If You're Flying In For Reunion...

In just two days, we'll be back together again, filling these seats to celebrate our 35th Class Reunion.

I suspect a number of you may be flying into town for the event.If so, and you haven't been to Nashville in a while, you'll find our current airport a major upgrade from the dinky little Berry Field that was in use while we were at Vanderbilt from 1969 to 1973.

Since the 9/11 tragedies in 2001, air travel has become more and more of a hassle, especially going through the neccessary, but often annoying, passenger screenings and security.

But it is interesting to note, that passenger screenings first began at American airports just as we began our last semester at VU in January of 1973.

Here, courtesy of the Vanderbilt News Archives, is how The CBS Evening News reported on the beginning of airport passenger screenings. The date is Janaury 5, 1973 (not long before we all returned to classes after Christmas break). The anchor is Dan Rather, the reporter is Bill Plante...

Well, I guess you can see from this story that in many ways, some of the questions and controversies about passenger inspections and security (who pays and how much is too much) are still being fought.

Have a great trip and don't forget to bring an umbrella or a rain coat. An 80% chance of rain is predicted for Friday, hopefully coming through overnight and in the morning, then leaving before our afternoon and evening Reunion activities. And certainly we hope for sunny skies and dry conditions for the Homecoming game against Duke Saturday afternoon.

Go Vandy!