Capital Campaign Kicks Off

As the new millennium approaches, Oberlin College is asking donors to join "The New Oberlin Century."

The largest fund-raising campaign in Oberlin's history, the Capital Campaign will be kicked off this weekend with events geared toward raising $165 million. $58 million has already been raised with help from the whole Board of Trustees and the Executive Board of the Alumni Association.

Oberlin hopes to raise enough money to make improvements within the College structure and around the campus. The goals include funding for major building and renovation needs, increasing the endowment for student scholarships and faculty salaries and strengthening academic programs. They also hope that the campaign will increase the level of annual donations to the College in the future.

Several events have been planned for the weekend. On Friday afternoon, the Alumni Council and the Board of Trustees will hold meetings. People interested in volunteering to help the College toward its goal will participate in "solicitation training."

Friday night will find the invited guests at a gala dinner. President Nancy Dye said, "[It is a celebration] of teachers, past and present, who have devoted their lives to mentoring many generations of Oberlin students."

Dinner will be followed by a concert by the Illumination Orchestra will follow in Finney Chapel. The events scheduled for Saturday morning include symposiums at the Allen Memorial Art Museum on civil discourse, the future of science and the nature of performance.

The groundbreaking of the new Science Center will occur on Saturday afternoon. The Science Center will allow the College to fully integrate research into its curriculum - made possible by the fund-raising efforts of the Capital Campaign. More speeches will follow, including conversations on the College's relationship with public schools, physics and religion and ecological design. There will also be a performance by Eighth Blackbird, a group that has appeared on "CBS Sunday Morning" and in articles in the New York Times and Chamber Music magazine.

The campaign will close with remarks from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Clayton Koppes, Dean of the Conservatory Robert Dodson and President Dye, and will be followed by a reception.

Many contributors realize that the Capital Campaign could propel Oberlin to higher status among liberal arts colleges in America.

William Robinson, OC '63, a co-chair for "The New Oberlin Century," said, "[The] campaign objectives, when fully funded, will help insure that Oberlin retains its position as one of the premier liberal arts colleges and one of the most eminent conservatories in the United States."

Contributor Joan L. Danforth said, "This is a very exciting time in Oberlin's history. [It is] the most ambitious fund-raising effort the College has ever undertaken, it's important that we continue to support the College's efforts to bring together the brightest minds, regardless of financial resources, with the world's leading educators."