NEWS

CHAPEL HILL – Fireworks, a swing dance and a talk by Bill Friday and Hugh Morton will be among General Alumni Association events on commencement weekend May 7-9 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The presentation of five 2004 Distinguished Service Medals also will make up the association’s annual Spring Reunions Weekend. Special activities for the UNC classes of 1954, 1959 and 1964, which are celebrating their 50^th, 45th and 40^th reunions, will be held.

Many events will be open to the public; some have a fee. Space is limited for some, and reunion classes will have priority seating. For a full schedule with event times and places, visit http://alumni.unc.edu/reunions/spring2004/schedule.asp.

May 7 events will include a talk about the war on terrorism by history professor Dr. Richard Kohn, chair of the curriculum in peace, war and defense. Donald M. Stanford Jr., an adjunct associate professor of law in the Kenan-Flagler Business School, will discuss recent corporate scandals and business ethics.

Dr. William Leuchtenburg, William Rand Kenan professor of history emeritus and an expert on the U.S. presidency, will speak about the current campaign. Dr. Shelton Earp, Lineberger professor of medicine and pharmacology and director of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, will describe UNC’s research efforts in the fight against cancer.

At 7 p.m., the Tar Heel baseball team will take on Maryland in Boshamer Stadium at 7 p.m. Admission will be $2 for students and seniors, $4 for others and free for UNC faculty, students and staff and children 12 or younger. Fireworks will follow the game, at about 9:30 p.m.

May 8 events will include:

· William Friday, UNC system president emeritus and a 1948 graduate of the Carolina law school, and photographer Hugh Morton, a 1943 alumnus, will discuss Morton’s recent book "Hugh Morton’s North Carolina" at 9:30 a.m. in Murphy Hall Auditorium. Free. Those interested in attending should call Sallie Hutton at 919-962-7053 by May 3.

· The Annual Alumni Luncheon at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center at 12:15 p.m. will include a performance by the UNC Clef Hangers, a student a cappella group, and the presentation of 2004 Distinguished Service Medals to five alumni: Vaughn and Nancy Bryson of Vero Beach, Fla.; Marjorie Bryan Buckley of Bethlehem, Pa.; David Frey of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Willis Whichard of Chapel Hill. The fee will be $20. For reservations, call Hutton (919-962-7053) by April 30.

· The Gregg Gelb Swing Band will fill the Carolina Inn with its big band sound for a Carolina Cabaret from 10 p.m. to midnight. The cost will be $15.

For details on these and other reunion events, contact Hutton at (919) 962-7053 or reunions@unc.edu. The General Alumni Association is a self-governed, nonprofit organization serving alumni and friends of UNC.

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GAA contact: Sallie Hutton, 919-962-7053
News Services contact: L.J. Toler, 919-962-8589