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We asked alumni ...

What song reminds you most of your campus days—and why?


A black and white photo of band members from Queen.Photo: KOH HASEBE/DISTRIBUTED BY ELEKTRA RECORDSQueen's "We Will Rock You," a stadium staple, was a Cleveland
anthem during the 1995 and 1997 World Series.



GARY JARKEWICZ, (CIT '75; GRS '81, electrical engineering and applied physics)


"'Maggie May' by Rod Stewart. I met my future wife, Maita (Poole) Jarkewicz (CIT '75), while walking down Euclid Avenue over orientation weekend in the fall of 1971. She was walking with a friend and looking for a professor's office. I tried to give them what little direction I knew to the math department. 'Maggie May' was playing a lot on the radio at that time of year, and I think back to our first meeting whenever I hear that song."

JAMES VINCENT LUCIA (CWR '04, MGT '07)


"I remember partying to Busta Rhymes' 'Fire It Up' at the 'Euc.' And now, as a full-time musician in Nashville, I can't help but think of that song every time I see the original Euclid Tavern sign hanging up at [singer Jason] Aldean's [bar in Nashville] where it's labeled a 'historical artifact.'"

ROBYN REESE HARVEY (CWR '95)


"'It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)' by R.E.M. played on repeat during finals on WRUW. I always tuned in when I needed to blow off some finals-week steam."

MICHAEL FINLEY (CWR '93)


"One of my suitemates played a Depeche Mode CD on repeat, and 'Personal Jesus' is the tune I most associate with Staley House."

PAUL ELLWOOD (CWR '01)


"'The Distance' by Cake seemed to be playing nonstop in our Glaser House suite for all of 1996 and 1997."

VIN TANGPRICHA (CWR '92)


"'Right Here, Right Now' by Jesus Jones was a must-play on repeat before chemistry and biology exams in 1991. It marked the end of the Cold War. Plus, the CD liner notes read, 'Warning: This album contains extreme sounds which could damage musical equipment when played at high volume.'"

CHRIS SPIEK (CWR '00)


"I recall more than a few times [turning up the volume to blast] Queen's 'We Will Rock You' when Cleveland was in the World Series in 1995 and 1997!"

DENNIS TIDWELL (ADL '70)


"We would turn the stereo speakers toward the dorm windows and play the Animals' 'We Gotta Get Out of This Place.' The cold Cleveland winter weather carried the music very well across the quad."

DOUG KYR (CIT '83; GRS '88, systems control and engineering)


"WMMS played 'Maggot Brain' by Funkadelic at 1:30 a.m. on Sundays. If you were up that late, it was time to stop studying or partying."

CHRIS PARTIS (WRC '83)


"'I Can See Clearly Now' by Johnny Nash always makes me think of the fall semester of my first year. Everything was new and different, and it was the first time living on my own."*

EMILY LUDWIG (CWR '17)


"'Best Day of My Life' by American Authors! They played at The Spot during the fall of my first year a few months before that song made it to the radio, and they got very popular. Still one of my favorite bands to this day!"

*Check out our feature on alumnus Craig Smith for another enduring Johnny Nash memory.


OUR NEXT QUESTION: What's your favorite Case Western Reserve University building—and why?


We'd love to hear from you. Please send us your memories for inclusion in the fall/winter 2024 issue of Think by emailing sandra.livingston@case.edu.


— LAUREN DANGEL