LETTERS
The True Weight of Reunion
As those of us attending the class of ’ 70
reunion were taking our seats at the gala
supper in Alumni Hall, a tall and striking
black man strolled into the room. Within a
moment, I realized it was Charlie Scott ’ 70,
accompanied by Jim Delaney ’ 70. Doug
Dibbert ’ 70 sprang to his feet to greet
them and a few minutes later he grabbed a
mic. He recognized Charlie and Jim and
said that Charlie couldn’t stay — but
would like to say a few words.
I don’t recall ever hearing Charlie Scott
speak, other than sound bites related to
basketball, and I was struck by his warmth,
humility and eloquence. Our classmate said
that from the moment he arrived as a
freshman until the day he left, he was
treated with the utmost of kindness and
respect — “like a prince,” he said. Over
intervening years, however, he felt a deep
sense of regret that his college friendships
lacked a certain camaraderie that most take
for granted. At some point between then
and now, he found peace when he
accepted the reality that it was truly the
times in which we lived, pure and simple.
