ALUMNI QUARTERLY
FALL 1998

Some readers may be surprised -- pleasantly we hope -- by the arrival of this issue of the McGill News. Possibly it's the first they've received in some time. Our practice is to mail the News to graduates of the last two years and to recent donors. But when we publish a story that we think may be of interest to a particular group of alumni, we expand the mailing list to include them. For instance, this issue has a story by Andrew Mullins on the new McGill University Health Centre, so copies are being sent to graduates of Medicine and Nursing.

Despite the stated policy, some fresh alumni may feel they were overlooked be-cause they graduated last year but are only now receiving their first issue. Rest assured, the will is strong, but the technology remains a little weak. It takes time to upload information on all graduating students to the Development and Alumni Relations database, which spits out our mailing labels. Regardless of when it starts arriving, however, new graduates should receive the magazine for a two-year period.

Following the Summer issue, we received reports from you of occasional glitches in the mailing labels, such as a previous resident's name showing at your address. These bugs are primarily related to the introduction of a new software system used for the first time in our June mailing. If you continue to have problems, or wish to report a change of address at any time, you can contact the Records Office directly at (514) 398-3548 or send an e-mail to records@martlet1.lan.mcgill.ca.

Travel is broadening, they say, but I'm pretty sure it's not meant in the way that I experienced it on a recent trip to Australia. I spent two weeks touring in and around Perth, enthusiastically tasting the region's wonderful food and wine. The spaces between meals were punctuated by breaks for cappuccino, which is offered at every gas station in the state of Western Australia, as far as I can tell. At the end of my holi-day, when I settled into my seat on the plane for the long trip home, I discovered that Qantas had inexplicably moved the armrests closer together.

And somewhere during that homeward journey, I'm sure I entered the twilight zone rather than just crossing the International Date Line. I departed Perth shortly after midnight on June 11. Earlier in the evening my hosts and I had watched the evening news which included high-lights of the two opening games of the World Cup in France (Scotland vs. Brazil and I can't remember who else). We then went out for a leisurely dinner and had time to chat awhile at the airport before my flight.

After flying across Australia during the night, I changed planes in Sydney and spent the day heading north for a planned 24-hour stopover in Honolulu. The dates were indeed marked on my ticket, but after flying all that time it was still a little strange to arrive in Hawaii on June 10 -- the day before I left Perth.

What really made me crazy, though, occurred when I flicked on the TV in my hotel room to hear the news. One item was a report from France saying the weather looked perfect for the two opening games of the World Cup (Scotland vs. Brazil and whoever) that would be played in a few hours. I actually sat down and tried to figure it all out. When my brain started aching, I gave up and went to bed. If I had just known how to contact a bookie, I might have paid for my whole trip!

Homecoming '98 organizers hope a lot of you will soon be travelling. If you're coming back to McGill, you'll not only be able to see old friends, you can be among the first to visit the new Nahum Gelber Law Library, which officially opens on September 17. The preview in this issue of the athletics facilities might also encour-age you to request the free weekend pass allowing alumni to use the sports complex.

This year's Homecoming offers events that promise to both inform and entertain you and your classmates. In fact, with the various brunches, lunches, cocktail receptions and special dinners, you may find coming back to campus a decidedly broadening experience.

For those who will be here only in spirit, look for Homecoming highlights in the next McGill News. The Winter issue will be mailed to every graduate for whom we have an address, so we can share the occasion with alumni around the world -- and surprise a whole new crop of readers.