Class of 2018

Eli Motycka writes: “An old saying advises that the best time to plant a tree was yesterday—and just like the Main Green’s mighty canopy, Brown’s Ultimate Frisbee program showed off its extensive network of branches on College Hill in October after five decades of care and nourishment. More than 250 alums poured in from all corners of the globe to mark the program’s 50th year, meet current players and relive their playing days over the long Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend. Since its founding in 1975, the Brown Ultimate program has spawned five teams consisting of men’s squads Brownian Motion, Polyester Funkadelic and Mothership, as well as the women’s and gender expansive teams Shiver (founded as Disco Inferno) and Cosmic Rays  within the University’s club sports department. Six players have won the college MVP recognition, called the Callahan Award, and Brownian Motion has taken home four national championships, most recently in 2024. This year’s golden anniversary included various social gatherings, an all-alum game at Brown Stadium on Saturday, and a Saturday evening banquet, where a packed Sayles Hall heard from founding team members Ron Kaufman ’78 (who addressed the gathering via video message from Singapore), Jacques Lord ’79, Peter Norvig ’78, and Alan Winson ’75. Josh Ziperstein ’05, one of Brown’s four Ultimate Hall of Fame inductees alongside Ron Kaufman, Billy Rodriguez ’85, Fortunat Mueller ’99, ’00 ScM, and Katie Yezzi ’94, ’94 MAT, spoke about Brown’s different ultimate chapters through the years. Equal parts reunion and celebration, the weekend was blessed with perfect Providence weather and lasting inter-generational connections.”