Glittering Gala: Veritas in Autumn
Harvard Comes to Toronto, Harvard leaders speak
On October 18, 2012, the Harvard Club of Toronto partnered with Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) to host the annual “Veritas in Autumn” gala dinner at the University of Toronto Faculty Club. It was a fabulous event – intellectually stimulating and socially fulfilling.
Alumni and guests from across the University came together to sip champagne, listen to a string quartet, feast on Cornish game hen, and hear Professor Michèle Lamont of sociology discuss her current research. Lamont compared the plight of stigmatized minorities in the United States, Israel, and Brazil, and used the candid and engaging question-and-answer period to address the implications of this project for her native Canada.
In addition to Michèle, the featured faculty speaker, other University leaders attended and addressed the guests. We were honoured to have, as a special guest, Xiao-Li Meng, PhD ’90, the new Dean of GSAS, who shared his vision for the Graduate School at a tough time for graduating PhDs. GSAS Administrative Dean Margot Gill and Alumni Affairs Director Elisabeth Nunez also visited from Cambridge for the event.
From South Carolina, Carl Muller, AB ’73, JD-MBA ’76, the new President of the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), addressed the participants. He led off by holding up a copy of a Toronto Globe and Mail article entitled “The Secret of Harvard’s Success: Alumni,” published by sheer coincidence on the day of his arrival. And he explained eloquently how Harvard does it.
Various local alumni volunteer leaders spoke, including Club president Jonathan Guss, AB ’68, HAA Directors William R. Horton, Jr., AB ’77 and Cynthia Maxwell, AB ’92, MD ’97, and GSAS Alumni Council members David Staines, PhD ’73 and, last but not least the event was charmingly and effectively chaired by Yonatan Eyal, PhD ’05, master of all ceremonies.
Overall, with all the dignitaries from Cambridge, the stimulating talk by Professor Lamont, and the efforts of our local alumni volunteers, this became a special, memorable night for the Harvard community in Toronto. Thank you to gala co-chairs Rita Maxwell, AB ’98 and Yonatan Eyal, PhD ’05, and to their committee, for their dedication to make this a truly glittering affair.