by The Cowl Editor on February 10, 2017
News
By Gabriela Pisano ’18
News Staff
With Providence College celebrating its Centennial year, there have been many special events happening throughout the school year. There are also annual events like Alumni & Family Weekend, which celebrates the Friar Family and is full of PC Pride.
This year’s Alumni & Family Weekend, taking place on Feb. 10-12, has special events planned due to it being the Centennial year. With more than 1,700 people registered, the many events are estimated to have high attendance. Giving guests the opportunity to see changes to the campus, the welcome reception for families will take place in the Arthur F. and Patricia Ryan Center for Business Studies from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The Centennial exhibit located on the second floor of the Harkins Rotunda will be officially unveiled during Dinner with the Dominicans. At the dinner, Chaplains Rev. Peter Martyr Yungwirth, O.P., Rev. Philip Neri Reese, O.P., and other Dominicans will talk about the Peer Ministry Program and join attendees for dinner.
On Saturday at 10 a.m., President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80, will give the opening remarks of the weekend, offering updates on the College news and welcoming our featured speaker, Doris Burke ’87. Burke is a three-time All-Big East Basketball player at PC who went on to enter the world of television sports broadcasting. Burke will share the story of her journey in her speech “A Basketball Life.”
The weekend includes diverse elements of academics, athletics, and the Arts. A number of academic based events will be held throughout the day on Saturday. From discussing the future of ObamaCare to having a mock Development of Western Civilization class about race, marginality and theologies of liberation, a wide variety of topics will be covered.
In addition to these events, there will be information sessions. Students and parents interested in Study Abroad opportunities will have the opportunity to attend a “Know Before They Go” session. The Center for Career Education & Professional Development is also hosting a “Discern and Prepare for Who You Will Be” session to prepare graduates for success after PC.
Multiple sporting events are taking place over the course of the weekend as well. Though the Friar Men’s Hockey Game is sold out, there is a game watch and pep rally to be held in ’64 Hall. The Men’s Basketball game against Butler is at 4p.m. on Saturday. There is a game watch for this game happening at the Rhode Island Convention Center followed by the PC 100 Bash.
During the PC 100 Bash, the PC Department of Athletics will honor a group of past PC athletes by retiring their jerseys. Among those to be honored are Otis Thorpe ’84; the late Bruce “Soup” Campbell ’78; Doris Burke ’87 ’92G, ’05Hon; Lou Lamoriello ’63 ’01Hon; Ron Wilson ’77; and Cammi Granato ’93 ’12G.
The PC 100 Bash already has 800 people scheduled to attend, but those who have yet to register are still welcome and encouraged. Student buses will begin running at 2 p.m. before the game, and additional buses will loop from PC to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center from 6-11:30 p.m.
Deirdre Driscoll-Lemoine, director of college events says, “Come down to the convention center, even if you haven’t registered. There will be plenty of free food. It’ll be on the fourth floor overlooking the beautiful city. Everyone is welcome. The theme of this whole weekend is celebrating being Forever a Friar Family.”
As for the Arts, the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film will be having performances of The Laramie Project on Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Additionally, celebrating the 20th anniversary of A cappella at PC, the A cappella groups will perform at the PC 100 Bash at 8pm.
Alumni & Family Weekend is a highlight of the PC acadmic year. Driscoll-Lemoine stated, “College Events, Alumni Relations, and the Office of Institutional Advancement worked together on planning the weekend. I like to call this weekend an across campus collaboration. There are so many people involved in making all of this happen.”