Photo courtesy of Brooke Sponzo.
During the last few weeks, Connecticut College students have been whispering to each other about the email sent out by the Office of Communications on April 19. “Join President Bergeron for a BIG (BIG!) College announcement” the email blast read in colorful letters. The email promised food trucks, music by new Conn bands Prose and Conns, and the Carly Family Band, and that this would be “THE BIGGEST ANNOUNCEMENT IN COLLEGE HISTORY!” What could be bigger than going co-ed, students wondered. Guesses on what the big (big!) announcement varied among The College Voice staff from another Plex renovation, to a change in mascot, to even going back to an all women’s college.
The announcement was originally scheduled for Wednesday, April 21 at 4:30 pm. However, on April 20, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty for the murder of George Floyd, the College sent another email out to the College community and rescheduled their announcement for the following Wednesday, April 28. Another email soon followed from President Bergeron, acknowledging the general feelings of students were feeling and reminding them of resources available on campus.
On that rescheduled Wednesday, after days of anticipation, herds of masked Camels flocked to Tempel Green. Dozens waited in line for food trucks and others sprawled out on the green in clumps, catching free t-shirts, enjoying their food, and posing for photos with the school’s mascot, Humphrey the Camel. Drones flew overhead to catch the big announcement for a video that will be released at a later date.
At 4:30 pm, President Katherine Bergeron and Board of Trustees Chair Defred (Fritz) G. Folts ’82 and former Chair Pamela D. Zilly ’75 walked out onto the Dune’s stage. After some brief words from Folts, President Bergeron took the microphone to announce the largest philanthropic donation in the College’s 110-year history. Rob ‘88 and Karen P’20 Hale had gifted $30 million dollars to the College, on top of their previous donation in 2015 of $20 million dollars, totalling $50 million in athletics, financial aid, campus life, and the Career Center (now named after the Hale family).
The newest gift will be split three ways, stated President Bergeron, with the money going to areas that were most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. $10 million will be going to financial aid, $10 million will be going to athletics, and $10 million is being invested in improvements to the campus infrastructure. This donation is part of the giving campaign launched by Connecticut College in 2017, which has now raised over $170 million dollars, given by almost 12,000 donors in only the last four years. After the announcement, the bands began to play music for the crowds as students celebrated, visited the food trucks and milled about, conversing with their friends.
While the Hales were not able to be present at the big (big!) announcement, they recorded a video to play for the College students, faculty, and staff. “Being part of the Conn College family means family, in the truest sense. It means caring for others. It means growing,” Robert Hale stated. “Rob and I have lived the impact of this college. We want it to continue to change the lives of others,” added Karen Hale. While at Conn, Robert Hale was a history major and on the College’s lacrosse team. He is currently the president and CEO of Granite Telecommunications, based in Quincy, Massachusetts. Granite Telecommunications is one of the largest privately-held telecommunications companies in North America. His son Trevor Hale graduated from Connecticut College in 2020 and studied studio art, elementary education, and human development. On the school’s website is a link to a form where students can thank the Hales for their generous gift.
