House offered a glimpse of the fun to alumni and friends across the country and around the world.
Reunion 2003 also included the perennial favorites: slide presentations and campus tours focused on Clark’s work with the University Park Partnership, receptions sponsored by many academic departments and student organizations, the Spree Day Family Picnic, Clark Bars Reunion Concert, Reunion cocktails and class photos, alumni class banquets and Dancing Under the Stars, which had the largest attendance ever.
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award, the Alumni Association’s highest honor, was presented to Steve Dune ’53. A model for alumni support and involvement at Clark, Dune is an honorary member of Clark’s Board of Trustees and has been an ardent supporter of Clark for more than 40 years. He was first elected to the University’s Board of Trustees in 1974 and went on to serve several more terms. During his tenure, Dune served on many key committees and chaired the search committee that brought Richard Traina to Clark in 1984. He also actively participated in the National Committee on Clark’s Future, has served on his Reunion committee and hosted many alumni events in the New York City area. Dune is a charter member of the Jonas Clark Fellows, the University’s leadership group of annual donors, and supports many scholarships and programs at Clark. Dune has also served as an exemplary ambassador for Clark through his work as a distinguished lawyer. In 1996, he retired as senior partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in New York City, one of the oldest law firms on Wall Street, where he specialized in maritime law and shipping contracts.
Distinguished Young Alumna/us Award
Boston City Councilor Michael Ross ’93 received this year’s Distinguished Young Alumna/us Award, which recognizes alumni for extraordinary achievements in their community and profession. Ross, who is now in his second term on the City Council, exemplifies the Clark ideal of challenging convention and changing our world. At age 30, he is the youngest member of the Boston City Council and is the first Jewish city councilor in more than 45 years. During his first term, he was voted Best Politician by the Boston TAB and was featured in Boston Magazine as a leader of his generation. Ross is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the residents of his district. He is an advocate for affordable housing and has worked to improve residential parking, maintain clean streets and alleys, increase police presence in several key areas and protect his district from overdevelopment. Ross is also in his second year as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and is the first councilor from his district ever to hold this leadership position. His many community activities include volunteering for the Hill House Community Center of Beacon Hill and serving as the acting president of Generations After, an organization of families and friends of Holocaust survivors.
Reunion giving challenge 2003
Reunion classes responded to the Reunion Giving Challenge this year by raising $234,746 for the Clark Fund by Reunion Weekend in May. This was the third year of the challenge, a friendly competition among reunion classes to see who can achieve the highest class-giving participation and who can raise the largest class gift by Reunion Weekend.
This year, the Class of 1953 achieved the highest class-giving participation, with 47 percent. The largest class gift was raised by the Class of 1978 with $38,335.
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Clarknews Summer 2003
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| Clark Athletic Department coaches and staff with Tom '62 and Joan '60 Dolan at the new Dolan Field House |
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| Wally '33 and Hattie Bither |
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| Alumni Association President Dimitry Anselme '93 (left), Distinguished Young Alumnus Award recipient Michael Ross '93, Distinguished Service Award recipient Steve Dune '53 and President Bassett |
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