Dear Classmates,

Once upon a time, we all lived together in a village. We saw the same people whenever we walked outside. We knew the names of most of the people we passed. There were no traffic signals—or traffic, for that matter—and pedestrians always had the right of way. A path running the length of the village was our primary means of getting around. The commotion and noise of whatever cities we came from were left behind us, and our solitude helped us grow closer to one another.
 
I’ve been contemplating the virtues of village life lately because I still live in one, this time 2000 miles from Gambier. But like the earlier village in my life, this one too sustains me in ways that feel quite real but which I struggle to find words for. As before, there is time to read, reflect, spend time outdoors, and be with the good friends I have made. Living in the second village of my life is restorative and provides opportunities for personal growth, even at my now advanced age.
 
So I look forward to returning to Gambier, my first village, where I spent four years in the process of becoming the person I am today, to reconnect with the people who were most important to me at the time I lived there. I want to learn about my classmates’ lives in retirement, their grandchildren, their travels, their enduring connections to each other. I hope to see many of you next spring (May 26-29) in the village we once shared, where we were young together, once upon a time.

Thank you,

Lance Coon
 
And a quick reminder that our 50th reunion weekend begins with a class dinner Thursday, May 26, so please plan to arrive earlier that day.
 
Now for some campus and reunion updates from The College:
 
What a campus we’ll have to return to! Chalmers Library is open and beautiful. (Have you seen the disco ball-esque skylight feature?) All four classes are studying together again in Gambier. (With a bonus first-year cohort finishing a semester in Copenhagen!) And plans are taking shape for an unforgettable Reunion 2022 on the Hill. (Mark your calendar for the weekend of May 26. And, if you didn’t make it to one of our pre-reunion events this fall, stay tuned for more opportunities to connect with classmates this spring.)
 
In other exciting campus news, the College just shared its new strategic plan that will guide its planning and actions leading up to the bicentennial in 2024 and beyond. You will be pleased to see it includes core elements like developing a computer science program informed by the liberal arts; enrolling, retaining and graduating a student body that is representative of the talent and diversity of our nation and the world; and expanding its commitment to environmental responsibility. You have also likely heard the announcement of the Kenyon Access Initiative which will bring more high-achieving students to Kenyon thanks to a $25 million matching grant from the Schuler Education Foundation. Any amount given through this Kenyon Access Initiative will be matched 1:1 and will go to a new scholarship for students from families with limited means and those ineligible for government aid — up to $25 million.
 
As you read about what’s in store for Kenyon’s future, I hope you’ll consider supporting today’s students with a gift to the Kenyon Fund and (if you have the ability) making an additional gift to our Class of 1972 Unrestricted Endowment Fund, in honor of our 50th Reunion.
 
Kenyon couldn’t be Kenyon without involved and supportive alumni like us. As the bicentennial draws closer, I challenge each of you to do a little more than you have in the past to help make Kenyon the special place it is. This could mean becoming an alumni volunteer, attending a College event, submitting a class note or setting up a recurring monthly gift. 
 
Finally, a few notes from our classmates and class agents are listed below.