Circle your calendar for Sept. 30-Oct. 1 and plan on returning to campus to join in celebrating The BG News' 85th anniversary. If you haven't been to campus for a while or kept in contact with old college friends, this is your chance.
The newly formed BG News Alumni Society is sponsoring multiple reunion events during Homecoming weekend to honor the campus newspaper and those who have captured a first draft of BGSU history, and student life, since 1920.
This reunion will celebrate milestones in the newspaper's history; recognize staff members of 1988-89 who won a best-in-the-nation award; and we will also compile a book of favorite alumni memories as a keepsake.
The weekend lineup for the 85th anniversary reunion includes:
- BG News Open House/Reception, 7-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at 210 West Hall. Tour the BG News newsroom and share stories with current staff. West Hall is located near the corner of Thurstin and Wooster streets, next to the Administration Building.
- Pre-luncheon Reception, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at 228 Bowen-Thompson Student Union. We've invited your former journalism profs back for a special event at BG's new student union.
- Anniversary Luncheon: "The Campus Voice for 85 Years," 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, at 228 Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Enjoy lunch and conversation during a program featuring speakers and images that capture BG News milestones and voices of the campus for more than eight decades.
- BG News Alumni Society Tent Party, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, at Meijer Tailgate Park on the east side of Doyt Perry Stadium. A child-friendly tent party for BG News alumni, families and guests.
- Homecoming football game between the Falcons and Temple University, 4 p.m., at Doyt Perry Stadium.
To register for the weekend's events, alumni can mail in this registration flyer or alumni can register and pay online with a Visa card here. There are several price and ordering options, including one that combines all Saturday events. The Society has also reserved a block of 100 seats for alumni at the football game.
BG News alumni are encouraged to quickly make their hotel reservations in Bowling Green. A hotel listing is available at the Bowling Green Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site.
This year's Homecoming celebration has been building for more than three years, following a successful 2002 reunion and a popular Homecoming tailgate party last year.
"We've hosted a couple of events since 2002 that have drawn really good crowds, with everyone having a great time," says BG News Alumni Society President Jim Tinker, '91. "What's really fun is to see people reconnect with each other. Relationships seem to pick up right where they left off. And it's also neat to meet staff from different eras and hear their stories, too."
For more information on The BG News' 85th anniversary reunion, contact BG News Adviser Bob Bortel, '77, '83, at 419/372-2607 (o) or rbortel@bgsu.edu. To volunteer to help with the reunion event, contact Tinker at jtinker2@bex.net.
