Stephen Toland, College of Arts & Sciences, Class of 1994

Mr. Stephen Toland. Permission to use this image granted through creative commons.

Stephen Toland decided to attend Tulane because it promised a small campus that would allow him to form great friendships in the great city of New Orleans. Even though having the opportunity to participate in Tulane’s clubs and organizations did not influence his decision in choosing Tulane, Stephen reminisces about his experiences in University clubs and activities, and how they largely impacted his college experience, as well as his life after college. He recognizes his favorite college activities as those that facilitated valuable friendships, community integration, and a unique college experience.

Stephen was very involved in the Greek community, where he was elected President of his fraternity, Sigma Nu, and was elected President of Tulane’s Interfraternity Council. As President of the Interfraternity Council, he values the opportunity he was given to understand and appreciate Tulane’s role in the greater city of New Orleans. Aside from shaping his abilities as a lawyer and granting him lifelong friendships, his involvement in the Sigma Nu Fraternity accounts for one of his most memorable experiences at Tulane. Stephen reminisces about two of his fondest achievements during Mardi Gras that he shares with his fraternity brothers: watching the Zulu parade atop the flatbed of a truck that he and his fraternity brothers carefully constructed, and “doing a peppermint schnapps shot with Kenny Rogers after Endymion” (“Favorite Tulane Memories,” Clip #1).

Apart from Greek life, many of Stephen’s memories that encapsulate his undergraduate experience stem from Tulane’s successful integration of student activities onto campus. Stephen has fond memories of the traditions that took place on campus on Friday nights, where Tulane would bring in live bands to play on the Quad. He loved how it created a tight-knit community where the majority of the student body could congregate and appreciate live music from Tulane’s Quad itself (“Music,” Clip #2). His appreciation for live music emanates through his memories at Jazz Fest and Tipitinas, where he and his friends would go to listen to everything from the Radiators to Dr. John (“A Taste for Music,” Clip #3).

Stephen was a radio broadcaster for Tulane Sports, which enabled him to work in the French Quarter. The best part about his job as a radio broadcaster was that it allowed him to see an entirely different side of Tulane that isn’t available to the typical undergraduate student. Stemming from his job as a sports broadcaster, Stephen appreciated attending Tulane athletic events while at Tulane. In addition, the Reily Center and Baseball Stadium had just finished being built by Stephen’s freshman year, which gave students the opportunity to visit that side of campus to exercise or watch a baseball game.

Since his time as an undergraduate, the biggest changes he’s seen on campus are those that he feels largely enhance students’ college experience. Stephen has been on campus several times since he graduated 20 years ago, and “was blown away by the University Center and how everything is kind-of blown up; it looks amazing.” At his homecoming, Stephen is most looking forward to experiencing tailgating and football right on campus.

His enthusiasm stem from the drastically different meaning football had when he was an undergraduate student. Then, football games “were a totally different experience…that allowed you to see parts of the French Quarter…but didn’t necessarily make you feel closer to Tulane,” Stephen said, “and you didn’t feel like it was a true college experience” (“Excited for Football,” Clip #4). In addition to attending the highly anticipated football game and tailgate, Stephen is looking forward to reuniting with old friends at his 20th reunion that will take place this November 2014.

[Editor’s Note: This article was captured as part of the class “Media Histories” taught by Vicki Mayer in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Affairs at Tulane University.]