Class Note Up Close: Scanlon ’85, Chan ’84

On a recent visit to the Alumni Center, Ray Scanlon ’85 and Tina Chan ’84 found a table from the old Campus Pub on display. “The table has our initials carved in it — done while we were dating,” Scanlon says. The couple has been married for 24 years; their daughter Kaitlyn will be a sophomore in the fall.

QUESTIONS: Tell us about “Ray & Tina: The Early Years”

RAY SCANLON: We met at College-in-the-Woods’ Cayuga Hall in fall 1982. I was a sophomore and Tina was a freshman. We “officially” started dating at the Clash concert, Oct. 15, 1982. I was a poli-sci major and Tina was psych and philosophy. We both knew early on that law school was in our future.

Q: What was special about the Campus Pub?

A: Wow, so many things. It was really the focal point of most social gatherings — they started or ended at the Pub.

I tended bar, working side by side with Billy Baldwin — also class of ’85. The weekends really started on Thursday nights. That was by far the craziest night of the week; $2.50 pitchers of Bud, and Alabama Slammers were the popular drinks.

Q: Who did the carving?

A: I’ll take credit for that. To anyone who remembers the Pub, it was a common practice. I always had a pocket knife on me. Still do.

Q: Was it a romantic gesture or just done on a whim?

A: I’d like to think there was a romantic angle to it. We definitely marked up more than one table, but just in the Pub.

Q: Your daughter’s now a Bearcat?

A: Yes (but what happened to the Colonials?). We were definitely thrilled she got in; competition has always been stiff. Her brother, Connor, is entering his senior year in high school, so Binghamton will definitely be on his list. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed. My brother, Kevin Scanlon, graduated in 1987, so we’re a legacy family.