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Exhibits, lectures, and dinners are planned Oct. 26-28
This year’s Family Weekend from Oct. 26-28 is themed “Le Tour de Lafayette,” and will feature exhibits, lectures, and dinners, which will continue the College’s celebration of the 250th birthday of the Marquis de Lafayette.
The College’s yearlong celebration during 2007-08 is in recognition of the life and legacy of the man for whom it is named. Major events include the Lives of Liberty lecture series; a historical exhibit at the Williams Center for the Arts, entitled A Son and his Adoptive Father: The Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington; and a birthday party, which was Sept. 6.
A web site dedicated to the celebration and to the Marquis’ unique connection to the College provides information and updates.
Chemistry major Ryan Osterweil ’08 (Forest Hills, N.Y.) serves as the executive chair of the Family Weekend committee. “As the chair of Family Weekend, I always love families to come every year to the programs we put together, but this year we have focused a good deal of attention on the celebratory birthday.”
The complete schedule of events and registration form can be found at the Family Weekend website. Registration forms should be returned to the Office of Student Life Programs by Oct. 12.
Osterweil described the weekend’s correlation with the Marquis’ birthday, saying “The biggest event during Family Weekend which will directly deal with the Marquis de Lafayette is the academic showcase with Diane Shaw, who will discuss the Marquis de Lafayette and how his relationship with George Washington directly altered the course of American history.”
The lecture entitled “The Marquis de Lafayette: Bonds of Family and Friendship” will be presented by Diane Windham Shaw, special collections librarian and College archivist, after the football game Oct. 27 in room 224 Oechsle Hall. It will examine Lafayette’s own family story, including his friendship with George Washington and the devotion of his wife, Adrienne.
From 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 27, the family weekend dinner will continue the celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette’s birthday. Held in the second floor of Farinon College Center, the meal is themed “The General’s Bistro.” It will feature field greens salad with seasonal vegetables; red skin potato and baby green bean salad; marinated grape tomatoes with toasted bread crumbs and parmesan cheese; coq au vin blanc; sirloin of beef tips au bordelaise; baked potatoes au gratin; poached cauliflower aux champignon. For dessert, there will be made to order French toast aux grand marnier served with French vanilla ice cream and covered with warm blueberry sauce or chocolate gnache; homemade pastry filled with strawberries and French vanilla ice cream; mini �clairs and napoleons.
Reservations for the dinner are required. It costs $16 for adults, $12 for Lafayette students on a meal plan, and $10 for children under 12.
Several exhibits celebrating the 250th birthday celebration of Lafayette will also be on display during family weekend. A Son and His Adoptive Father will be open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. in the Williams Center gallery. The Lafayette, We Are Here! exhibit will be on display in the Lass Gallery in Skillman Library Friday through Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.
“I think it is of great value to celebrate this birthday, if for no other reason than this school was named for Lafayette and it is a tribute not only to him but to Lafayette as a school to celebrate,” says Osterweil.