Kim, ‘12

It really is a sad feeling when you see other people’s parents, siblings, and even grandparents walking around campus and enjoying Family Weekend with one another while your own family is at home. My roommate’s parents were also unable to come down this weekend, so at least we had each other to entertain. Even though our families weren’t here, my roommate and I still kept ourselves pretty busy by participating in many of the Family Weekend events. On Friday night, we attended the Family Weekend concert, a variety concert composed of performances by several of the University’s student music groups including Schola Cantorum and the University Jazz Ensemble. My roommate and I thoroughly enjoyed being exposed to all of the musical talent that’s here on campus and have become such avid fans of the Jazz Ensemble that we created a calendar solely to remind us of the group’s performance dates!

Then on Saturday afternoon, I had the rare opportunity to go hear former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, speak at UR’s very own Camp Concert Hall. Since this event was organized by the Obama for President Campaign in conjunction with the University of Richmond student organization supporting Obama for President, Secretary Albright spoke mainly of Obama’s policies, but her charisma alone captivated an overflowing Camp Concert Hall for more an hour. Listening to Secretary Albright speak live and only twenty feet away from me was probably one of my best experiences thus far at the University of Richmond. Because the University of Richmond does not endorse any candidate, a speaker invitation was extended to the McCain for President Campaign, as well, so hopefully another esteemed speaker will grace the University’s Camp Concert Hall in the near future!

And finally, Proclamation Night rolled around! Every freshman girl dressed in white for the Class of 2012 photo on the Westhampton Green. I have never seen so many girls in white and I have to say, it really is quite a sight against a backdrop of bright green grass and glowing sunlight. After a long process of arranging 400 women to fit into one photo, a sea of waving arms trying to fix hair at the last minute, and finally, a series of camera flashes, we were done with pictures. We then headed off to dinner at the Heilman Dining Hall before going into the Proclamation Night ceremony at the Chapel. The ceremony was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event, since only Westhampton women have the opportunity to experience it. It was a bonding moment shared among freshman women, senior women and freshman and senior women of the University of Richmond. Even though you gradually adapt to the Richmond environment from your first moments here, through orientation and through the first few weeks of classes, it is after attending the Proclamation ceremony that you feel like you have finally joined a long and esteemed line of intelligent Westhampton women.

I guess this weekend did manage to live up to last weekend’s eventfulness! Hopefully the fun and adventures will continue in the upcoming weeks!

My friend Kailey, roommate Gretchen and I posing in our white dresses right before the big picture.

So many girls fixing her hair at once!

And finally, the women of 2012.