In 2019, while current Photo Service students were launching a campaign to retain ownership of CC305, alumni banded together to organize a the first-ever reunion featuring representatives from all six decades of the organization. Alumni from multiple states (and a couple countries) made the trek to Albany in late April of that year. Together they celebrated their time with the student group and shared elation at returning to the space — perhaps for the last time ever.
Among the alumni was Bob Stephenson, class of 1969, who brought his original SUNYA-issued press badge.
Throughout the weekend, alumni and current students met, told stories, and took many photographs. The darkroom, which had fallen in disrepair, was revived with the help of Adam Pratomo (’91) while Michael Ackerman (’89) led a workshop to teach them how to process film. Gigi Cohen (’90) then demonstrated darkroom printing.
The group surprised Gary Gold (’70) with a special plaque on the bookshelf that forever preserves all editions of Torch Yearbook at the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives. Gold’s consistent mentorship and love for CC305 has touched multiple generations of alumni.
The reunion then traveled to Gold’s studio in downtown Albany to continue the evening. It was there that Klaus Schnitzer (’68) made a surprise appearance and read a speech about how he helped form the student group to be known as University Photo Service.
It was also announced at the reunion that the students were successful in convincing the university to halt their eviction and keep them in their current and only home, CC305.
The final surprise of the weekend came from current students, who gifted their first-ever analog prints from earlier that day.
