Dear Bates Alumni,

I write today to share what I know will be disappointing news: Due to the COVID-19 crisis, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Reunion Weekend 2020. Given where we are in the current pandemic, we are not able to move forward with plans for a massive gathering of people—coming to Bates from all over — in early June.

I doubt this will come as a surprise to anyone, but it is certainly not what any of us hoped for. The news will hit hardest those of you in the “0” and “5” classes, who were scheduled to return to campus in June. Many of you have been planning for months to come back to Bates to connect and celebrate with friends and classmates.

In order to recognize important class milestones, we will host a number of virtual Reunion programs on June 12 and 13, 2020.  Although they could never approximate the joy and spontaneity of reconnecting with classmates in the many programs and activities that mark Reunion Weekend, we hope they will provide a touchpoint with your friends and the college in this moment when human connection has never been more important. Details about our plans for June 2020 virtual programming will soon be coming your way.

Additionally, when the current crisis is decisively behind us, we hope that we can find an opportunity to bring the “0” and “5” classes back to campus to enjoy the experience they are missing this year. This will require some longer-term planning. We will work with class leaders over the coming months and keep you posted.

I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who have been working for months to plan their classes’ Reunion events. Your efforts will not be wasted — and they are deeply appreciated.

I wish very much that the situation were different, and that we could all look forward to being together on the Bates campus in June. My hope is that when we do gather together, in person, it will be all the sweeter for this period of interruption and isolation.

Until then, please take very good care of yourselves and your loved ones. And remember that you are always — even at a distance — an essential member of the Bates community.

Stay well and keep in touch, Clayton