University of Oxford

North American Office

Trinity Term 2008 Newsletter

2008 NORTH AMERICAN REUNION MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

4 - 5 April New York City Greetings from Oxfords North American Office!
Park Avenue turned into High Street during the first weekend As the report next to this column suggests, the 2008 North
of April, when the University of Oxfords North American American Reunion was a great success. My colleagues and I
Reunion took place at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York have received a large number of positive reports from people
City. Members of the Oxford community near and far who were enlightened, challenged, enthralled, amused, and
contributed to make it one of the most memorable Reunions otherwise engaged by the contingent of Oxford faculty
to date. members, administrators, and distinguished alumni they
encountered throughout the weekend. The Reunion, like all
Welcoming Reception Oxford events, provides attendees with an opportunity to
reconnect to the Oxford they once knew, as well as to the one
Over 800 people turned out for that currently exists. While nostalgia plays an important role in
the welcoming reception on gatherings of this type, these memories would be bittersweet if
Friday night (right), with Oxford were not the thriving, vibrant University it is today.
remarks by the Chancellor,
Lord Patten. To ensure that it remains a world-
class university, it was
Conversation with the announced on 28 May that
Vice-Chancellor Oxford will be undertaking the
largest fund raising effort in its
A special conversation took history. The Campaign for the
place over lunch between two- University of Oxford will
time Pulitzer Prize-winning embrace virtually all areas of the
reporter Nicholas Kristof and Collegiate University including
Vice-Chancellor, Dr John Hood its Colleges, Departments,
(below), during which questions Museums, and Libraries as it seeks to raise 1.25 billion in
from the more than 500 guests in attendance were answered. funding. At a press event in London on 28 May, the Chairman
The discussion highlighted Oxfords unique tutorial system of the Campaign, Dame Vivien Duffield a graduate of Lady
and the challenges that go along with maintaining it. Margaret Hall who leads the Clore Duffield Foundation and is
one of the UKs most generous philanthropists announced that
Continued on Page 3
almost 600 million of that total has been raised to date. Dame
Vivien is pictured above with the US Chairman of the
Campaign, Mr Michael Moritz. A graduate of Christ Church,
Mr Moritz is a Partner of the Silicon Valley-based venture
capital firm, Sequoia Capital. The University community is
delighted to have such capable and dedicated volunteers leading
this important initiative. My colleagues throughout the
Collegiate University and I look forward to engaging you in a
dialogue about the goals of this Campaign and to working with
you to ensure that Oxford remains a world-class university for at
least another 800 years!

Best regards,

Thank you to all who came out to celebrate Oxford in

the heart of New York. Visit www.oxfordna.org to
complete a survey about the event! Michael G Cunningham, FRSA
Director, University of Oxford North American Office

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OXFORD UNIVERSITY SOCIETY
Alumni Events Around North America
This term weve highlighted several branches around North
America, including Houston, Chicago, New England, and
Ottawa. Please visit www.oxfordna.org or email
alumni@oxfordna.org to find the branch nearest you.
Houston www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/usa_houston
The dynamic
community of
the Houston
Oxford Society
reflects the
richness of
Oxford
University itself.
As Houstons
economy
diversified from From left: Terry Wykowski, Lady Kenny,
oil over the past Nancy Brown, and David Doan at lunch with
two decades, so Houston Oxford Society members.
did the people
drawn to call the city their home. The Houston Oxford Society
now includes engineers, physicians, artists, geologists, teachers,
scientists, musicians, travelers, lawyers, public relations
specialists, authors, consultants, entrepreneurs, and clergy.
What binds this group of approximately 200 together is their
lifelong thirst for learning and knowledge acquired and
nurtured by their experience at the University of Oxford.
Houston Oxonians handle spontaneity well and pride themselves
on hospitality. Last fall, when Westmorland Branch Secretary
Peter Hickson and his wife Sheila came to town to visit their
daughter, around 25 enthusiastic Oxonians turned out at the pub
to greet them.
Lady Kennys February visit brought out around 40 alumni and
their guests, all eager to welcome her back to the US and to hear
news from Oxford University. Lady Kenny charmed the group
with her wit and tales at a special reception amid the artifacts of
the Little Archeology Gallery on the campus of the University of
St Thomas. Lady Kenny even accepted an invitation to entertain
and inspire 10-year old girls at a Catholic academy in
Houston. The girls were spellbound with a real "Lady" reading
from Somerville's Dorothy Sayers, and all of them now want to
attend Oxford! Two more luncheons under the blue, sunny
Houston skies and a hike in a local park completed Lady
Kennys visit.
The recent growth of members with young children has led the
Executive Committee to add different types of activities. The
recent renovation of the miniature train at the Hermann Park
Zoo provided the perfect occasion for an all-ages gathering.
Trinity Term 2008 Newsletter
Members with children from toddlers to teenagers came out on a
peerless Saturday morning for the event which highlighted
improvements that the City has undertaken in its central parks
and museum district.
The Houston Oxford Society invites all fellow Oxonians from
all parts of the world to visit. Activities include regular pub
nights, special talks from visitors near and far, ethnic dinners,
and other eclectic events. The warm and friendly group is
steadily growing and is always seeking to extend their
hospitality to newly-arrived alumni.
Nancy Brown (Somerville, 1980) and
Terry Wykowski (Pembroke, 1982)
Branch Secretaries, Houston Oxford University Society
Chicago Boat Race Dinner
www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/usa_chicago_boatrace
On the 11th of April, 111 members and guests of the Oxford-
Cambridge Boat Race Dining Club of Chicago gathered at the
University Club of Chicago for their 69th annual dinner,
knowing that Oxford had won the Boat Race two weeks earlier
but retaining their usual competitive spirit all in good fun. Her
Majestys new consul general in Chicago, Mr James Clark,
made his first appearance at the Dinner, in Scottish kilt, bringing
greetings from the United Kingdom. Gary T Johnson
(Worcester, 1972), President of the Chicago History Museum,
presided over the Dinner.
Principal guests were The Rt
Hon Lord Butler of
Brockwell, KG, GCB, CVO,
the Master of University
College and a Rhodes Trustee
(University, 1957), and Lady
Butler (St Hughs, 1958).
Chicago was the last stop for
the Butlers in their farewell
From left: Lord and Lady Butler, John
tour of the United States
Morrison, and W Reginald Hall
which began at Oxfords (Merton, 1954)
North American Reunion in
New York. They retire from University College at the end of
July after ten years of Lord Butlers distinguished mastership.
At the Chicago Dinner, he spoke informally and amusingly of
life at the Universities to the delight of all present.
Two members (Michael Dickenson from Cambridge and
Montana Butsch from Oxford) provided first-hand reports of the
race. Since 1966 the Chicago Dinner has been organized by
John H Morrison OBE (University, 1955), now assisted by Ian
H Turvill (St Johns, 1988).
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New England www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/usa_newengland
In view of the Universitys determination to stay in touch with
the ever-increasing numbers of alumni making their way to the
region, the New England branch of the Oxford University
Society has augmented the annual programme it produces in co-
operation with its Cambridge counterpart. A fuller calendar
supplements our traditional offerings with activities designed to
cater to the interests, tastes and budgets of as many graduates as
possible.
Our welcoming reception for newcomers and returning
graduates, as well as for Rhodes and Marshall Scholars, has now
moved outdoors to a tent on the banks of the Charles River
during the weekend of the annual Head of the Charles
Regatta. We still hold three formal dinners each with a speaker,
most recently Simon Hoggart, political correspondent for The
Guardian. For anyone inclined to sports there is the opportunity
to play for the Faded Blues cricket club or row in the Oxford-
Cambridge race that precedes our Boat Race Dinner. And for
those who prefer more sedentary forms of socializing there are,
of course, the pub nights.
New events distinguished alumni talks, select viewings of
museum and gallery exhibitions, and evenings at the theatre
have been added to the calendar. Recent examples include a talk
by historian, Niall Ferguson (Magdalen, Jesus) and an evening at
the US premiere of The 39 Steps, a play directed by
NORTH AMERICAN REUNION (continued from page 1)
Panel discussions featuring star
Oxford alumni and academics
ranged in topic from global aid
to symmetry to the challenges of
being a writer (right).
Saturdays program ended with
a panel entitled The Chinese
Century, which featured The
Chancellor, Lord Patten. After a
drinks reception hosted by the
Oxford University Society,
Reunion attendees gathered at
events organized by their Colleges.
Distinguished Friend
of Oxford Awards
The Distinguished
Friend of Oxford
(DFO) award was
given to two Oxonians
who dedicate valuable
time to Oxford. E
Michael Howarth (The
Queens College, 1949 From left: The Vice-Chancellor,
E Michael Howarth, and the Public Orator
Trinity Term 2008 Newsletter
Maria Aitken (St Annes). Also, a Burns Night celebration was
held in January with graduates of all the Ancient Universities.
This proved highly successful and may become a fixture of the
Boston season.
Neil Law Malcolm (Magdalen, 1971)
Secretary to the University Societies,
Oxford and Cambridge Society of New England
Ottawa www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/canada_ottawa
Ottawa's Annual Boat Race Dinner was held on 19 April at the
Britannia Yacht Club. As per tradition, Ottawa's Cambridge
Society organized the evening, bringing together alumni and
friends to view the race and share a meal. A few "good sports"
dressed in blazers and flannels for the occasion and shared
stories of past Eights. Over 60 guests were treated to two
beautiful sights that evening: a perfect sunset on the Ottawa
River and a glorious Oxford race victory.
Ottawas Annual Dinner was held on 1 February. This year we
were very fortunate to hold the dinner at the picturesque
Parliamentary Restaurant, thanks to the evening's speaker, the
Hon Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, MP for
Kingston and the Islands, and Wadhamite. Nearly 80 alumni
braved one of the season's worst snowstorms for a very engaging
and memorable evening.
Ruth Astravas (St Antonys, 2001)
President, Oxford University Society of Ottawa
and Rhodes Scholar for Ontario) has served on the Board of
the Canadian Rhodes Scholars Foundation since its creation
50 years ago. Mr Howarth continues to make major
contributions to Oxfords presence in Canada at a time during
which most of his peers enjoy a well-earned retirement. Paul
M Dodyk, Esq (Magdalen College, 1959 and Rhodes Scholar
for Michigan) has served on the American Friends of Oxford
(AFO) Board with distinction for ten years, and became
Chairman of the Board in 2001. Mr Dodyk has also served as
Head of a Rhodes Scholar Selection Committee in the New
York metropolitan area for several years. Mr Dodyk brings
his expertise and unwavering devotion to all things Oxford
and is involved with many events in New York.
From left: The Chancellor, Paul Dodyk, Delight Dodyk,
the Vice-Chancellor, and the Public Orator
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