The weekend of Oct. 11-13, parents, students, alumni and faculty will converge on campus for the annual three-day festival that is Meliora Weekend. What’s in store for this year?
Notable speakers include founder of CNN and vice chairman Ted Turner of AOL-Time Warner, New York Democratic Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, novelist Salman Rushdie and perhaps most popular with students, comedian Jon Stewart.
“It’s shaping up to be a great weekend,” Dean of College Advancement Bob Bartlett said.
The theme this year is leadership ? there are over a dozen lectures scheduled ? all with different perspectives on the topic. There will be discussion panels on environmental leadership and how women lead.
Earl G. Graves, founder and publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine will speak on “Leadership in the Black Community,” Fareed Zakaria editor of Newsweek International will address Crisis and Leadership.
Freshman Matthew Morgan finds the choices “overwhelming” and wonders how to choose which events to see. Dean of Students Jody Asbury urges everyone to take advantage of this great opportunity. “It is difficult to fit it all in,” she said. “Students should choose what is important to [them].”
Many students and faculty are most excited about Rochester Revue. This event includes UR performing and interest groups such as D’Motions, Spanish and Latino Students Association, Black Students Union, Chinese Students Organization, a capella groups, UR orchestras and much more. “I liked seeing the different cultures perform,” sophomore Joyce Akwaa, who attended last year’s Revue, said. “It shows the diversity of the campus.”
Saturday at lunchtime on the Fraternity Quad will be Meliora Fest. There, one can eat and drink Rochester classics such as Genny beer, white hots and garbage plates while listening to the Gap Manigone Big Band.
Athletic events will provide another diversion for those bored of lectures. Varsity alumni teams will reunite for lacrosse, baseball, basketball and more.
Also, the UR varsity football team will play against Hobart College and UR Cres Club is hosting the Stonehurst Capital Invitational Regatta on the Genesee River.
Men’s and women’s soccer will take on Case Western Reserve and Carnegie Mellon Universities on Saturday. “These two games could make or break our season,” freshman Chris Lee said. “We’re expecting record-breaking crowds, so we don’t want to disappoint.”
For those who appreciate art, works of French Impressionist Edgar Degas will be on display starting Sunday, Oct. 13 in the Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester is the only venue on the East Coast to host the exhibit, which is called “Degas: Figures in Motion.”
Bartlett sees Meliora Weekend as an event that has increased campus spirit “What this tradition has done is create a mechanism forcreating school spirit,” he said.
Many returning students are excited about this year’s events. “I look forward to Meliora Weekend every year,” junior Eli Hale said. “There is a really good mix of activities.”
Many students were unaware of the events and many who were aware have not registered.
“I didn’t know anything about it” freshman Nicole Cutler said.
Students can register for Meliora Weekend at www.rochester.edu/alumni/meliora2002.
Yunis can be reached at tyunis@campustimes.org.
