Registration
We hope you plan to attend Commencement/Reunion Weekend 2013.
The following classes and groups are celebrating reunions May 24-27, 2013:
1952, 1953, 1954 - 60th Reunion
1963 - 50th Reunion
1967, 1968, 1969 - 45th Reunion
1982, 1983, 1984 - 30th Reunion
1988 - 25th Reunion
2002, 2003, 2004 - 10th Reunion
Obertones 25th Reunion
Ultimate Reunion
Commencement/Reunion Weekend Schedule
Refer to the 2013 Commencement/Reunion Weekend schedule for complete event details.
Contacts
- Meals, events, housing, and Reunion questions: Alumni Association, 440-775-8692 or alumni@oberlin.edu
- General question/information about Commencement: Office of the Secretary, 440-775-8401 or secretary.office@oberlin.edu
- Check/Change reservation once on campus: Commencement/Reunion Center (only during the weekend) 440-775-8692
Welcome Center
The Ward Alumni Center, 65 E. College St., Suite 4, will serve as the Commencement/Reunion Welcome Center. When you first arrive on campus, please register at the center and pick up your reserved tickets, dorm access card, housing assignment, and the complete weekend program. In addition, you may leave messages for friends at the center.
Center Hours:
Friday, May 24: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday, May 25: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 26: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Monday, May 27: 8:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Note: If you will be arriving after the registration desk closes, special arrangements must be made for housing access. Alert the Alumni Office before the weekend or the Welcome Center during the weekend if this applies to you.
Because of the large number of people expected to attend the weekend, making a reservation is essential. We cannot guarantee tickets or accommodations for those who arrive without reservations.
Parking
Download a campus map that shows parking areas.
Housing
Dormitory rooms are available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, but not Monday night. All dorm rooms must be vacated by 1 p.m. on Monday, May 27, 2013.
Ohio weather can be unpredictable! If warm weather is predicted, we suggest you bring a portable fan since the dormitories are not air conditioned. If cool weather is predicted, we suggest you bring warm sleepwear, as we only provide one light blanket per bed. Once the heat is turned off for the year, it cannot be turned back on. We also suggest that you bring a wash cloth, soap, extra towels, a reading lamp, and clothes hangers.
While we do our best to accommodate the needs of returning alumni, there are very limited facilities for those with special needs such as private baths, wheelchair ramps, and accessible bathrooms. We recommend you consider reserving lodging in a local motel or bed and breakfast.
Reunion class members will be housed together in dormitories as space permits; make your reservation form as soon as possible to ensure that you are housed with classmates. Please indicate the number of beds required; most rooms have two single beds. Single rooms are available in some dorms.
Rates for beds in dorm rooms are as follows: $40.00 per bed, per night if reserved before May 1. After May 1, all beds in dorms are $55.00 per night. Furnishings include sheets, pillow and case, blanket, and one hand towel and one bath towel. These supplies are not replenished daily.
60th reunion alumni (classes 1952, 1953 and 1954) will be housed in the Oberlin Inn, unless otherwise requested.
For more housing options, download this list of area motels.
2013 Reunion Class/Cluster Headquarters
10th Reunion - 2002, 2003, 2004 - South Hall
25th Reunion - 1988 - Talcott
30th Reunion - 1982, 1983, 1984 - Burton
45th Reunion - 1967, 1968, 1969 - Langston Hall (North)
50th Reunion - 1963 - Kahn Hall with Asia House Overflow
60th Reunion - 1952, 1953, 1954 - Oberlin Inn
Green Initiative - Bring Your Own Water Bottle
As part of our ongoing effort to make Commencement/Reunion Weekend have as little impact on the planet as possible, the Green Commencement/Reunion Committee has asked Campus Dining Services to eliminate single use water bottles. Water will be available throughout the weekend in several locations; we welcome you to fill your own reusable bottle. Help us reduce the amount of plastic on campus during this busy weekend by bringing your water bottle with you.
Reunion Blog
Be sure to follow the Oberlin College Alumni Association's Reunion blog throughout Memorial Day weekend.
Dining
General meal dining (cash only, pay at the door) will be available in the Dascomb food court during the weekend. Several entrées including vegetarian and vegan options are available. Wild Thymes will have a regular selection of traditional fares featuring savory flavors of herbs. Ring of Fire will feature authentic Asian cuisines. Southside Deli will have traditional items, as well as a selection of whole meats grilled-to-order at the dinner meal. Focaccino will have calzones, stromboli, pizzas, and other Italian dishes.
At class/cluster meals a vegetarian/vegan option will be available by advance request with your reservation. Due to space restrictions, we request that only classmates and spouses/partners attend the class/cluster dinners.
If you have food allergies and are attending a ticketed meal, please list the foods on the reservation form so we may alert the dietitian.
Camp Oberlin
Children's Daytime Activities: Supervised recreational activities for children ages 4-12 will be available Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Children should be dropped off and picked up at the Commencement/Reunion Center. Please provide children with a waterbottle with their choice of drink. Children should not carry any money. Cost is $50 per day with lunch included. Please sign up on the reservation form.
Children's Pizza Supper: A supervised pizza supper with soft drinks and movies will be available in Wilder Hall for children ages 4-12 whose parents attend class/cluster dinners on Sunday, May 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $7. Please sign up on the reservation form.
Traveling With An Infant:Traveling to Oberlin with your infant is a great experience, but it does require some advance planning. The mattress can double as a changing table pad. Bring baby blankets since only two adult-sized blankets are provided. Bring your child’s favorite toys to help him/her adjust to the strange surroundings. You may want to bring a stroller; the dining halls have a few highchairs.
Children with sleeping bags in a parent's room are not charged.
Recreation + Wellness
Oberlin is committed to leading healthy lifestyles and providing opportunities for patrons, and the Department of Athletics invites you to explore everything that Philips Physical Education Center has to offer. The Center will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Activities and facilities available include yoga classes and full access to the cardio equipment, weight room, sauna, track, swimming pool, and basketball, tennis, racquetball, and squash courts. Most equipment may be borrowed from the equipment room. Bowling is available in Hales Gymnasium.
Please check the schedule for more exciting opportunities to stay fit as other class offerings and discussions surrounding health and wellness might be added.
Attending Performances
You may order tickets on the event reservation form. Weekend performance descriptions and times will be listed in the Information and Highlights booklet.
Commencement Exercises
Commencement will be Monday morning, May 27, on Tappan Square, rain or shine. Tickets are not necessary.
Special Needs
Wheelchairs will be available for the weekend from the Commencement/Reunion Center. There is a $50 deposit (cash, check, MC or VISA only) fee of which $35 will be refunded when the wheelchair is returned at the end of the weekend. All wheelchairs must be returned by 12:45 p.m. on Monday, May 27, or you will forfeit your deposit.
An American Sign Language Interpreter will be available during the Celebration Luncheon and Commencement exercises.
Rideshare Program
Your journey can be part of the celebration and help us green Oberlin: Fly or Drive Together
Whether you fly or drive to Commencement/Reunion Weekend, you now have an opportunity to connect with your neighbors on your journey. You can carpool to Oberlin or share a cab or rental from the airport. Does your car have an extra seat? Use your trip as a mini-reunion and find other Oberlin alumni and friends in your region, while reducing the number of cars traveling to Oberlin in May.
Please utilize the Reunion Ride Finder service on the Alumni Association website to coordinate rides to and from Oberlin. Rides Needed and Rides Offered are currently posted.
Airport Shuttles
Oberlin College has partnered with Hopkins Transportation Service and Charters (HTS) in order to provide shuttle service between Cleveland Hopkins Airport and Oberlin for Commencement/Reunion Weekend.
You may make online shuttle reservations by visiting http://www.gohopkins.com/ and selecting “Groups” in the left navigation bar. Reservations are strongly recommended.
The online reservation system will request your flight arrival and departure information and will schedule your shuttle service accordingly. If you require a wheelchair lift, please call Hopkins Transportation Service and Charters directly at 1-800-543-9912 to make arrangements.
Shuttles depart from the baggage claim area; please go to the Welcome-Information Booth on the baggage claim level tor shuttle information.
In Oberlin, the shuttle arrives and departs from Eric Nord Way and the rear entrance of the Oberlin Inn. Please be at the pick-up location ten minutes before departure.The trip to and from Oberlin is approximately 50 minutes. The fare for advance reservations is $22.00 one-way, per person, or $42 roundtrip (price may change).
Breakfast, $7.00; Lunch, $8.50; Dinner, $12.50. Children ages
4-12, ½ price; ages 3 and under, free.
