From the Senior Director
When I was in college, a lot of conversation revolved around food — be it the latest creative concoction we’d be served for dinner in the residence hall or whether there would actually be food when we moved off campus and found other temptations for our money.
Food was often the centerpiece for our gatherings and for the social exchanges, discussions and debates that made my time at Willamette so memorable. It feeds the memories (no pun intended) I recall most warmly because it has to do with how we relate to each other.
Although my tastes and budget have improved slightly over the years, I still look to gather my college friends around the proverbial table in much the same way I used to, and I don’t think I’m alone. I watch students, faculty, staff and community members interact in Goudy, and I see bonds that grow stronger every day. These ties extend beyond our days at Willamette.
I also saw it during Reunion Weekend — classmates would gather around the table after 10, 30, 50 years or more, and the time just seemed to melt away. It was both inspiring and reassuring, and it made me appreciate Willamette’s role in providing that common ground. Maybe the secret to happiness really does lie in chocolate cake on Wednesday night with an old friend.
Denise M. Callahan ’95, MBA’00