Can you believe it’s been five decades since we graduated from St. Olaf!? Your reunion committee has been hard at work since last year planning an unforgettable 50th reunion for our Class of 1972. We hope you’ll join us this June 3 – 5 for an unforgettable weekend!
We are so excited to have you be a part of this special 50th reunion. Programming includes Alumni College sessions with diverse topics, three delicious (really!) class meals, campus tours, a Service of Remembrance, and, most importantly, lots of opportunity to reminisce and reconnect with classmates.
Believe us when we say that the College really rolls out the red carpet for the 50th Reunion! Questions? Contact alum-office@stolaf.edu.
Fram! Fram! Jon Garnaas and Margie Goergen-Rood
50th Reunion Co-Chairs
Thank you to all who submitted to the 1972 Viking Update.
A printed copy will be distributed during Reunion Weekend. Can’t make it? A copy will be mailed to you in late-June.
CLASS OF 1972 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
3 – 9 p.m. Optional Early Registration Alumni from the Class of 1972 are invited to check-in a day early at no additional charge to enjoy all that Reunion Weekend has to offer!
6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Social Time
6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Dinner
6 p.m. Volunteer Reception and Thank You Dinner: Buntrock Ballrooms Members of the 5oth reunion committee are invited to this special dinner, hosted by St. Olaf, to thank you for planning this milestone event for your classmates.
Not on your reunion committee?
You may purchase dinner in Stav Hall or visit one of Northfield’s many wonderful restaurants. A few of our favorites:
7:30-4 p.m. Class of 1972 Hospitality Room in Ytterboe Lounge Coffee, water, and pastries will be available for breakfast. Beverages will be available throughout the day.
8-9 a.m. Breakfast in Stav Hall Ticket required.
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Registration and Guest Services Open Make this your first stop! Pick up your name tag, lanyard, meal tickets, and Ole swag. Don’t forget your proof of Covid-19 vaccination or negative test.
9-11 a.m. Campus Open Houses For more information, see printed schedule or Guidebook.
10 a.m. Chapel All guests are requested to mask at this event.
10 a.m.-11 a.m. 50th Reunion Nurses Reception in the Norway Room, Buntrock Commons
11:30-1:30 p.m.Class of 1972 Welcome Lunch: Buntrock Commons, Ballrooms Ticket and pre-registration required
2-5 p.m. 50th Reunion Alumni College
Join us for three engaging Alumni College sessions that will challenge you to REFLECT on our transformative era; REDEFINE our perspectives to reckon with racism on campus; and RENEW your life goals in the Third Chapter
2–2:50 p.m. Alumni College Session I: REFLECT: 1968-1972-Who We Were Becoming in Our Tumultuous Time In the 60’s and 70’s, our generation either bore witness to or participated in truly profound cultural, social, and political transformations, including on the St. Olaf campus. In what ways were our lives shaped in the midst of all this upheaval, and how was St. Olaf changed in the process?
Panelists:
Carl Warren ’72
Deb Clemmensen ’72
Richard Huskey ’72
Moderator:
Kari Lie Dorer: Professor of Norwegian, Director of Nordic Studies at St. Olaf College
3–3:50 p.m. Alumni College Session II: REDEFINE: Reckoning with Racism at St. Olaf In recent years, a new generation of students has challenged the college to address racism in all its forms. After protests on campus and the murder of George Floyd, their appeals have inspired faculty, staff, administration and alumni to hasten and elevate this important work. What does this look like on campus today and into the future? Panelists:
María Pabón: Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Jonathan Naito: Associate Professor of English; Director of Race and Ethnic Studies
Kari Lie Dorer: Professor of Norwegian; Director of Nordic Studies
Anja Bunge Dulin ’23 (she/her/hers), B.A. Biology, Race and Ethnic Studies
Moderator:
Camilla Madson ’72
4–4:50 p.m. Alumni College Session III: RENEW: Who Are We Called To Be? Deanna Thompson will guide us through an interactive presentation on what it means to live out our vocation in the Third Chapter of our lives, and how we can continue to find meaning in this stage of life.
Presenter:
Deanna Thompson ’89, Director of the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community
6 p.m.-8 p.m. Class of 1972 Dinner: Buntrock Commons, Ballrooms
Ticket and pre-registration required.
Join your classmates for a seated dinner to connect and converse over good food, wine, and beer.
8-12 a.m. Late Night Entertainment
For more information, see printed schedule or Guidebook.
8–8 p.m. Registration and Guest Services Open Make this your first stop! Pick up your name tag, lanyard, meal tickets, and Ole swag. Don’t forget your proof of Covid-19 vaccination or negative test.
7 a.m.-4 p.m. Class of 1972 Hospitality Room in Ytterboe Lounge Coffee, water, and pastries will be available for breakfast. Beverages will be available throughout the day.
7:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast in Stav Hall Ticket Required
8-10 a.m. 5K Run/Walk
9 – 11:00 a.m. Campus Tours and Open Houses
Relive your days as a prospective student by taking an official campus tour or explore on your own! See Guidebook for more information.
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. ’72 Service of Remembrance Join us for this special worship service to remember and honor your classmates have died.
All guests are requested to mask at this event.
11 – 11:30 a.m. All-Class Rally, Buntrock Plaza What’s better than mid-morning donuts and coffee? How about mid-morning donuts, coffee, kazoos, and the biggest all-class rendition of Um Yah! Yah! in St. Olaf history! Gather at Buntrock Plaza where a live brass band will lead us in the only American college fight song written in three-quarter time. We’ll record the singing and also take an all class photo spanning eight decades of St. Olaf alumni. Don’t miss it!
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. All Alumni Celebration President David R. Anderson ’74 invites everyone to celebrate the accomplishments of alumni and the hard work of volunteers. Representatives from each reunion class will present their class gift to the college at this event, which also includes President Anderson’s State of the College address.
All guests are requested to mask at this event.
12:45 – 2:30 p.m. All Reunion Celebration Lunch in Stav Hall
2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Fun on the Campus Green Make your way over to the Campus Green to enjoy campus views, giant lawn games, and refreshments. Toast to good friends and making new memories.
3:00 p.m. St. Olaf Orchestra Alumni Concert
6 – 8:30 p.m. Class of 1972 Dinner: Buntrock Commons, Ballrooms
9 p.m. Holden Evening Prayer
9 p.m. – 12 a.m. Late Night Entertainment
7:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast in Stav Hall Ticket required. A limited number of tickets available for purchase at registration.
8:00 a.m.-12:00pm Guest Services, Buntrock Commons
On your way out please recycle your lanyard and nametag at guest services.
8:45-10:15 a.m. Walking Tour of the Natural Lands Join a guided tour of the unique and abundant variety of plants and wildlife that live and grow in this protected area. Meet at the Art Barn Big Ole (wind turbine).
9 – 10:15 a.m. All-Singers Worship Choir Rehearsal
All those who love to sing are welcome at this rehearsal to prepare for the All-Alumni Worship Service.
Masks are requested for all participants.
10:30 a.m. All-Alumni Worship Service
We gather together to worship and to give thanks for the blessings of the St. Olaf community. The service will feature music by the Worship Choir.
Masks are requested for all participants.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. All-Guest Lunch in Stav Hall Ticket required. Tickets will be available for cash purchase at Stav Hall.