Yale Bulletin and Calendar

April 6, 2001

Volume 29, Number 25

For Yale students, Communiversity Day is a chance to gather with area youngsters to share their special interests or simply have fun. Children are the focus of the annual celebration of the relationship between Yale and its home city.

Old Campus will be a festival of fun and
learning for annual Communiversity Day

The Old Campus will take on the appearance of a carnival on Saturday, April 7, when the University hosts its annual Communiversity Day.

A marching band, dance shows, dramatic productions and a giant cookout are just some of the events that will take place during the day. In keeping with the theme of this year's event, "Learning and Fun for Everyone," many of the day's offerings will emphasize the fun of learning and the joy of the learning process, while others are designed simply for pleasure. These include a Moon Bounce and a Kid's Carnival, among others.

Free hotdogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and drinks will be offered for all who attend.

While children are the main focus of the event, Communiversity Day also has some special offerings for their adult family members or friends, says Julie Ehrlich, president of the Yale chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a coeducational service fraternity whose members plan and run Communiversity Day.

"What's really exciting about Communiversity Day is that kids can come and just enjoy being kids, but they also get to take part in fun educational activities," Ehrlich says. "In the meantime, adults can learn a lot about services in the community -- from day care to health care. In this atmosphere of entertainment, Yale students enjoy a wonderful event where we can show our interest in and commitment to being a part of the New Haven community. It's a great coming-together of Yale students and members of the community."

Highlights of Communiversity Day include performances by Mixed Company, the Yale Precision Marching Band, Rhythmic Blue, the Yale Children's Theater and New Haven's Betsy Ross Magnet School Dance Troupe. At a Community Action Bazaar, various Yale student organizations which perform service in the community will join with New Haven organizations to educate the public about their work. For example, Instrumental Connections, a group of Yale students who volunteer to teach instrumental music at New Haven public schools, will encourage Communiversity Day participants to try out a range of instruments, while student representatives from the Yale group Unite for Sight will perform vision screenpings on children and adults.

In conjunction with the event, there will also be a "Spring Into Health" fair, where campus guests can have their blood pressure taken or learn about various insurance options, among other health-related activities.

Last year, over 2,000 people attended Communiversity Day, in spite of chilly temperatures and rain, notes Ehrlich.

"To have that many people in bad weather says a lot about how much fun this annual event is," she comments.

Campus cosponsors of Communiversity Day include Dwight Hall, the Office of New Haven and State Affairs, the Yale College Dean's Office, the Council of Masters and the Undergraduate Organization Funding Committee, among others. Local organizations also provide support.

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