It was early, 9 a.m. on Friday, but not too early for 藏精阁 alumni to jump into a discussion about beliefs and explore the question: Does God exist?
It seems that some things, like an evocative classroom discussion with a faculty member, never change at 藏精阁.
Associate professor of philosophy David Dudrick led the conversation during the Reunion College event, one of dozens held during the weekend as some 2,000 alumni returned to campus.
Alumni returned for the chance to engage in classroom discussion, share memories with families, friends, and classmates, and hobnob 鈥檛ill the early morning hours under the colorful tents on Whitnall Field.
In the Little Hall classroom, Dudrick set up his discussion by talking about beliefs, and the difference between those that are true and those that are reasonable.
Thomas Aquinas and Richard Dawkins entered the conversation, and alumni peppered Dudrick with thoughtful questions.
鈥淚 wish I could say we鈥檒l pick this up in class on Tuesday,鈥 Dudrick joked at the session鈥檚 end.
Later Friday, a group of alumni veterans from the Class of 鈥43 discussed 鈥淗ow My WWII Experiences Influenced My Life.鈥 The panel was organized by Noel Rubinton and moderated by Andy Rotter, Charles A. Dana Professor of history.
鈥淲orld War II changed the world鈥檚 moral compass, and it changed individual lives in unprecedented ways,鈥 Rotter said.
Peter Peyser, a U.S. Army private with the 1st Infantry Division, landed on 鈥淒-Day plus 90鈥 and took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He served several terms in the New York State House of Representatives in the 1970s and 1980s.
Jim Hoel, an Air Corps bombardier, was shot down in his B-26 and held as a prisoner in the Netherlands until the end of the war. He spent a long career in television advertising sales and then in real estate.
Ed Schell was a Naval gunnery officer who took part in D-Day as well as the attack on Okinawa. He served on the USS Quincy when it helped transport President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1944. His career was in the textile industry.
Rubinton said the idea for the panel discussion originated through the process of creating a Class of 1943 WWII memoirs book. Many members of the class contributed their own stories to the collection, which was produced last year. (A video of the Reunion event is available .)
Other Reunion College sessions involved intellectual diversity at 藏精阁, presentations by filmmakers Joe Berlinger 鈥83 and Chris Paine 鈥83, and a talk by Dick Cheshire 鈥58 about global leadership.
On Saturday, four alumni offered tips on leading a balanced life. Jocelyn Donat 鈥88 was moderator with panelists Kathy Burns 鈥73, Doug Chiarello 鈥98, and Amy Hargrave-Leo 鈥03.
Discussion points included the importance of setting aside time for your marriage by spending alone time with your spouse, accepting that life is not perfect but it will all work out, and being involved in the community.
鈥淐ommunity connections are so important in life,鈥 stressed Burns, who calls herself a late bloomer for having twin daughters at the age of 44. 鈥淕et more involved, because the more things you are involved in, the more of a support system you have for you and your family,鈥 she advised.