The Connection

Greetings, Alumni!  I got Connected!   This is my first newsletter as Director of Alumni Affairs. While working on this issue, I had flashbacks of my freshman year in high school, putting together the school newspaper.  Back then, (let’s not count years) at my small high school, we used the old mimeograph method of reproducing the pages.  I remember painstakingly coloring in the headlines for the master sheet, getting purple stain all over my hands as they were run through page by page. 

This time around, I used a computer, Microsoft Publisher, and a lot of trial and error.  Fortunately, once finished, I send it to Linda Nossett, our very capable print shop manager, and she produces the finished product you hold in your hands. 

First, thanks to each of you that emailed, mailed, called, and or visited, giving me material for this quarter’s Connection.  Please send in your news items for future issues.

The Connection is one way to keep up with old college friends.  Staying connected with old friends can be difficult with busy lifestyles.  Recently, my two life long college friends and I got together for lunch in Washington, Indiana. (We were dorm mates, Brokaw 211 and 213). We now live about an hour from each other, but between working and kids and grandkids, we only manage a face to face visit about twice a year.  These are friends with whom I survived  8 a.m. classes (with the revered and feared Dr. Hasselbrink),  shared submarine sandwiches (Piper’s was around long before Subway!) and wore those dreaded freshman green beanies.  Now, a few decades later, we’ve shared other experiences.  We’ve rejoiced at marriages, wept over divorce, survived cancer, buried parents, watched our children grow up and move away.  We’ve taught public and private schools, traveled the world for the government and  sadly, watched fashions repeat themselves again and again.  Through it all, we’ve remained friends.  These dear ladies are my life support system.  Just knowing we are a call or email away, makes any crisis easier to bear.  And daily, we are prayer partners, sharing a faith that is the bedrock of our friendship.  And as we finished lunch that day, we did what we always do, we wondered why we wait so long between visits and promised next time, we'll do better.

Recently, I was privileged to attend the Disler Gang Reunion.  These are a great group of men who became lifelong friends through college sports and the leadership of their coach, Chief

Disler.  The camaraderie, admiration and friendship this group has is contagious.  The room lights up as they reminisce, laugh at old  stories and share their experiences.  They, too, are bedrock friends.

Do you have an old college roommate or friend  you’ve lost touch with?  They may live across town or across the continent.  Take a few minutes and give them a call.  You’ll be glad you did, and  you may find yourself saying  “why did we wait so long?”  Then drop me a line and tell me the story of your reunion.  After all, staying connected is one of life’s sweetest joys.       

 

 

 

 

                 “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

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VISIT ONLINE: www.oak.edu

~Susan Sullivan ‘97

Our Next Issue:

The next Connection will be the Winter Issue.  Do you have a favorite college Christmas story you’d like to share?  What were some of the dorm traditions when you were here?  Did you decorate your dorm door?  Send your stories in and we’ll print  as many as we can.  And if needed, we can change the names to protect the innocent and not so innocent!  Deadline for stories to be submitted:  November 1st!

Nomination for alumni board

It’s time for the Alumni Office to receive nominations for the Alumni Board for 2008-2010.  Because of the change in the by-laws increasing the membership from 9 to 12 members, we need to elect four new members to the board. 

The requirements to serve on the board are:  (1) a graduate of OCU, (2) a dues paying member of the Alumni Association and (3) will to attend four meetings per year.

Please complete the following nomination form and mail to Oakland City University, Alumni Office, 138 N. Lucretia St., Oakland City, IN 47660 no later than November 1st.

 

Name __________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________

City __________________________ State ________ Zip __________________

Contact # or Email _________________________________________________

Class of _____________

Nominated by _____________________________________________________

Phone # ______________________________________

Requests

Do you have a college roommate story you’d like to share in an upcoming issue?

Do you have someone you’d like to nominate for  “best friend in the world” ?

Would you contribute to an Alumni Cookbook?

Do you have an idea for an area alumni meeting?

Please respond to me at ssullivan@oak.edu or 812 749 1226.  I want to hear your ideas!