Alums come back for Penn Spectrum conference

Next weekend, Penn alumni will be gathering at the second Penn Spectrum conference to reconnect and reflect on their time here.

Highlights for the weekend of Sept. 20 include performing arts night, Traditional Native American Grand Entry — an event based on the opening ceremony of a powwow that will feature drumming and dancing — and seated dinners with keynote speakers. Speakers include people like 2010 College graduate Anna Aagenes, executive director of GO! (Generation Out) Athletes, a support and advocacy organization for LGBT student-athletes and Marc Morial, a 1980 College graduate and the former mayor of New Orleans.

Related: A path toward out for LGBT Penn athletes

There will also be a series of panels held over the weekend focusing on topics such as affirmative action, gay marriage and immigration, as well as panels more specific to different cultural groups — like one being held about black history at Penn and increasing Asian-American visibility in the media.

Sponsored by the Office of the President and Penn Alumni Relations, t“he first conference took place in 2010 “:ttp://www.thedp.com/r/5ae0eb3dwith over 400 registered alumni.

Since then, Penn Spectrum “went on the road” by holding similar events in places like Chicago, Atlanta, New York and San Francisco over the past two years.

Penn Spectrum is not meant to be an annual event — instead, it is meant to bring diverse alumni to see how Penn has changed over the course of a longer period of time. According to Director of Multicultural Outreach of Alumni Relations Nicole Maloy, the conference is expected to be held every three or four years.

Although this is an alumni conference, Maloy encourages all Penn students to attend the celebration. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn from the people who were here at Penn before you,” she said. “It’s also an extraordinary networking opportunity.”

“We want [students] to recognize how important it is to take advantage of these opportunities when they arrive.” She added, “Because [the conference] is every three years, this is their one chance to attend as students.”

Students can register online for $10 — which includes all meals for the entire three-day conference — for the events they would like to attend. Registration ends at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 16.

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