50 Years of Women Schedule

50 Years of Women Celebration

Thursday, Oct. 31

1 –5 p.m. Exhibition. Skirts and Gowns: Celebrating the Legacy of Women at Sewanee. Curated by Introduction to Museum Studies students from Easter semester 2019. The Museum Gallery at the William R. Laurie University Archives and Special Collections.

1:30 p.m. Nature journaling with Mary Patten Priestley, C’72. Meet in Spencer 151.

3 p.m. Campus driving tour. Enjoy a narrated tour of old and new places on campus from the comfort of a touring van. Check out the places you’ll want to return to during the weekend to explore in more detail. Meet at McGriff Alumni House.

4–5:30 p.m. A Musical Homage to Women. In honor of the 50 years of Women celebration, curators will be playing selections featuring women artists: singers, musicians, composers, and songwriters. All genres and requests welcome! Ralston Listening Room, second floor, duPont Library.

5:30–6:30 p.m. Sirens of Song: The Women of Opera.The women of opera have always dazzled with their voices, just as their onstage characters meet with spectacular demise. Come hear about the role of female characters in opera’s standard repertory and contemplate why their stories often culminate in death. Featuring scenes from Die Zauberflöte, Carmen, Tosca, Salome, and more! Hosted by Dr. Kerry Ginger of the Music Department. Ralston Listening Room, second floor, duPont Library.

5:30 p.m. Meet and greet welcome home reception. Come see friends and professors at this gathering that kicks off the weekend. Harris Commons, Spencer Hall.

Friday, Nov. 1

8 a.m. Dedication of the plaque honoring 50 Years of Women. Light breakfast included. Walsh-Ellett patio.

9 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed noon–1 p.m.) Exhibition. Skirts and Gowns: Celebrating the Legacy of Women at Sewanee. Curated by Introduction to Museum Studies students from Easter semester 2019. The Museum Gallery at the William R. Laurie University Archives and Special Collections.

9–10:30 a.m. Coffee and conversations with alumnae and current students. Network and learn from graduates about career paths and other helpful tips for life after Sewanee. Convocation Hall.

10:45 a.m. The Office of Civic Engagement hosts a celebration of alumnae and students dedicated to service. Come take a gallery walk of posters where students will describe their projects of community engagement and hear from alumnae (onsite and via video) and current students about their work to make the world a better place. Convocation Hall.

11:45 a.m. Screening of "Mine 21," a short documentary about a deadly coal mine explosion that took place in Whitwell, Tennessee, in 1981. The film follows Kelsey Arbuckle, C’19, and Alexa Fults, C’21, both from Grundy County, as they find out more about this event, which took the lives of 13 miners. The effect in Marion and Grundy counties was tragic. The documentary was directed by Stephen Garrett, C’01, and produced by Sewanee Professor Chris McDonough. Q&A with Linda Mayes, C’73, and McDonough to follow screening. Convocation Hall.

1–3 p.m. Celebrating women in health care. In honor of the 50th anniversary of coeducation at Sewanee, the Sewanee Health Professions Society (SHPS) and the Sewanee Multicultural Health Society (SMHS) invite alumni and their family and friends to a meet-and-greet reception celebrating women in health care. SHPS and SMHS are student-led pre-health organizations. Representatives from both SHPS and SMHS will be in attendance and look forward to meeting alumni. Harris Commons, Spencer Hall.

1 p.m. Celebrating International Women: Join the Office of Global Citizenship in the Tower Room in McClurg to meet with women who are current international students and to see posters of what some of our past international women are doing. We may have a special international guest. We look forward to welcoming alumni and those interested in where in the world Sewanee international grads go! 

2:15–3:30 p.m. Sewanee Women Then and Now. Bairnwick Women’s Center hosts a panel of current students and alumnae who will share their experiences and offer their thoughts on what it has been like to be a woman at Sewanee, then and now. Mary Sue Cushman Room, Bairnwick Women’s Center.

3:30 p.m. The road to the Rhodes and beyond with Rhodes scholar alumnae Ramona Doyle, C’81; Jennifer Michael, C’89; Anne Jones, C’98; and Katharine Wilkinson, C’05, moderated by Ellen Goldey, C’85, vice president for academic affairs at Centre College, Torian Room, second floor, duPont Library.

4:30 p.m. All Saints’ Day service. The Rt. Rev. Kathryn McCrossen “Kai” Ryan, C’86, recently ordained as 11th bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Texas, will preach. All Saints’ Chapel.

4:30–7 p.m. Women’s and Gender Studies reception and Wick reunion, honoring professor Julie Berebitsky. Mary Sue Cushman Room, Bairnwick Women’s Center.

5:30 p.m. White and Pink Ribbon Societies party for society alumnae and members. Harris Commons, Spencer Hall.

5:30–7:30 p.m. Decades reception. Find your friends at the decades tables and enjoy a drink before the concert! The alumni tent, next to McGriff Alumni house.

8 p.m. 50 Years of Women concert featuring Grammy-winning artist Amanda Shires, L’17. Singer-songwriter and fiddle player Amanda Shires has performed as a member of the Texas Playboys, Thrift Store Cowboys, and Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, as well as in a duo with Rod Picott. Shires has released six solo albums, most recently To The Sunset in 2018. In 2019, she joined country music group The Highwomen alongside Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby. Guerry Auditorium. Tickets provided in your Homecoming packet.

Saturday, Nov. 2

7:30 a.m. Yoga with Sarah Coke King, C’83, BYO mat. The Cross.

9:30 am Celebrating 50 Years of Women—The Evolution of Support. Gailor Auditorium.  Sponsored by the Women of Sewanee group.

10 a.m.–noon Ninth annual Campus Gallery Walk. Diedrick Brackens’ Allegiance in the University Art Gallery, Mary Stuart Hall’s Sympathetic Dissonance in the Carlos Gallery of the Studio Art Building, the legacy of women at Sewanee with Skirts and Gowns in the Museum Gallery, William R. Laurie Archives and Special Collections, and the Alumnae Arts Showcase in Harris Commons, Spencer Hall.

10 a.m.–noon Kappa Delta annual alumnae brunch, EQB Building (next to McClurg Dining Hall).

10:30 a.m. Softball alumni game. Tiger Field.

11 a.m. Decades panel. Come hear from alumnae from each decade spanning the 50 years. Moderated by Professor Virginia Ottley Craighill, C’82, and featuring alumni Genye Hawkins, C’74; Mary Hance, C’75; Jess Baumhauer Hill, C’81; Kate Belknap-Burchak; C’83; Charlotte Thomas Riddle, C’91; Rosilyn Rayborn, C’04; La’Toyia Slay, C’11; Brittany Macon, C’14; and Bronte Goodhue, C’15. Gailor Auditorium.

11 a.m. Women’s field hockey vs. Centre College. Puett Field

11 a.m–1 p.m. Kappa Omega Sorority 20th anniversary birthday brunch. KO House, 205 Mississippi Avenue, Unit 3.

11:30 a.m. Pre-game tailgate party and affiliate party. WUTS? Proctor? Athlete? Choir? Lived in Hunter? Etc.! Come gather at the affiliate party with others with similar experiences and share stories. Alumni Homecoming tent, Georgia Avenue.

12:45 p.m. Group Photo. Let’s document the weekend that celebrates 50 Years of Women at Sewanee. Meet at the bleachers by the alumni tent, next to McGriff Alumni House.

1 p.m. Homecoming parade. Join the walk with other alumni from the tailgate party to the football field. Instead of classes, we’ll organize by affinity groups. EQB Award winners, 50 Years of Women, and more! Follow the marching band in front of McGriff Alumni House.

1–5 p.m. Exhibition. Skirts and Gowns: Celebrating the Legacy of Women at Sewanee. Curated by Introduction to Museum Studies students from Easter semester, 2019. The Museum Gallery at the William R. Laurie University Archives and Special Collections.

2 p.m. Campus bike ride, led by Woody Deutsch, C’72. Enjoy a unique view of campus by bike. Woody, of Woody’s Bicycles, will lead the group. Bring your bike or contact Woody’s Bicycles at 931.598.9793 to rent one for this event. Meet at Woody’s Bike Shop, 90 Reed’s Lane (next to Shenanigan’s).

3 p.m. Women of Sewanee Facebook Group meeting. Meet alumnae of this 3,000+ member group and collaborate on the mission and goals. Get swag! Torian Room, second floor, duPont Library.

4 p.m. Alumnae Choir rehearsal and reception. Did you sing in the choir at Sewanee or sing at your home church? Or just want to sing? Join other alumnae for a quick rehearsal for Sunday’s service in All Saints’ Chapel. Meet in the choir room in the basement of Carnegie Hall. Reception to follow.

6:15 p.m. Cocktail reception and gala. Program honoring the milestone 50 Years including keynote addresses by Linda Mayes, C’73, and Meredith Walker, C’91, and a special video salute to 50 years of coeducation on the Mountain. Reception music provided by Bazzania. The Sewanee Inn. RSVP required.

9:30 p.m. Jazz Coffee House J.D. Warren and the Rudiments Featuring Vocalist Dermel Warren C’ 03.  Ayres Multi-Cultural Center. 14 Willie Six Road.

Sunday, Nov. 3

11 a.m. Holy Eucharist at All Saints’ Chapel. Alumnae choir featured.

11 a.m.–2 p.m. Gamma Tau Upsilon pancake breakfast fundraiser, the Social Lodge, Georgia Avenue.

6 p.m. Tribute to Jessye Norman, H’84, the award-winning dramatic soprano who died Sept. 30 at the age of 74. She was one of the rare African American singers to attain worldwide stardom in the opera world and her passionate soprano voice won her five Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and the Kennedy Center Honors. Come listen to some of her greatest recordings on a state of the art sound system. Ralston Listening Room, second floor, duPont Library.