There's nothing like football, falling leaves and food to bring the Cornell community together. And Harvard's win against the Big Red (28-10) didn't dampen the enthusiasm, Oct. 10 at Employee Celebration Day.

About 2,300 staff members, retirees, faculty and their families lined up in Barton Hall for a chicken barbecue or pasta Provençal dinner, served by volunteers, President David Skorton and his wife, Professor Robin Davisson, and such senior administrators as Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development Charles Phlegar, Vice President for Government and Community Relations Stephen Johnson and Vice President for Human Resources Mary George Opperman.

Entertainment was provided by CrossRoad Clown, the Cornell bear and the Cornell Marching Band, while Cornell University Police offered a variety of activities for children. Participants also attended such sporting events as Cornell's Big Red volleyball against Dartmouth and men's and women's soccer against Harvard.

Special thanks go to Joe DiMarco, Environmental Health and Safety, for lining up the fire truck display; Gene Nighman and Kath Fenzel, Athletic Ticket Office, ticket sales; Nancy Pagliaro, University Counsel's Office, catering and volunteer servers; and Kelly Chan, Academic Technical Support and User Services, take-out coordinator.

"This great committee, also composed of Scott Gruver, Julia Leonard, Judi Eastburn, Amy Stewart and Katrina Blair, organized this event," said Cheryl McGraw, event coordinator for the Division of Human Resources. "They took on the leadership for whole pieces of this event and made it their own."

Staff from the Department of Building Care, the Grounds Department, Transportation and Mail Services, Project Design and Construction, and Cornell Catering, along with students from Cornell Tradition and Alpha Phi Omega, provided support services.

The event was sponsored by the Division of Human Resources, Department of Athletics and Physical Education, Cornell Catering and Pepsi.