With graduation just around the corner, I know what many members of the Class of 2011 are thinking—at least I know what I was thinking when I graduated from the Emory College of Arts and Sciences last year—"If only I had time to …"

When I entered Oxford College in 2006, four years seemed a lifetime away; there was so much I had on my list of things to do. For instance, for as long as I’ve lived in Atlanta, last year was the first time I attended an Atlanta Hawks game.

But often, in between studying for major exams, writing 12-page papers, and fulfilling extracurricular responsibilities, I just wanted to catch some zzz’s. In the end, it’s clear that four years isn’t nearly enough time to take in all that Emory and the greater-Atlanta area offer.

Therefore, in celebration of our 175th anniversary, the Emory Alumni Association (EAA) would like you to compile a list of 175 things for seniors to do before graduation.

Take a moment and think about the things you wanted to cross off your bucket list before graduation. I’ll go first.

No.1: Plan a picnic at Lullwater on a beautiful spring afternoon and learn about the monkeys who used to occupy the space.

Archive your ideas on the official EAA Facebook page.

-- Tania Dowdy 08Ox 10C, online services specialist, EAA

Yes, that is the legendary Bob Dylan at right. Performing at Glenn Auditorium. Here on Emory's campus.

The date was February 8, 1964.

He looks pretty good, actually. Or at least pretty young.

This year marks Emory's 175th anniversary, and as part of the celebration, the University has put together a webpage that lists the 175 of everything.

The most recent entry is 175 performers. It's a list of 175 singers, dancers, musicians, and actors who have appeared on campus over Emory's 175-year history. Dylan is listed as no. 151. Take a look at some of the others. There are a lot you'll recognize.

But we've had even more. As I mentioned in my first post about the 175, I've been at Emory for 11 years and I've seen a lot. In every sense of the term. Some of the artists who didn't make the 175 (but have performed here since I started work include Ben Folds, the Jennifer Nettles Band, Ludacris, Third Eye Blind, Better Than Ezra, Pat Green, and the Bang on a Can All Stars (which I just need to mention because of the name). Unfortunately, I'm not cultured enough to speak to the dancers and orchestral groups who've been here, although I'm betting we have readers who can.

I think my favorite of those listed above was the Jennifer Nettles Band (her group before Sugarland), who played an absolutely rockin' set outside the DUC on the McDonough Field side. It was a 90 minute show, I think. For free.

The performers aren't the only list. Other 175s currently posted include the first 175 faculty members appointed to Emory. The 175th, Robert Troutman, a professor in the School of Law, was appointed in 1915, meaning that Emory was around nearly 80 years before its 175th faculty member was hired. That's some serious job security.

Also listed are 175 species in Lullwater. We've got mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds of all sorts, and even a Spirit. My favorite of the 175 is the American crow.

More lists will be added soon. And keep an eye out for those Southeastern five-lined skinks next time you're exploring Lullwater. I hear they eat a lot.

-- Eric Rangus, director, communications, EAA

It's easier to stop counting after you reach a certain age, 56, 75, 87...but when you reach 175, you've got to celebrate.

This year's Founders Day dinner (and its accompanying week of festivities) marked that milestone for Emory--its 175th birthday.

Administrators, faculty, students (including me), and friends gathered Monday night, January 31, for a fabulous dinner to celebrate good ol' Emory.

And it wouldn't be a celebration without the musical voices of Emory's all-male, a capella group, No Strings Attached. They entertained attendees with their versions of "Georgia on My Mind" and "Got To Get You Into My Life."

President Emeritus James T. Laney 94H delivered the keynote address, referencing Robert W. Woodruff 1912C and his endless contributions to Emory--and his ironic "aversion to praise and publicity. He told an anecdote about the first time he met Woodruff. The latter gave him a card with the following adage on it: "There is no limit to what a man can do or how far he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit."

The following year when they met again, Woodruff gave him another card with the same inscription. The crowd laughed as Laney said he knew that must've meant something. I think Woodruff would've wanted us to remember what he said, not that he said it. If you love Emory as much as I do, you know that you don't need a title or a fancy position on campus and you don't need to be quoted in The Wheel. All you need to know is that whatever it is that you do for the good of the Emory community, no matter how many people notice, is enough.

You can hear the rest of President Laney's address here.


Now, although the birthday cake didn't have 175 candles, I bet there were more than 175 lit up during the closing ceremony. After President Jim Wagner's toast to Emory, all the guests lit our candles and sang the alma mater, led by No Strings Attached. After we "hailed the gold and blue," we all blew out the candles in proper birthday fashion.

To see photos from the night, visit the EAA's photo page.

Founders Week continues tonight with a lecture at Oxford College by Mark Auslander from Brandeis University. And Thursday marks the beginning of a landmark three-day conference on slavery's role on higher education sponsored by Emory's Transforming Community Project (TCP). You can find more information on upcoming Founders Week's events here.

And with that, I'd like to wish a happy birthday to Emory. Here's to another 175 years.

--Lindsey Bomnin 12C, EAA communications intern

Emory celebrates its 175th birthday in 2011 and the candles are on the way.

The official anniversary of Emory's charter is December 10, but the yearlong University-wide pre-party will be impressive.

Just before Christmas, the University launched its Emory175 Twitter feed and posted an anniversary webpage. And get used to the spiffy logo we have at right; this won't be the only time you'll see it over the next 361 days.

Much more is planned, too, so be sure to keep your eyes open for a plethora of upcoming 175th anniversary activities.

One of the most intriguing features of the celebration so far is the 175 Almanac, which breaks up Emory's long history into bite-size nuggets that offer daily snapshots of life in our community as it happened.

For instance, on this day, January 4, in 1966, Emory students joined students from other college campuses in Georgia to launch "Affirmation: Vietnam," a movement to express support for U.S. military action in South Vietnam. Tomorrow's update takes us back to the 1830s, but I don't want to spoil it for you. You can check it out yourself.

I'd be surprised if this makes the almanac, but January 10 will mark my 11th anniversary as an Emory staff member. A quick check of my computer's calculator indicates that I've personally experienced approximately 6.3 percent of Emory's history. Let's see if I can dredge up some perspective.

I've served under two presidents, worked in three buildings (one of which no longer exists), attended 11 Commencements (my favorite speaker was Tom Brokaw in 2005), staffed hundreds of events, written thousands of stories, seen more than 30,000 Emory alumni (my constituents and I love them all) graduate, and printed hundreds of thousands of pages of text (and recycled every one of them).

Yikes.

All that said, it's nice to know that I--like all of us in the Emory community--have played a part (however small) in helping it reach this 175th anniversary year as one of the world's most prestigious universities. That's gratifying.

Who knows if there will be another 11 years for me, but I'm certain Emory will enjoy another 175 and much more. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's enjoy Emory's 175th year. It's just getting started and it will be a fun ride.

-- Eric Rangus, director of communications, EAA