More than 3,000 attend Forum & Reunion Weekend

The sounds of cover band Love Seed Mama Jump drifted through campus, and blue and gold lights illuminated a massive tent on The Green on Friday, as alumni were treated to unlimited beer during the university's Mug Night event.

The $25-per-ticket Mug Night party, meant to remind alumni of the popular Thursday night feature at the old Stone Balloon bar, was only part of the university's second-annual Forum & Reunion Weekend.
More than 3,000 people attended the two-day event, which is intended to encourage alumni to reconnect with — and donate to — the university.
 
Besides Mug Night, other activities included campus tours, musical performances, a town hall meeting with university President Patrick Harker and demonstrations by various university departments. The weekend concluded with a "boardwalk night" on The Green, complete with arcade games, carnival food and a large boardwalk in the middle of the tent.
 
Alumni were also able to reminisce about their days of dorm-room life by renting a room in a Laird Campus residence hall for the weekend.
 
Alumna Julie Toy, who graduated in 1996 with a degree in secondary math education, said the event allowed graduates to reconnect with the university and each other.
 
"It was great," Toy said. "Such a good time."
 
Toy, who currently lives in Wilmington, said the musical performance brought back memories of her time at the university.
 
"Love Seed was awesome," she said. "So much fun."
 
Alumna Elizabeth Fellows, who received her master's degree in computer science from the university in 2000, said Mug Night was her favorite event of Forum & Reunion Weekend.
 
"I had a great time. This is the best," Fellows said. "I think they ought to keep doing this."
 
Fellow said she and her friends jumped at the chance to do a karaoke performance in front of a green screen, one of the night‘s many activities. The women wore green clothes that made their bodies invisible on the computer screen, Fellows said.
"That was hysterical," Fellows said. "It was the best time ever."