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Inside Oberlin
Oberlin Connections
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Clyde Owan and Susi Lanyi, the widow
of his college mentor, professor of government George Lanyi
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On behalf of the alumni association, I
would like to thank the College--and especially President Nancy Dye--for
publishing 9.11.01: Oberlin Reflections last fall. This publication
united our alumni, students, parents, and staff and helped us collect
ourselves in the aftermath of the September attacks. Oberlin Reflections
also represented the Oberlin family's riposte to the attacks against
humanity. In it, we celebrated the human spirit, extended comfort
and encouragement, and reaffirmed our resolve to move forward, do
good, and do right.
As you read the stories and class notes in this magazine, please consider
the many ways Oberlin graduates and students are engaged in shaping
our world during these challenging times. Their involvement ranges
from the highest ranks of government policymaking, military operations,
and humanitarian support to the grassroots defense of civil liberties
and human rights. I hope that highlighting the works of our Oberlin
family is a source of pride and inspiration. You can take heart knowing
that the values you attribute to an Oberlin education are applied
whenever Obies join with others to build a better world.
As president of the Alumni Association, I share this spirit of optimism
and confidence to encourage you to stay connected to your Oberlin
family. We know the Oberlin link is important to you. In the aftermath
of the 9/11 attacks, the Alumni Office e-mailed a message of concern
to alums in the D.C. and New York City areas. Your reaction to this
gesture and to the subsequent publication of Oberlin Reflections
was overwhelmingly positive.
My message to you comes via the pages of the Alumni Magazine.
This award-winning publication has been Oberlin's principal vehicle
with which to share information and renew alumni connections with
the College and other alumni. Yet, even as we regard this magazine
as Oberlin's flagship publication, we are also cognizant that the
breadth and speed of electronic communications offer expanded options
for dialogue and outreach.
Your Alumni Association, through its Communications Committee chaired
by Greg Pinelo '91, is working with the College to think through the
transformation of both alumni communications and access to Oberlin-related
information. Future possibilities include the dissemination of real-time
class notes, the ability for alums to build new sub-communities of
interest, the promotion of a wider range of local alumni activities,
and the saving of trees and postage through increased use of e-mail.
Committee member Hal Straus '79 observed that "people simply
live more of their lives online these days, and happily we can see
to it that interesting pieces of Oberlin are there waiting."
Regardless of wherever and however those "interesting pieces"
are displayed, we in the Alumni Association believe that your connecting
to them will remind you that Oberlin is an enduring part--and one
of the best parts--of your lives.
Clyde Owan '79
President, Oberlin Alumni Association |
