What a weekend! This summer, when we were planning for the academic year and envisioning what campus life would look like in the fall, I pictured a Homecoming just like the one that we celebrated this weekend.
Of course, the festivities began well before Saturday, with student organizations painting windows in the Evelyn Young Dining Room and the Campus Activities Board hosting a series of activities throughout the week. In addition to all the programming directly related to Homecoming, I was also pleased at the high turnout on Friday evening at the Sabbath Dinner hosted by the Multifaith Leadership Council, Chaplains’ Office, and Dr. Samuel Kessler, and at the Lyrical Cafe in the Center for Inclusive Excellence.
Saturday was a perfect fall day on a college campus. We celebrated the 60th anniversary of Christ Chapel and heard music from a choir of students and alumni during a service of remembrance for members of the Gustavus community who were lost in the last year. Alumni and friends had the opportunity to meet Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Doug Thompson and learn about the College’s work in these important areas. Dr. Richard Leitch, Dr. Nissa Parmar, Dr. Carlos Mejia Suarez, and Dr. Chuck Niederriter gave mini-lectures to connect guests with 21st-century liberal arts learning. Students, alumni, and families mingled at the Homecoming tent. A jazz ensemble performed in the Johns Family Courtyard. Students, faculty, and alumni explored the synergy of arts and sciences in the Rob and Judy Gardner Laboratory Theatre. And, a large crowd of Gusties cheered on our football team as they came away with a big win over the Concordia Cobbers! Whew!
When I reflected last night on the busy weekend, what stuck out to me even more than all these wonderful events was the fact that we were able to share them together, in person. I saw so many people who I’d only seen through a screen or connected with via email over the course of the last year and a half. You could feel the energy on campus. And we all did our part to continue to keep our campus safe by wearing masks indoors.
Gusties, the last week has provided a blueprint for what life on the hill can be once again. We can share in fellowship, build connections, and live in community while also continuing to actively work to keep one another safe. This week, take a few minutes to think about how you can help maximize the value of a Gustavus experience. As we continue our journey together this year, I hope each of us fully lives out our residential liberal arts experience and feels a sense of gratitude that we are able to be together in person.
Until next week, Gusties, keep up the good work!
Yours in community,
President Bergman