If you have stories, anecdotes and any knowledge of BASC history you want to share, please contact us and we will post it to this section of the Web site.

GREETING SISTERS! This year marks the 125^th anniversary of the Smith College Alumnae Association. What a great time to make more history by starting this past fall season with the most diverse freshman class in the history of Smith. Those of us from the Class of 1974 — with an enrollment of 68 Black women in 1970 and 54 graduates in 1974, according to the Archives — we love to boast about being the “biggest, baddest and most bodacious…” Well, we better take notice. It looks like this new group is approaching our numbers! This year Smith enrolled 53 African American; 87 Asian American; 55 Latina; 2 Native American; 5 Multiracial — 202 total Women of Color, according to the Admissions Office! We are pleased with the improved diversity within this class. To date, there are 1401 Black Smith alumnae and over 600 Latina alumnae, according to a recent College report. Together we can make a difference!

Sylvia S. Isabel ’74, BASC President

We would like to express our gratitude to BASC founders Phoebe Haddon ’72, Cheryl Sutton ‘73, Lynda Edwards ‘83, Rose Marie Jarret ‘86, L’Tanya Robinson AC ’88, Sarah Lazare ’91, Serena Williams ’81, Dale Robinson-Anglin ’86, Cheryl Gardner ’68, organizers and participants of the 1996 Reunion, including Ruth Simmons, president emerita of Smith College, who blazed the path by officially establishing BASC as the first Affinity group at the College. Thank you to the new BASC Board members who all stepped up to the plate to help our organization with enthusiasm, positive energy and lots of skills. Thank you BASC members for your votes of confidence. Thank you Sylvia Bolivar ‘88, ALAS President and ALAS Board members. We also want to thank the students and College for their incredible support in our effort to re-activate BASC. Big hugs and salutes go to: Carol T. Christ, Smith College President; Trish Jackson, VP Advancement; Carrie Cadwell Brown ’82, AASC Executive Director; Debra Shaver, Director of Admissions; Audrey Yale Smith, Dean of Enrollment; Betsy Baird, AASC Associate Director; AASC Board members Linda Charles ’74, Norma Melgoza ’92; former Trustee Nell Cochrane Taylor ’51; Naomi Miller, Director, Institutional Diversity; Mentha Hynes. Associate Dean of Multicultural Affairs; Carla Byers, Advancement Office and many others too numerous to list here.