Class of 1978 th It’s our 40 Reunion! May 25-27, 2018 Dear Members of the Class of 1978: It seems unfathomable that within a few months we will arrive at the marker of our fortieth reunion. This is a considerable milestone, and we fervently hope that each of you will make your way to Annandale to celebrate it. It’s a wonderful way to reacquaint yourself with the beauty of the Hudson Valley that had such a hold on our imaginations. Come back to see how the landscape of Bard has changed, accommodating both a baseball field and an expanded farm. Its eclectic architecture ranges from such wonders as the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Center to a multi-purpose shipping container. Take a tour of Montgomery Place, recently acquired by Bard, with its beautiful orchards, Hudson River access, and historic buildings, all adjacent to the periphery of campus. Bard’s Written Arts Program is now situated in Shafer House--at the infamous triangle next door to the former Adolph’s--so that student writers can congregate and confer with their mentors in an Arcadian ethos, nestled amid trees, lulled by the sound of the stream. We’d love you to drop by there. For reasons that are increasingly apparent, we all need the solace of Arcadia. The terrifying absurdity of our current political administration makes clear that what Bard stands for is essential, and underscores how fortunate we are to share its values, to have had this institution as our formative experience. It seems that everything Bard stands for is currently under siege, and true to its courageous nature, it refuses to capitulate, unswervingly committed to its ideals of liberal arts and civil discourse. Bard promulgates these values daily in every classroom in Annandale, and brings that vision across the globe, to nations where democracy is challenged, into prisons, and into high schools that support quality public education. Bard’s programs in Smolny, in Al Quds, in Budapest, and elsewhere have significant challenges to face in the current political climate. The College, through resourcefulness and donor generosity, was able to secure funding to offer Syrian refugees the opportunity to study at the Bard College Berlin Program. In our beloved Annandale, the Center for Civic Engagement is extremely active. There are a staggering array of lectures and cultural events to enrich the quality of life on campus. PO BOX 5000, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 | 845-758-7089 | [email protected] | AnnandaleOnline.org .