In a study conducted by the Bishop Healy Committee last year, under the heading of "retention," the last of six proposals was entitled, "Encourage Meetings of Black Students and Alumni." The proposal stated, "The Bishop Healy Committee should continue to encourage and support dialogue between alumni and students of color. Such programs have occurred sporadically in the past ... The Healy Committee should consider whether a regular, annual program consisting of at least one meeting per semester could be initiated. These meetings may or may not be held in conjunction with Homecoming or other special alumni events. Either way, they should have their own unique significance and their own time and place. Such a program could well draw a greater and more consistent involvement of alumni of color to Healy activities."

In an effort to implement this proposal, The Bishop Healy Committee held its first "Town Meeting" on Feb. 7. Attending were forty-five black students; thirty-five black and white alumni/ae; Associate Dean of Students, Peter Simonds; Director of Academic Services and Learning Resources, Tina Chen; and Coordinator of Multicultural Programming, Lisa Gray.

Chair of the Bishop Healy Committee, Joseph Reilly ’55, called the event, "a wonderful success." Students were briefed on the study and were introduced to the Town Meeting’s co-chairs, Marian Bradshaw ’93 and Joe Foy ’91. After prefatory remarks, those gathered broke down into smaller discussion groups. Each group was comprised of both students and graduates. After an hour, the participants reconvened for a review of the "key concerns" of black students at the College. Some of these concerns included issues of diversity, inclusiveness, relationships.

"We want to make Holy Cross the positive experience it was for us," said Joe Foy in summary. "And this is just one of the ways to do that. This forum is not a one-shot deal. This is going to be an on-going event."