Raymond College Alumni Reunion
Photo by Rafaela Belen Reyes Olaechea
A generation of minds and hearts: Raymond College alumni come home
Raymond College, a part of our university from 1962 to 1980, was a unique liberal arts college known for its interdisciplinary curriculum, combining natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. It fostered a spirit of intellectual curiosity and social engagement that still burns brightly in its alumni.
During Homecoming weekend, graduates of Raymond College returned to campus for a two-day reunion filled with laughter, memories, and deep reflection. While their college closed more than four decades ago, the ideals they once lived by came roaring back to life in the very halls where it all began.
On Friday evening, the alumni gathered for dinner, where David Bennet, an alumni and former president of ASUOP, guided the night with warmth and wisdom. He invited his fellow Raymondites to share their most powerful memories of classes, friendships, protests, and even wars that shaped their young lives.
There was a moment of silence to honor professors and classmates who have passed away. It was deeply moving to witness these alumni remember their friends in the same space where they once debated philosophy, challenged authority, and dreamed of a better world.
As the dinner continued, so did the stories of activism, courage, and a time when their voices rang loudly in the face of injustice. They recalled standing up for civil rights, protesting the Vietnam War, and passionately engaging with the issues of their time. There was laughter, yes, but also tears. Many expressed how surreal it felt to be back, in a world so changed.
They acknowledged the heavy contrast between the past and present. While their generation faced war and political upheaval, they agreed that today’s challenges: climate change, immigration, the rise of autocracy, feel more complex and overwhelming.
The next day, the reunion shifted from memory to action with two powerful discussion panels held in Raymond’s Great Hall.
Photo by Rafaela Belen Reyes Olaechea
Panel I: “There’s Something Happening and We Don’t Know What It Is”
(1:00–2:30 p.m.)
Moderated by David Bennet, this panel featured Rod Dugglis, Sandra de Alcuaz, and Ken Fisher, who explored pivotal political moments from the 1960s to today. They spoke about how activism shaped their careers and life paths, and how individuals, no matter their age, can still create meaningful change.
Photo by Rafaela Belen Reyes Olaechea
Panel II: “How to Slay a Dragon: Perspectives from the Ground”
(2:50–4:00 p.m.)
Moderated by Rhonda Rawlinson, this session featured Peter Windrem (Raymond ‘65), a lawyer and activist committed to justice and due process, and Fernanda M. Pereira, who offered a frontline view of recent U.S. immigration policies and their devastating impact on Central Valley communities.
The discussions were rich, challenging, and emotional. Alumni passionately compared the activism of their era with the current political climate. Many expressed concern that while injustice persists, and in many ways has worsened, there seems to be a lack of visible resistance today. What troubled them most was how detached and hopeless many young people feel now. “Where is the activism?” one alum asked. “Why are there no people in the streets anymore?”
They spoke of how, in their youth, women marched for the right to access contraception, students protested unjust wars, and communities organized for civil rights. Now, they wonder: where is that same fire? Why does apathy feel so widespread?
And yet, they were not simply nostalgic. They were urgent. Their reflections were not about the past, they were a call to action for the present.
What made this reunion extraordinary was not just the memories, but the message: These alumni are not just former students. They are thinkers, leaders, activists, and they still care deeply. They are worried about their children and grandchildren. They are angry. They are hopeful. And they expect the next generation to take up the torch.
This weekend was a reminder that history does not just repeat itself, it also reaches forward. The voices of Raymond College still matter. Their experiences, their courage, and their commitment to justice are a legacy that challenges us today.
In a time that feels uncertain, they showed us that activism is not a moment, it is a mindset. And that even decades later, the Raymond spirit is very much alive.
Photo by Rafaela Belen Reyes Olaechea