For $5, Northwestern students received a catered meal and the chance to hear alumni discuss issues related to their respective fields.
While dining on chicken, pasta and chocolate mousse cake, students listened Saturday to Gregory Josefowicz, Kellogg ’79, talk about the decline in leisurely reading and how bookstores are reacting. Josefowicz — chairman, president and CEO of Borders Group Inc. — was one of 14 speakers for the Alumni Association’s 36th annual “A Day with Northwestern in Evanston 2005,” held at Norris University Center.
Each of about 275 participants who registered had the opportunity to attend three lectures of their choice. Alumni and faculty discussed topics pertaining to economics, business, journalism, literature, law, sports, medicine and the arts. The event attracted alumni and students from the Class of 1941 to the Class of 2008.
“I was sitting next to someone who was a graduate of Medill, and it was interesting to talk to him,” said Matt Deutschman, a Medill freshman. “When I’m an alum, I’ll probably come back for these types of things if I’m in the area.”
Josefowicz discussed his journey from working as a high school student at Jewel-Osco to graduating from Kellogg and becoming the CEO of Borders Group Inc.
“[With] the combination of books, food, Kellogg and cereal, people have a lot of fun with the introductions,” Josefowicz said jokingly.
The keynote speaker was Sara Bloomfield, Weinberg ’72 and director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Bloomfield’s presentation focused on the German scientific perspective of Nazism and the Holocaust.
“[The doctors] were trained at some of the best schools in one of the most highly educated nations in the world,” Bloomfield said, after detailing the atrocities of the Holocaust.
Regular full-day admission for non-students was $60, but most of the guests were older alumni.
“After you get your degree, you want to make sure your school is still good,” said Diane Dawson, Medill ’76 and president of Dawson Sales.
Pamphlets were mailed to alumni, and the event was publicized to students through e-mails.
“We were pushing to get a lot of students,” said Byron Tsang, a Weinberg junior who serves as an Alumni Association planning board member. “The biggest point to consider is that when students are matriculated, they’re technically part of the Alumni Association.”
Through corporate sponsorship, the Alumni Association and alumni support, the day brought together friends of NU, students and alumni to offer educational and networking opportunities.
“You get a lot of exposure to people who’ve done a lot of interesting things in their life,” Tsang said.
Reach Nina Kim at [email protected].
