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Theme up for debate
By Jeff Harvey
Old Gold and Black Reporter

It is unclear whether a young tradition at the university will be continued as confusion surrounds the declaration of a formal theme for this academic year.

According to Kevin Cox, director of media relations, two years ago James Thompson, dean of the school of medicine, asked that the 2002-2003 academic year be designated as "The Year of Health and Medicine" in conjunction with the school of medicine’s 100th anniversary.

According to Cox, the university approved Thompson’s request. Cox anticipates that "The Year of Health and Medicine" will be used to promote the centennial celebration primarily on the Bowman Gray Campus, but he points out that this theme will also be used in association with events on the Reynolda campus, particularly the Oct. 10 opening convocation.

"The Year of Health and Medicine" has received very little publicity on the Reynolda campus, however it appears to some that a formal theme will not take shape outside of the School of Medicine’s celebration, according to Cox.

According to Sandra Boyette, vice-president of university advancement, "The Year of Health and Medicine" is a "university-approved theme" in association with the medical school’s centennial.

Furthermore, according to Cox, a theme is already in the works for next year. "The Year of Dialogue, Understanding, and Reconciliation," supported by a grant to the university from the Lilly endowment. The university has had a formally recognized theme for each of the previous six years. Theme years began in 1996-1997 with "The Year of the Arts," followed by "The Year of Religion," "The Year of Globalization and Diversity," "The Year of Science and Technology" and "The Year of Ethics and Honor."

"I think theme years in the way they were planned in the past have changed," Cox said. "It was never proposed from the start that there would be a theme year from there on out, indefinitely."

Last year, the administration decided not to sponsor a theme, but the reaction to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks led to the "The Year of Unity and Hope."

Last year’s theme was student-initiated and emerged during the Student Government Presidential Leadership Conference. Former OGB editor Jay Cridlin, ’02, and current senior SG secretary Jonathan Willingham co-chaired the theme committee, a budget was requested mid-year, and organizations co-sponsored the event with the administration.

According to Willingham, the purpose of the annual theme has been to unite the university and community through participation in events tied to the theme.

The theme provides a framework for use throughout the year.