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Ciao, classmates!
We’d like to give a round of applause to We’d like to give a round of applause to our Reunion Ambassadors: Denise S. Breland, Avery W. Esdaile, Hirut Johnson, Kristen A. Lindgren, Scott A. Mayerowitz, Sarah Schur-McCarty, Bakley Smith, and Ku Yoo!
Claudia Cruz has been busy as usual. Before arriving at Reunion this past May and learning to juggle for the first time, she graciously accepted the award for being the best administrative faculty member at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she runs the internship program and teaches a bilingual journalism course at the Reynolds School of Journalism. In July, as part of her academic research, she presented a documentary and panel discussion on race-based hair discrimination in television newsrooms at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Claudia shared how reenergizing it was to see ol’ WesHeads back in Middletown and wishes to connect with more alumni out West.
Liz Darlington wrote in that she “had a fantastic time seeing old friends at Reunion, and she and Leah Grabelsky successfully introduced Leah’s adorable one-year-old to campus. 🙂 Leah did a great job getting the baby to sleep in a dorm room! Liz learned many lessons about Reunion for next time: Try to get over to the class lounge, which she didn’t really know was a thing and she therefore didn’t get any class merch! Try to go to a lecture and not miss every single one somehow. Try to save energy for the last night so she won’t need to go to bed by 9 p.m. Try to walk around campus more because there isn’t enough time. Try not to go on a very long walking excursion to Eli Canon’s (just kidding that was a highlight!), but don’t forget how far the walk is. And don’t miss the crazy dance party in WestCo cafe with a band that she still forgets the name of but is well-known and they are from Wesleyan. Everyone should go next time!” [Liz, it was one-half of MGMT.]
We were happy to hear from Ray Sanchez who shares, “I started as general counsel in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Contract Services back in December. I’d love to connect to other Wesleyan alumni in NYC government; I know there is a good number of us.” Ray, we missed you at Reunion!
Dr. Eden-Reneé Hayes gave a TEDx talk exploring how the wisdom of Jedi Master Yoda can help reframe diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a path to deeper connection and organizational success. Google “Yoda DEI” to watch!
Matt Rahaim is enjoying the late sunsets in Minneapolis and is deep in rehearsals for a new suite of pieces he composed for musical instruments, made from decommissioned police rifles, which will be featured this fall at the Modulus Festival in Vancouver.
Leora Wien came home from Reunion with a friendly “great-to-see-you” type of text with a photo of Nick Suplina in the center, surrounded by herself and four other classmates. So, she texted him:
Leora to Nick Suplina: “Nick Suplina! It’s Leora as co-class secretary and . . . you guessed it. I’m following up regarding that time you left my LinkedIn message about sending me a class note unanswered. With your permission, I would like to interview you via text. 1) Nick, what is this center for gun control program at Wes? I hadn’t heard of it. 2) How did it get started? Did you reach out to a certain professor? 3) Anything else you’d like to share? How was Reunion?
Nick Suplina to Leora: “Hey Leora, this is Hannah Breul.”
Leora to Nick Suplina Hannah: [ha ha tapback] “Omg. Well, Hannah. While I have you . . . could I ask you some questions for Class Notes? We might call it ‘Class Texts’?”
Hannah: “Ha, sure!”
Leora: “Excellent! Hannah Breul, thank you for joining this edition of Class Texts. I’m sorry I thought you were Nick Suplina. Hannah, how about three questions in this order: 1) Profession-related 2) Philosophical 3) This-or-that?”
Hannah: [thumb tapback]
Hannah: [some discussion about there being a better topic]
Hannah: “Instead, let me tell you about my fun summer travels. I spent two weeks in Italy and am now with family in Grand Cayman for a week. In Italy, I was with a group of 20 people (most of whom I had not met) at a beautiful villa in Tuscany. . . . It was a really fun mix of wonderful people. We spent many lovely hours drinking in the pool and making up synchronized dancing routines.”
Leora: “Maybe our this-or-that should be gelato or tiramisu?”
Hannah: “Ooooh. I think I’d go tiramisu. I’m not much of a sweets person but I did get a gelato one in Rome (spent five nights there solo after the villa adventure to be a tourist).”
Leora: “And which flavor?”
Hannah: “Salted caramel was my pick. It was so damn hot I barely wanted to eat in Rome, but I knew my dad would be bummed if I didn’t try it once.”
Leora: “You did it for Dad!”
Hannah: [heart tapback]
Leora: “Thank you, Hannah! I’m going to write up a draft of our convo for your OK before including it in the notes.”
Hannah: “Sorry about the phone number confusion. Hilarious that you thought you were getting Nick and ended up with me. Not the prestige interview you wanted! . . . I think there was a whole thing about tapping our phones to share contact info that people did over the Reunion weekend. With varying levels of success.”
Leora: “It’s all newfangled phone wizardry to me.”
SERENA JONES | jones.serena@gmail.com
LEORA WIEN | leorawien@gmail.com