Opening The Gates In front of Nassau Hall, at the foot of Witherspoon Street, stands a tall set of wrought iron gates-- the Fitzrandolph Gates. Up until June of 1970 tradition held that these gates were only to be opened on special occasions: for Reunions, to welcome the 25th Reunion Class back onto campus; at Commencement, when the new graduates would march proudly out unto the real world; and on very special institutional occasions, such as the 200th anniversary of the University. Other than that, they remained closed the other 363 days of the year. The Class of 1970 felt a strong commitment to the world beyond the gates-- they were aware of the war in Vietnam, they had seen riots and civil rights marches, they launched the first environmental awareness-- and they felt that the University could no longer be an isolated institution, aloof and apart from the rest of society. At the time of their graduation, they asked that these gates be opened permanently, to symbolize the unity between the University and the world beyond those gates. By tradition, each graduating class places its numerals on a stone at the foundation of Nassau Hall. The Class of 1970 instead, chose to have their numerals inscribed on the southeast pillar of these gates, where you will find the inscription, "Together for Community."