Friday, June 3, 2016

10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Alumni Weekend Registration - Campus Center Concourse
Stop by Alumni Weekend headquarters to pick up your welcome packet and event tickets, and to sign up for tours. You can also meet up with friends at the Class of 1966 gathering space featuring era-related memorabilia.

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Growing Season: Women in Agriculture & Food Production Exhibit
Drawing on material held in Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA), this exhibit comprises two parts.
On the lower level, view photographs, printed material and other historic artifacts that emphasize the key roles women took on in agriculture and food production at Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC or "Mass Aggie") from the 1910s into the 1930s. Addressing local food supply issues affected by the changing economy, World WAR l, and the population movement from farms to cities, MAC developed special and short course programs that engaged women in practical agriculture, such as gardening, fruit growing and dairying, and increasingly rural social services and home economics.  Expanding its reach, the Extension Service sought to engage rural and farm community members with instructional workshops and pamphlets.
*This portion of the exhibit is located on the Lower Level of the WEB Du Bois Library.
Then head to the SCUA Reading Room on the 25th floor to see displays that highlight women and food production. Featured are vintage cookbooks focused on preservation and canning; material from the papers of Helen Hunerwadel, an experienced instructor in canning technologies who taught and advised on agricultural matters in Burma and Iran in the 1940s and 1950s; and items from the papers of Elizabeth Henderson, an organic farming pioneer, activist and founding member of the Northeast Organic Farming Association in Massachusetts.
*This portion of the exhibit is located in the SCUA reading room on the 25th floor of the WEB Du Bois Library.
All are welcome. No cost to attend.

11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Dine-in at the Blue Wall
Grab lunch at the renovated Blue Wall. A variety of options will be provided by award-winning UMass Dining for a minimal cost. All are welcome.

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Computer Labs - Open Hours
Stop by the Library Learning Commons to make use of the computer lab. Check your email or take some time to complete your Strengths Training questionnaire in preparation for the Saturday session. All are welcome. No cost to attend.

1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
Class of 1966 Open Mic - Campus Center, Room 162-75
Class of 1966 alumni are invited to enjoy entertainment, spoken word and shared memories from fellow classmates. Come to the Alumni Weekend registration area to sign-up for a time block to present or enjoy performances. No cost to attend. Private event for the Class of '66.

1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity - Campus Center, Room 804-08
How did the Vietnam War change the way we think of ourselves as a people and a nation? Professor Christian G. Appy, author of the widely praised oral history, Vietnam War, Patriots and of the recently released American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity, examines the relationship between the war's realities and myths and its impact on our national identity, conscience, pride, shame, popular culture and postwar foreign policy.
     Appy will vividly show how Vietnam entered American consciousness, first as an idealistic vision of Dr. Tom Dooley “saving” Vietnamese from godless Communists, then as a faraway brushfire war waged by much celebrated Green Beret heroes, and then, with each passing year, as a brutal, endless, and devastating catastrophe that shattered the broad faith in American exceptionalism and left a majority of citizens convinced their nation was engaged in an immoral war.
     Appy will trace the rightward shift in U.S. politics and culture in the post-Vietnam decades and the efforts of President Ronald Reagan and others to rebuild the national pride and power they felt the war had deeply damaged.  Yet, with gripping assessments of figures as different as “Rambo” and Bruce Springsteen, he will demonstrate how vexed and conflicted the legacies of Vietnam still remain.  For all the pumped up patriotism of the 1980s and beyond, many Americans came to believe their nation was the victim of inexplicable foreign forces.  National identity was defensive and fragile, lacking the unity and confidence that characterized American culture prior to the Vietnam War.  And there was widespread wariness of any military intervention that might lead to “another Vietnam.”
     After 9/11, U.S. policymakers ignored the cautionary lessons of the Vietnam War and launched the nation into two long and indecisive wars that went on long after a majority of citizens favored withdrawal.        Gripping and insightful, Professor Appy’s talk will appeal to anyone interested in the historical roots of our national identity and anyone concerned that our foreign policy rests ever more in the hands of an imperial presidency and a tiny group of advisers who do not seek the consent of an informed citizenry.
All are welcome. No cost to attend.

1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. 
Durfee Conservatory Open Garden
Experience an exotic getaway at the UMass Durfee Conservatory. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of campus, this greenhouse is a sanctuary of peace and serenity. Constructed in 1867, Durfee houses five different plant collections, all of which astound with their beauty and vitality. Conservatory staff will be available to answer any questions. All are welcome. No cost to attend.

1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. 
Permaculture Tour & Harvesting
In its fifth growing season, the Franklin Permaculture Garden has produced over 5,000 pounds of vegetables, fruits and herbs harvested by students and used in UMass Dining facilities. Enjoy a guided tour of the garden, taste the in-season produce and participate in a gardening activity where you can harvest fresh produce to take home.
     Part of the UMass Permaculture Initiative, this garden and others on campus are changing the way students interact with their food and surroundings. Started in 2010, the initiative has brought together students from all academic disciplines, as well as faculty, staff and community members to convert underutilized grass lawns on campus into edible, educational and biodiverse gardens. All are welcome. No cost to attend.

2:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
Estate Planning Demystified - Campus Center, Room 917
This session will provide you with important information about the characteristics of a quality estate plan. You'll also learn about "will" vs. "living trust" planning, probate, estate taxatin and planned giving options. Presented by Attorney Lawrence A. Osborn, director of planned giving at UMass Amherst. All are welcome. No cost to attend.

2:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
Diversity in our Past: Students of Color at Massachusetts Agricultural College - SCUA Reading Room
Learn about the nearly hidden history of students of color at Massachusetts Agricultural College, the predecessor to UMass Amherst, from the first arrival of international students in the 1870s to the lives of the first nine African American students at the turn of the twentieth century. The numbers were fewe in a still small college, but their impact was large. Presented by Rob Cox, head of Special Collections and University Archives. Refreshments will follow. All are welcome. No cost to attend.

2:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
Durfee Conservatory Open Garden
Experience an exotic getaway at the UMass Durfee Conservatory. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of campus, this greenhouse is a sanctuary of peace and serenity. Constructed in 1867, Durfee houses five different plant collections, all of which astound with their beauty and vitality. Conservatory staff will be available to answer any questions. All are welcome. No cost to attend.

2:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. 
Permaculture Tour & Harvesting
In its fifth growing season, the Franklin Permaculture Garden has produced over 5,000 pounds of vegetables, fruits and herbs harvested by students and used in UMass Dining facilities. Enjoy a guided tour of the garden, taste the in-season produce and participate in a gardening activity where you can harvest fresh produce to take home.
     Part of the UMass Permaculture Initiative, this garden and others on campus are changing the way students interact with their food and surroundings. Started in 2010, the initiative has brought together students from all academic disciplines, as well as faculty, staff and community members to convert underutilized grass lawns on campus into edible, educational and biodiverse gardens. All are welcome. No cost to attend.

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Emeriti & 50th Milestone Mixer - Blue Wall Atrium
Join friends and fellow alumni to socialize before the evening's festivities kick off. Reminisce about your time on campus and make plans with your classmates for the weekend ahead. Be sure to stop by this gathering space dedicated to those who are celebrating their 50th-70th milestone reunions. Milestone class years are invited. No cost to attend.

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Murder Mystery Dinner - Marriott Center
Come be a part of the hilarious murder mystery dinner, "The Killer Script" presented by The Comical Mystery Tour. The stage is set for a deadly rehearsal of the soap opera, "The Numb and the Breathless." Soap opera producer, RE Mote has ticked-off someone enough that they have cancelled him, permanently.
     Could it have been the director and ill-treated brother-in-law, Frank Lee, the abused stage manager, Shanel Surfer, the over-acting new actor, Foster Granite or the bubbly yet obsessive actress, Sunny Delight?
     Come along and help figure out who dunnit! All are welcome. Pre-registration required.
Cost: $30 per person
*includes a plated dinner

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Paint. Sip. Fun. Dinner - Student Union Ballroom
Hone your artistic ability as Paint Sip Fun transforms alumni into artists. With the help of a skilled instructor, follow along with friends to recreate the iconic Old Chapel and Campus Pond scene on campus. Prior to painting, enjoy a delicious buffet dinner and cash bar. All are welcome. Pre-registration required.
Cost: $35 per person
*includes a buffet dinner and take-home artwork

7:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.
Sunset, Planets and Stars at the Sunwheel
Bring your friends to enjoy this unique sunwheel under the stars! Learn how the sunwheel was modeled and built, and how it can be used to determine movement of the sun and the moon throughout the year. Weather permitting, you will be able to view the sun telescopically, as well as Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and a few other celestial objects as it gets darker. Professor Steve Schneider, head of the Astronomy Department, will guide the experience.