Brock's 1988 Ecology Club
When the Class of 2013 crossed the stage at Brock’s June Convocation, American singer Robin Thicke topped the charts with “Blurred Lines.” The times certainly have changed; 25 years ago, when the Class of 1988 received their diplomas, the surname Thicke would have brought to mind Robin’s father, Alan, known as Jason Seaver on television’s Growing Pains.
As we look towards Brock’s 50th Anniversary, we recognize the tremendous growth the University has made. We’ve raised new buildings and our student enrolment has skyrocketed to more than 18,000. So much in fact that incoming students recently caused the system to crash while trying to register for courses.
BIRT
In 1988, however, Brock had just rolled out the BIRT phone registration system, a system more likely to have students tying up their parents touch-tone phone lines, as they tried to ensure they got their prerequisites and desired courses. The BIRT system had replaced arena registration with 14 telephone lines.
Brock was about to make large-scale changes in 1988, as Paul Vedova (BBA ’92), the Brock University Students’ Union president at the time, put forward a referendum to build a new Student-Alumni Centre.
“The school felt as if it was bursting at the seams. Students were packed in the corridors around the (Schmon) Tower doing homework or meeting other students. At midday, there was never a chair in the cafeteria or table in the library that was empty,” Vedova said.
Alumni Centre & Taro Hall Construction
Entertainment tastes on campus have evolved as well. During the 1987-88 school year, Brock played host to The Tragically Hip and Blue Rodeo, while in recent years campus concerts have included rapper Mac Miller and DJ Avicii. And soon, BUSU will announce its O-Week lineup and perhaps a musical act for Homecoming as well.
Yes, things have certainly changed at Brock in the past 25 years. We hope that members of the Class of 1988 will “come home” to celebrate their milestone anniversary at Brock’s annual Homecoming celebration in September. Members of the Class of 88 are invited to the Cameo Club induction ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 21, where graduates from 1988 and earlier will receive a beautiful Brock pin cast in the silhouette of Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock.
Homecoming is about honouring Brock’s past and celebrating its future. So, whether you graduated in 1967, 1988 or 2013, we want to welcome you home.
