DINNER FOR 12 STRANGERS

On April 25 the Alumni Association will sponsor its second annual Dinner for 12 Strangers program, and if the reviews match those from last year's gatherings, it promises to become an Old Dominion tradition.

The idea is to bring together students, alumni, faculty and staff for a series of small dinner parties as a way to make Old Dominion a friendlier place. It's a recipe that has worked well for other schools, according to Charles Roddy, assistant vice president for institutional advancement and director of alumni relations, who introduced the program last year. "It makes the university experience just a little bit more personal."

For Marye Cherry, a senior criminal justice major from Virginia Beach, last year's dinner at the home of former Alumni Association president Chuck Rigney '79 was indeed a memorable experience. "It was a lot of fun. The provost was at our dinner, so it was cool to hang out with her in an informal setting," Cherry said.

In addition to discussing campus issues with Provost Jo Ann Gora, the students also heard from Rigney, who shared his experiences as a student at Old Dominion 20 years ago.

"We had a blast," said Rigney, who did his part to make the affair even more enjoyable by talking two of his friends who are chefs to whip up a gourmet meal. "We shared our perspectives, and compared notes on then and now. It was a pretty lively exchange."

Candice Dettloff '71 (M.S.Ed. '82), a member of the Alumni Association board of directors, also hosted one of the dinners, attended by students studying everything from business and English to exercise science and urban studies.

Jane Hager, associate dean of the Darden College of Education, recalls the dinner as being "great fun," with good food and intellectual dinner conversation.

"Just having the house full of young adults made it rewarding to me personally because my three sons are 'out of the nest' and I've missed their energy, conversations, friends - and appetites," Dettloff said.

"I hope that my sons have a similar opportunity to be the guests of alumni at their respective schools, to experience the community feeling that comes with breaking bread and sharing experiences with fellow travelers on the road to adulthood and responsibility."

The gatherings can be as formal - or as casual - as the host desires, and can take place in the alum's home, outdoors or at a restaurant.

Cherry, who is coordinating the Dinner for 12 Strangers program this year as a committee chair with the Student Ambassadors, believes the dinners offer younger students, in particular, a great opportunity to get a feel for the extended Old Dominion family. And the food, she says, is definitely a bonus for those who by this time in the academic year have grown weary of cafeteria fare and fast-food.

"I still remember the great crab soup we had at our dinner last year," she said. "How often do you get such a wonderful home-cooked meal?"

- Steve Daniel