The most striking aspect of Reunions? The number of faces you recognize as somebody that you knew and liked to hang out with, but realizing you have no idea who they are or how you knew them. It must of happened dozens of times over the weekend, and everybody was chatting about the phenomenon. And to think that only a sixth or so of my graduating class showed up. As a corollary, I don't think I expected Reunions to be an avenue to make new friends. But several great new friendships were forged over the weekend! I really enjoyed how mellow and welcoming the campus was. While walking by Beebe Lake and Balch, Ankit and I must have been greeted by everybody who crossed our paths. It's easy to forget just how absolutely lovely the campus and Ithaca are. From Beebe Lake to Ithaca Falls, the Farmers Market to Sunset Park, there's just one stunning vista after another. To say nothing of the Slope. I was pretty impressed with Sandy Weill, although I didn't agree with his perspective that Wall Street financiers should be paid as much as they are on account of 'that's what the market is willing to pay them'. Weill, of all people, should know that wealth should be made by providing products that add value to the society, and not by speculating on pieces of paper in a zero-sum (and often negative-sum) game. There were a lot of other lectures I would have liked to attend. Kind of like college. I also never knew Ithaca could get so hot. Give me twenty degrees and snowing over 89 degrees with 95% humidity anyday. Amazing that more people didn't wear carnelian and white to Cornelliana night. We'll have to work on that. As to news and politics from the University, the two big announcements were $125 MM in new gifts to be announced in the next month and a new $100 MM fund to retain and hire new faculty. Interesting that no other major funding commitments (aside from Dyson) were announced over the weekend. I wonder if Weill's first-ever return to campus for Reunions has something to do with the $125 MM. Overheard Snippets 1: Hotel School Prof: "I can't believed they named AEM for only $25 MM. Hotel School would cost $100 MM +." Graduate student: "Lot's of chatter about a new policy school." Staffer: "Even with all of layoffs it's striking that nobody can get truly fired from this place. Even for child porn." Overheard Snippets 2: Class of 1955: "So is that your class's Reunion Blazer?" Class of 1960: "You mean they accept men now?!" Class of 2005: "Tell me again why I left Ithaca?" Class of 2010: "We don't know each other, but we know each other." Class of 2005: "I know we can't serve beer after 1AM, but we can still provide it, right?" Oh, and kudos to the members of the Class of 2010 and 2011 who spotted the blazer and accosted me at Cornelliana Night and in the Arts Quad Rock 'N Roll Tent. I never knew there was such a following among current students.
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