Having spent nearly one-fifth of our lives as Brown students, members of the class of 2012 have plenty of common experiences: our sunny afternoon march through the Van Wickle Gates, 3 a.m. cram sessions in the freezing basement of the Sciences Library and 5 a.m. breakfasts at Loui's.
These collective memories help make the Brown experience meaningful, but this magazine highlights the ones that are distinct. We've invited 16 seniors with unconventional experiences - serving in uniform in the Persian Gulf, witnessing history unfold on the streets of Alexandria, Egypt, conspiring to open a secret off-campus bakery - to share their perspectives. They have done so in a variety of ways, both written and illustrated.
And as we gird ourselves for the experiences to come, we cannot help but feel that we find ourselves in the same boat as our alma mater. Like us, Brown is on the verge of a major transition, and we have an article on the transformative legacy of outgoing President Ruth Simmons and a full-length interview with President-elect Christina Paxson. Like us, Brown still has some unfinished business, and we bring a feature on the University's unsteady implementation of the recommendations of the Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice. And like us, Brown is negotiating its place in the wider world, so we also bring you a story on the University's progress in mending its damaged relationship with the city in which it resides.
We know how way leads on to way, and we know not when we might see you again, so we hope you hold onto this magazine and take it out once in a while, and think of us, your classmates. Or, in a pinch, there's always Facebook.
- The 121st Editorial Board
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