Registrations are now underway for this year’s Meliora Weekend, which focuses on the theme of inovation.
“The theme is really deeply entrenched in our ethos,” Senior Associate Vice President of University Advancement and acting Dean of College Advancement Rebecca Fox said.
This year, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan, founder and CEO of Zogby International John Zogby, Segway inventor Dean Kamen, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” comedians and many other notable speakers will arrive at UR to help celebrate the third annual Meliora Weekend.
“This year I think we have some really great programs,” Meliora Weekend Student Co-chair and junior Erica Owen said.
New York City club Webster Hall will once again visit UR this year in an event co-sponsored by the Black Students Union, the Spanish And Latino Students Association and the Pride Network.
The Campus Activities Board is bringing comedians Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood to campus for two shows on Oct. 10, as well.
Various student groups will also participate in one of the most exciting and entertaining events of the weekend, the Rochester Review.
“I think every year we try to build on additional student programming,” Development Manager for the Office of College Advancement Jennifer Linton said.
Last year, bigger name speakers such as Hillary Clinton, Simon Rushdie, Ted Turner and others came to Meliora Weekend.
“Although there’s not the star-quality speakers that we’ve had in the past, it’s an incredibly substantive program,” Fox said.
Fox is excited about this year’s speakers. “Garth Fagan – having him receive the Eastman medal – his presence both locally and nationally is incredibly exciting,” she said.
President of the University of Maryland at Baltimore County Freeman Hrabowski will also speak on Saturday, Oct. 11. “[Hrabowski is] one of the most extraordinary members of higher education today,” Fox said. “He’s just an extraordinary speaker and an extraordinary human being. It will be a particularly exciting talk.”
This, of course, is just a small listing of all the unique and memorable events during Meliora Weekend.
The only way to get a chance to see any of the events is to register, either by going to the alumni section of UR’s Web site or by signing up in person in Wilson Commons.
Owen has worked hard to put together the program.
Students can also volunteer to assist during Meliora Weekend, by contacting the Meliora co-chairs at melioracomm @alumni.rochester.edu.
Schnee can be reached at cschnee@campustimes.org.
