We missed each other. Fall 2021 made that perfectly clear, as evidenced by the back-to-back-to-back photo features in this issue of Wofford Today. As usual, Mark Olencki ’75, college photographer, captured the joy of Terriers back together experiencing Wofford, whether at work or play.

These gatherings required additional planning and attention to detail. Masks were still required indoors in public spaces, but they were optional outdoors and in residence halls and private homes on campus. The college’s high vaccination rate combined with the mask mandate proved effective, and students took advantage of the relaxed gathering guidelines.

Competition resumed for Wofford's athletics teams, and fans came out to enjoy watching the Terriers compete.Blessings of the animals, led by the Rev. Dr. Ron Robinson ’78, Perkins-Prothro Chaplain and Professor of ReligionCompetition resumed for Wofford's athletics teams, and fans came out to enjoy watching the Terriers compete.Outdoor classes became more and more popular over the course of the pandemic, and Dr. Vicki Gilbert, assistant professor of government, is a role model in how to make these unorthodox classroom experiences effective.Opportunities for students to get to know each other as Orientation resumed in person this fall.The Wofford cross country teams opened their season at the Eye Opener at the Roger Milliken Research Center Park. The women finished second and the men fourth overall.To help first-year students settle into college, Campus Life and Student Development organized a series of events for the First 54 (from 1854) days of the fall semester. This event was an RA Pop-In on the Greene Hall lawn.The Career Center began the fall semester with a block party. Students came for the food, games, prizes and information on how to make use of the center’s services.Students and faculty enjoyed an afternoon of improvisational events during the Art TASK party.The Study Abroad Fair brought international partner organizations to campus to share information with students.Wofford men’s soccer fell in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference tournament, but the season included plenty of celebratory moments.Students in Art History 330 get hands-on experience in curation in the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts.The college dedicated the Elliott F. “Eli” Sanders Plaza at Gibbs Stadium in October, and Sanders’ son, Greg, and his wife, Melissa, and their children, Elliott and McRae, attended the ceremony. Sanders ’54 was a Hall of Fame student-athlete on the college’s football team and continues to be a generous supporter of the college, making annual gifts to the Terrier Club as well as supporting a variety of capital projects. The plaza also includes an installation that shares the history of Wofford football.PumpkinFest, sponsored by Campus Life and Student Development, is a highlight of the fall semester. The carved pumpkins are placed on the steps of Main Building in the shape of a W and lit to celebrate Halloween.Wofford Theatre presented Twilight Bowl in November. The play is based in a smalltown Wisconsin bowling alley, where a few friends gather and soon recognize the divide widening between them. The play was directed by Dan Day, associate professor of theatre, and included a cast and crew of 35 Wofford students.The seniors on the women’s tennis team
enjoyed their poster photo shoot.The Class of 2024 made up for several
missed orientation activities this fall during
the inaugural Sophomore Week. Signing their class banner was one of the activities.After missing the fall 2020 football season,
students were eager to return to tailgating.Students led efforts to celebrate Hispanic
Heritage Month in October.Kappa Delta sorority held its annual Shamrock and Shuck event to raise funds for philanthropyFormer South Carolina Gov. David Beasley came to campus as part of the Hipp Center for National Security and Foreign Policy’s Lecture Series. Beasley is now executive director of the World Food Programme.The Wofford College bell tolls for each of the college’s graduates three times in their lives. It tolls to welcome each first-year student during their first week on campus. It tolls to celebrate their graduation. Finally, it tolls on All Saints’ Day after their deaths. The college held its annual “All Saints Remembrance Tolling of the Bell” ceremony on Nov. 1. The names of students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends of the college who have died during the past year were read as the bell tolled 150 times.Jim Hackney ’77 was a guest speaker for the
Art History 303 curation class. Hackney, a
former senior director of development at the
Yale Divinity School, spent a good portion of his career in fundraising for arts organizations. He is a current trustee at the Penland School of Craft in Bakersville, N.C.429 the Road Boss, Wofford’s new food truck, offers grab-and-go favorites from Campus Drive near Main Building. Students were all smiles on its first day of service.Students, faculty and test participants in one of the new test rooms in the Roger Milliken Science Center.Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., a New York Times bestselling author, political commentator and Princeton University professor, spoke at the college on James Baldwin and African-American history.Spanish 303 students reading children’s books in Spanish to each other to practice their speaking, listening and comprehension skills.Sliding and shagging.Environmental studies labs.Oktoberfest fun.History 305 warfare demonstration.Career Center BIPOC lunch.The Wofford Invitational of Atlanta.Southern Conference Undergraduate Research Forum.Finance students learned about investing and microloans from Melinda Clark, director of development at Esperanza International.Alumni and friends returned for the Terrier Club 75th anniversary party.Students listened, learned and discussed.Ice cream during the blessing of the pets.Women's soccer found joy in their teammates and friends.