|
Native Studies 30th Anniversary Association President's Message Trent's Outstanding Research Record Convocation 2000 Photo Collage What's New in Academic Programs |
by Cheryl Davies '68Shortly after my 18th birthday in 1968, I moved into the brand
new Lady Eaton College as a first year student. During Intro.
Week, I met and became friends with my husband Bryan who was
in first year at Champlain College. Thirty one years later, on
August 28th, my 28th Wedding Anniversary, Bryan and I moved back
to the campus into the guest apartment in Champlain as Alumni
In Residence, proving the fallacy of the expression, "you
can never go back". It has been an exciting and extraordinary
year for us. This letter is in response to the question that is often asked
of us, "What does an Alumni in Residence do?" Before the 1st year students even arrived, we were thrown
into the hum of the campus. Master Stephen Brown, who masquerades
as an accomplished chef, held a sumptuous dinner where we met
many of the staff, faculty and dons. The next day, Glen Easson
'89 and I sang for the Intro. Week staff, introducing them to
the rich history of music at Trent. We performed a medley of
songs by famous Trent Alumni, Stan Rogers '68, Christopher Ward
'67, Ian Tamblyn '67 and Nigel Russell '66. We were honoured
to be asked by the students to perform at the first coffeehouse
of the year in the Celie. Two days later, Bryan and I greeted
first year students and their parents, assuaging their fears.
We participated in many Intro. Week activities, cheering on the
College during the Great Race and joined with glee in the famous
bun fight at the first formal dinner of the year. A mood of nostalgia
washed over me as I sat in the Great Hall looking at the students
in their green gowns and listening to their enthusiasm as they
anticipated the exciting year ahead. This was the end of the
first week! When Master Brown's secretary unexpectedly had to take the month of September off, I volunteered daily at the college office. This was a great opportunity for me to meet and get to know many of the students and to see first hand the daily activities of the college. The following is a list of some of the activities that I attended, arranged, facilitated and/or performed at:
The above are selections from my journal. As you can see,
there was never a dull moment! An overall observation is that
the students still have the same love for Trent, the same fierce
loyalty to their College and the same camaraderie. They are,
however, quieter and more studious than I remember! I believe
that this is related to the fact that computers allow students
to stay in their rooms more. They are still political. The food
is still mostly mediocre with occasional ashes of gourmet during
special events. The campus is still very beautiful and after
all these years, it still feels like home. Bryan and I are moving out soon and we would like to publicly thank Master Stephen Brown and his wife Prof. Katherine Chittick for their warm hospitality and kindness to us during our stay and for being shining examples of Faculty who care deeply for their students. Some things about Trent never change. |