Dear classmates,

I hope to see many of you back in Gambier this May to celebrate our 50th Reunion at what will certainly be a weekend to remember, since alumni are finally able to reunite on campus again after two years of virtual gatherings. 

Last fall, I hope you heard about (and – even better -- supported!) the new Kenyon Access Initiative. We are eight months into our five-year partnership with the Schuler Education Foundation to increase access to Kenyon for exceptional students with limited resources. The extended Kenyon community has enthusiastically responded by making more than 1,113 gifts to support this unique initiative, helping to create new scholarships that will be awarded to students we are enrolling now. In further great news, applications this year hit another record, up 14% over last year.

As we approach our Bicentennial, President Sean Decatur, in response to calls from some students, has agreed to consider a new athletics moniker instead of “Lords” and “Ladies.” Thanks to all of you who have submitted suggestions or other feedback on this. This letter was finalized before the results were known, but you can visit kenyon.edu/moniker to learn the latest.

This spring, the College continued its commitment to integrating environmental stewardship into its curriculum, campus operations and campus culture. They also announced the news that Lisa Schott ’80, who since 2010 has served as managing director of the College’s land trust, the Philander Chase Conservancy (PCC), will step down from that position at the end of June after a nearly 40-year career with Kenyon. This news and more were shared in Kenyon’s new quarterly Green Newsletter. If you don’t already receive it, you may sign up for it at bit.ly/Green-Kenyon.

As summer approaches, Kenyon is preparing to welcome several groups of alumni back to campus. First, more than 100 members of the Class of 2020 and their families have registered to attend their belated Commencement taking place on the Hill May 22. On May 26, our class along with the Classes of 1970 and 1971) will be kicking off Reunion Weekend a day early with special 50th Reunion programming. And then, as you know, all alumni are welcome back to campus May 27-29 for what promises to be the biggest alumni gathering in the College’s history! PLEASE REGISTER FOR OUR REUNION WEEKEND as soon as possible. We have great things planned: Our Class Dinner will be in Peirce Hall on Thursday, May 26. And there are more ’72-focused gatherings and events throughout the weekend. Alumni from ’70 and ’71, who had to miss in-person reunions because of the pandemic, are returning, and some members of the class of 1973 who are planning their 50th next year will join us as well. Our era at Kenyon will be well represented! I look forward to catch up with you all, relive old memories and share a few laughs together.

All of the excitement and achievement at Kenyon today can be traced, in part, back to our support. Kenyon relies on our gifts to support every aspect of students’ experience, from seminars to scholarships. I hope you’ll join me in making 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. We know first-hand how a Kenyon education can impact one’s future — not just professionally, but personally. When we support Kenyon’s current and future students, we help make a Kenyon family like ours a possibility for many more.

Thank you!
Larry Harbison

P.S. Scroll down to view the 1972 class notes.