Over 500 SIUC alumni will return to their alma mater to relive their college years this weekend at the sixth annual Black Alumni Group reunion.

The Black Alumni Group, SIUC’s Alumni Association and the University administration have come together to organize a weekend full of fun and activities starting Thursday evening and ending Sunday afternoon.

The reunion begins Thursday evening with registration and a mixer at the Carbondale Holiday Inn.

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The weekend is filled with a variety of events for undergraduates and alumni such as tours of the campus, workshops, bowling, dances, sports, a picnic at campus lake, a brunch and banquet.

Mike Haywood, chairman for the event, said SIUC has a rich tradition of serving minorities.

People are proud of SIU their degrees, the doors it has opened, the way SIU is respected throughout the U.S. and abroad. So they come back to give to the community, help give ideas to the administration, mentor students and relive memories, Haywood said.

Greg Scott, Assistant Director for Public and Alumni Relations, said the group has done a good job planning the activities.

They want to have various activities something for everyone and they have done a good job at that, Scott said. We will see some doing everything they can that time permits.

The two keynote speakers for this event are Julius A. Johnson, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. and Arnette Hubbard, Chicago Board of Elections Commissioner.

The speakers were chosen by our committee because of their dedication and support to the University, Haywood said. They could encourage more alumni to come back to the University and have a strong relationship with students.

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Scott, said this event helps alumni keep their ties with the school.

This is another opportunity for Alumni to return to the University, rekindle old friendships and make new ones, Scott said.

Brenda Majors, secretary for the black alumni group, said the primary reasons for the reunion is to bring back black alumni, reunite old friendships, show the changes on campus and network with old faculty and students.

They (alumni) had really good experiences here, Majors said. Several of them were here during the fifties and sixties when black people had a sense of togetherness it was a time of tremendous change and this is an excellent opportunity for them to share their experiences with younger alumni and students.

At this year’s reunion a number of things have been added to the schedule of events, according to Haywood.

We have incorporated the Sunset Concert, a gathering at A.C. Reeds, raised the number of scholarships, created a souvenir booklet, provides more live entertainment, and involved student participation, Haywood said.

Majors said the Black Alumni Group has raised money for a scholarship called Support Black Undergraduate Education (SBUE), awarded during the reunion to five students with at least a B average.

Members and non members of the SIUC Alumni Association are invited to attend the reunion. For registration and fee information call the SIUC Alumni Association office at 453-2408.