Alumni Reunion 2022 announced

06/28/2022 

The SUNY Cortland Alumni Association will host a full schedule of Reunion 2022 festivities slated from Thursday, July 14, through Sunday, July 17.

Hundreds of returning alumni and friends have registered to participate in class get-togethers, parties and other activities both on and off campus.

It’s the first time the event has been held on campus since Reunion 2019. Health precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic limited the event to online gatherings in 2020 and 2021.

“After a long hiatus, we are so happy to welcome reunion folks back to campus,” said Erin Boylan, executive director of alumni engagement at SUNY Cortland. “We are so appreciative of our milestone classes and celebrated groups that continued to reach out to friends to keep them connected during the pandemic. Now is the time to celebrate Red Dragons.”

As always, all alumni are welcome at Reunion, regardless of class year. Featured groups include the Half Century Club, comprised of alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago; the Classes of 1955, 1956 and 1957 (65th reunion); 1960, 1961 and 1962 (60th reunion); 1964, 1966 and 1967 (55th reunion); 1970, 1971 and 1972 (50th reunion); 30th Cluster Reunion (Classes of 1989, 1990 and 1991); 40th Cluster Reunion (Classes of 1980, 1981 and 1982); Classes of 1995, 1996 and 1997 (25th reunion); sisters of Arethusa and Theta Phi; Lambda Phi Delta fraternity; Communication Disorders and Sciences Department; and LGBTQ+ Alum including members of SPECTRUM and PRIDE.

During reunion, the following campus locations will be open to all to enjoy: the Campus Store, Memorial Library, Outdoor basketball/tennis courts and the Student Life Center. Visit the Alumni Reunion 2022 site for a schedule of open hours.

All alumni are invited to stop by the Parks Alumni House all day Friday and Saturday for “Remembrance”: an opportunity to inscribe on cloth, a memory of a beloved classmate who has passed on.

Thursday, July 14

Reunion opens Thursday with the Class of 1970 50th reunion dinner, which will take place in the back gardens of the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House at 29 Tompkins St. Meanwhile, the Classes of 1971 and 1972 will gather for their 50th reunion dinner on the Parks Alumni House Kappa (1925-1991) Alumni Lawn.

Friday, July 15  

On Friday morning, the Half Century Club will depart by bus for a day exploring Skaneateles Lake with a boat cruise featuring a buffet lunch.

Later that morning, the alumni association and Athletics Department will combine talents to continue the sold-out “Red and White Golf Classic.” The enhanced golf tournament will be held at the Cortland Country Club and will serve as a fundraiser for both organizations.

That afternoon, Theta Phi sorority members will hold a picnic at Little York Lake while Arethusa sorority members will meet at a casual open house at 74 Maple Ave in Cortland. Members of the Class of 1972 will reconnect in Corey Union. The Cortland College Foundation and SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum will host a special reception at the Parks Alumni House to welcome all Red Dragons and to thank the Reunion Committee members.

Later on Friday, many class and group activities will ensue. The Half Century Club will enjoy dinner at the Corey Union Function Room. Arethusa sorority members will gather on the Parks Alumni House back gardens. The Cortland Main Street Music Series will host a concert that is free and open to all, featuring The Rods, Sydney Irving & the Mojo, and Quona Hudson at Rose Hall, 19 Church St., Cortland. 

Communication Disorders and Sciences will hold its 50th anniversary reception at Parks Alumni House featuring hors d’oeuvres, casual mingling and a group photo opportunity to mark the clinic’s big milestone. The Lambda Phi Delta fraternity will gather from 6 to 10 p.m. at Stone Lounge, 128 Main St., Cortland. Parking is available on the street or in adjacent parking lots near the venue. Contact Lance McAllister ’70 to arrange to attend. All alumni are welcome to board a bus at Corey Union to see the Cole Porter classic musical, “Kiss Me, Kate,” at Cortland Repertory Theatre. 

In the late evening, the Musical Legacy Commemorative Project: 1960-1990 committee invites all alumni to come tell their concert stories — whether it was planning, promoting or just having a great time attending — and receive a committee update during a gathering with pizza at The Hollywood Restaurant at 27 Groton Ave. 

Saturday, July 16

A President’s Circle breakfast, by invitation only, will kick off Saturday’s events in the Corey Union Function Room. President Bitterbaum will host donors of $1,000 or more in recognition of their support of the university. All alumni are welcome to partake of a hot breakfast buffet on the Parks Alumni House Kappa (1925-1991) Alumni Lawn.

Arethusa sorority will host a casual coffee for sisters to meet up and reconnect at 74 Maple Ave. 

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., selected campus building open houses will be in Sperry Center, Van Hoesen Hall, the Dowd Fine Arts Center, Bowers Hall, Brockway Hall and Old Main. Attendees are welcome to reminisce on college days and see how campus has changed by visiting the open buildings on their own. From 9:30 to 11 a.m., tours of the Parks Alumni House will be offered to alumni who wish to learn more about the historic 1912 Wickwire mansion.

A guided campus tour for all alumni by a student orientation assistant will leave from the Corey Union front steps at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m.

The Alumni Association will celebrate its most prestigious award winners for both 2020 and 2021 graduates during an Alumni Awards Ceremony at 10 a.m. in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge that is open to all alumni. Visit the Distinguished Alumni Award website for names and details about the association’s awards for Distinguished Alumni, Distinguished Young Alumni, Distinguished Educator, Outstanding Volunteer and Honorary Alumni. Highlights also include the association presenting The Cortland Fund reunion giving cups and conducting a gavel passing ceremony from outgoing president Jamie Piperato ’12 to incoming president Dan Walker ’06. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Also that morning, the Class of 1970 will host a Hall of Fame Room open house in the Park Center Hall of Fame Room. All alumni are invited to view the memorabilia and reminisce as a slideshow circulates athletics images from between 1966 and 1970. Meanwhile, the Nu Sigma Chi alumnae tea, compliments of the Nu Sigma Chi Alumnae Association, Inc., will take place in the Parks Alumni House back gardens. Later that morning, the Theta Phi decades gathering will proceed at Corey Union Fireplace Lounge.

The university’s Lofty Elm Society will present information on planned giving during a “Peace of Mind: Leaving a Legacy at SUNY Cortland” presentation at 10:30 a.m. at the Parks Alumni House. Mike Fusilli, major gifts and planned giving officer at SUNY Cortland, will host.

Members of the LGBTQ+ alumni featured group will gather for “LGBTQ+ Brunch and Bubbly” at the Parks Alumni House Kappa (1925-1991) Alumni Lawn.  

All alumni are invited to gather at noon for a two-hour casual “Blast from the Past” lunch on the Corey Union ground floor.

Also that afternoon, Bob Russell ’78, C.A.S. ’91 will open his home at 93 Cayuga St., Homer, N.Y., to all classes for a casual get-together featuring free food and drinks. Individuals wishing to bring a dish to pass should contact him at 607-423-2691.

Biological Sciences Department faculty members Steven B. Broyles and Andrea Davalos will lead a one-and-a-half mile hike and share knowledge on local plants and wildlife at the SUNY Cortland William H. Parks Family Center for Environmental and Outdoor Education at Hoxie Gorge. Space is limited. Arethusa sorority members will play a round of a la carte mini golf together at Shipwreck Amusements in Cortlandville, N.Y.

Later, representatives from the university’s Multicultural Life, Diversity and Institutional Equity and Inclusion, and Corey Union Voice offices, will update all Reunion attendees on everything that is happening to make the campus a more inclusive place for all. 

A weekend highlight will be a ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday to dedicate the Ellen Howard Burton Waiting Room in the Center for Speech, Language and Hearing Disorders Community Clinic at the Professional Studies Building. Refreshments tours also are part of the event, which also celebrates the clinic’s 50th anniversary. 

The All-Greek reception at the Parks Alumni House, a casual event underwritten by the Nu Sigma Chi Legacy Fund, is open to all alumni former fraternity and sorority members. Meanwhile, Theta Phi will offer a meet and greet event on the Kappa (1925-1991) Alumni Lawn and members of Ago/Tri Sig/Sig Rho sorority will conduct their annual meeting.

The association has organized an exclusive gathering of more recent graduates for the “Young Alumni and Tour Guide Happy Hour” at the Cortland Beer Company (CBC), 16 Court St. 

Also that afternoon, alumni brothers will host a tour of the former Lambda Phi Delta house at 55 Tompkins St. and later alumni sisters will lead a tour of the former Arethusa house at 64 Tompkins St. 

Saturday evening, the biggest all-alumni event of the weekend, “Brews and Barbecue,” will begin at the Parks Alumni House back gardens.

Recalling those late night parties after major Voice Office club events, the Voice Office Corey Party will run from 10 p.m. until midnight in the Corey Union Fireplace Lounge and Voice Office.

Sunday, July 17

On Sunday, all alumni are invited to attend the All-Class farewell breakfast on the Parks Alumni House Kappa (1925-1991) Alumni Lawn starting at 8:30 a.m. Arethusa will hold its own farewell brunch for sisters on the back gardens.

“We hope all alumni — regardless of class year or affiliation — make this the year they come back to campus to reminisce, party and see all of our enhancements,” Boylan said.

The campus community is encouraged to attend Alumni Reunion 2022. For up to date information or to register, contact Alumni Engagement at 607-753-2516 or visit RedDragonNetwork.org/reunion.