Blakely Dishman
Features Editor
Aspen Rush
Editor-in-Chief
Last weekend, more than one thousand parents, families and alumni returned to Wooster for the beloved Black and Gold festivities. While the parents and alumni weekend is an annual event, this year’s festivities held a different meaning: it was the first time the Wooster community was able to gather together since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020.
For many members of the Class of 2020, this is the first time they have united since they departed for Spring break. What they thought would be a mere two weeks apart became almost a year and a half. Friends reunited with their friends to the ever-present soundtrack of bagpipes. While many things have changed around campus, the massive construction that has taken over the Student Center, the sounds of Wooster bagpipes in the early fall remains familiar.
Many alumni felt as though the event transported them back to their time as students. The familiar traditions and sights evoked many emotions for former students. Sam Casey ’21 said “When I first stepped on campus, the feelings I had as a Wooster student came rushing back. It has been hard seeing students have a more normal college experience this year, at least compared to last fall, because it reminds me of all the opportunities missed due to the pandemic. But running into friends on Beall Avenue, watching the different games, eating at Spoon downtown all made me feel included in the Wooster experience once again.” Similarly Chloe Burdette ’21 stated, “I spent so much time on that campus for the past four years, it felt so weird to be back while not actually living there! I was very excited to be in the town that fostered so many great memories for me.”
It is clear that the opportunity to return to the home that many students had to leave so suddenly was truly appreciated. This sentiment was exemplified in Robert’s ’20 comment of “My first feelings stepping back onto campus were relief that all the little assignments and events I remember having to fixate on as a student were over, that bittersweet nostalgia that comes with autumn, for fun times with old friends, and excitement to see who else would be there!”
Alumni not only had the chance to return to the campus and rekindle old memories, but they also had a variety of events catered to them. Both former students and current parents had many different concerts, sporting events, and opportunities to mingle.
When speaking to the alumni about the featured events, Robert stated that “[his] favorite event would have to be the alumni-student open house with the SGI where [they] discussed the importance of fostering community on campus in a time of social distancing and concern for the threat of younger students never finding an accepting and nurturing community. Another favorite would have been the Bluegrass jam at the Arch if [he] hadn’t missed it but [he will] just have to come back sometime soon!”
Casey said that he enjoyed the happy hour on Friday and the Beer Garden on Friday. Those events were prime opportunities for the recent graduates to connect with older alumni, either through professional networking or trading stories of their Wooster memories.
Sports events were also a highlight of Black and Gold Weekend for many. Students, faculty, parents, and alumni were able to attend soccer, football, ultimate frisbee and more. These events were well loved by Burdette, when asked what she enjoyed about the weekend she responded, “I attended all of the athletic events because I worked for the athletic department. I was even able to say hi to some of the greatest bosses in the world that I had while attending them!” Similarly, Casey was proud to watch the women’s soccer and field hockey teams win.
The main theme of the weekend appeared to be connection. Whether it be connection to the past, between old friends or to more experienced alumni, the Classes of 2020 and 2021 were overjoyed to be back on campus.
Casey said that his return to campus “made up for [his sudden departure from the College]” and also allowed him to reconnect with friends from the Class of 2020 who he had not seen since March 2020. Similarly, for Burdette, Black and Gold weekend was almost like a flashback into time, “I was able to see some of my friends who all had such a crazy recent year. It felt great to feel like a college student again, surrounded by great people.”
Robert expressed his concerns over the idea that the College may be done celebrating the Class of 2020, “Lastly I must say I thought the class of 2020 celebration event was nice, but I hope the school doesn’t think that that’s the last of us! Our class is in a special position, at least in my view, where we are both building our lives after wooster but also processing an untimely departure from it. I think that it will be important for us all to remember to reach out to each other, our older alumni, and our friends remaining on campus and lean on each other during these times even when our anxieties might inhibit that.”
Overall, Black and Gold Weekend provided the opportunity for the development of relationships between old friends, alumni, and parents.