• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

The Grinnell Magazine Fall 2011 The Grinnell 14 Go to Washington G by Peter Coyote ’64 and Terry Bisson ’64 Student Musings Rejected! Sometimes, speaking up can change the course of your life Throughout high school, my biggest concern was getting “No,” she assured me. “In nine years, we have never into the perfect college. I studied countless college done something like that.” guides and was on Princetonreview.com practically daily. “But it’s possible, right?” I asked. “Can you double- I visited Grinnell because I had heard good things, check?” and it was within a reasonable driving distance. I had Again, she told me no, and said there was no way no idea that as soon as I set foot on campus, I would for her to know what transcripts she’d sent. Dejected, I be overcome with the feeling that this was the place asked if she could please call the university herself, since for me. I ended up applying only to Grinnell and to surely, as a counselor, she would have more infuence the University of Minnesota (my safety school in case than I. She cheerfully explained that she had no more fnancial aid didn’t work out at Grinnell). I flled out power than I did in this situation, and that I should just both applications meticulously, checking and double- wait for a call back. checking every word of my essays. My grades were perfect “I mean, I could try calling, but it wouldn’t make any and my test scores were well above average. Getting into difference,” she said, as she ushered me out the door. your frst-choice school is never a sure thing, but I was I went to my French class prepared for a long day. confdent that I had a good chance. I couldn’t concentrate on the lesson or anything that In November, I received a small envelope from was happening. I was trying to remember application Minnesota. I was expecting just another pamphlet deadlines at less competitive schools and preparing by Kaitlyn advertising its new science facility or excellent study- to frantically apply as soon as I got home. Then my Waller ’13, a abroad program. My shock at fnding a rejection letter counselor appeared at the door. She pulled me out of French major inside was overwhelming. I barely got past, “Ms. Waller, class and sheepishly informed me that she had checked from White Bear we regret to inform you … ” before my vision was my application and, yes, the wrong transcript had been Lake, Minn. completely obscured by tears. How could I have been sent to both Minnesota and Grinnell. The transcript rejected from my safety school? I could see the future I had they had received said my GPA was 2.5 and that I hadn’t planned for myself crashing down. taken any advanced courses. At frst, I was confused. I immediately called my mother, who was just as Hadn’t she just told me that she had no way of knowing shocked as I. And what could she say? I’m the eldest what had been sent out? Then, I was euphoric. I child in my family, so we didn’t have any experience with practically skipped back to my seat. the admission process. She tentatively suggested that Minnesota called me, apologized profusely for the perhaps this year, the university had already “accepted mistake (not that they had done anything wrong), and enough 4.0 students.” offered me admission to the honors program. A month My next call went to my English teacher, who later, I got my long-awaited acceptance from Grinnell. had been my mentor during senior year and college Even now, as I prepare for my junior year, I think applications. I left what I can only assume is the most about how different my life could have been if I had wretched and tearful voicemail he’ll ever receive. While decided to passively accept my rejection. I’m not sure I I waited for him to call back, I called the admission would be in college today. I defnitely wouldn’t be going offce at Minnesota. I timidly suggested that a mistake to my dream school. I’m thankful that I took charge and had been made; based on the numbers, I should have insisted that something was wrong. been a shoo-in. I felt like a spoiled child — after all, they It was diffcult to speak my mind and challenge a probably receive countless calls from crying high school superior, but two years ago, I’m glad I found the courage seniors crying foul. The woman in the offce assured me to make things right. she would look into it and get back to me in a few days. When my English teacher called me back that Was your acceptance to Grinnell complicated like evening, I was still distraught. After expressing Waller’s, whether by clerical error or another obstacle? astonishment at the news, he suggested I check to If so, The Grinnell Magazine would love to see if our school’s admission counselor had made a hear about it, no matter how long ago it may have mistake. It seemed unlikely, but in the morning, I asked happened. Send your story to: [email protected] my counselor whether she could have sent the wrong and we’ll consider it for publication in a later issue. transcript. The Grinnell Magazine Fall 2011 Volume 44 Number 1 Email [email protected] Ofce of Communications Acting Vice-president for Communications Michael Cullen ’75 Angela Voos fghts global [email protected] warming Editor with carbon Dan Weeks ’80 credits that pay [email protected] landowners to Art Director / Designer retain their trees Jim Powers [email protected] p. 32 Senior Contributing Writers Richard Cleaver ’75 Cindy Deppe Classnotes Editor Bonnie Primley [email protected] Editorial Assistant Mona Ghadiri ’11 Contributing Photographer Ben Brewer ’11 Photo: Seth Afoumado The Grinnell Magazine (ISSN 1539-0950) is published quarterly by Grinnell College, Offce of Communications, 1026 Park St., Grinnell, IA 50112. Periodicals 10 postage paid at Grinnell, IA, and additional Online Now at mailing offces. Choosing Grinnell’s Future www.grinnell.edu/magazine . © Copyright Grinnell College, 2011 POSTMASTER by Dr. Raynard S. Kington Download this issue! Send address changes to: The Grinnell Magazine is now The Grinnell Magazine As the College begins its strategic planning process, 1026 Park Street President Kington frames the issues. available online in .pdf form Grinnell, IA 50112 FAX: 641-269-3408 Email: [email protected] Remembering Hans Mission Statement 18 Wynberg, former Chemistry The Grinnell Magazine is published quarterly for alumni, students, parents, faculty, and friends The Grinnell 14 Go to Washington professor and WW II hero. of the College by the Offce of Communica­ tions. The contents of this magazine are by Peter Coyote ’64 and Terry Bisson ’64 selected to stimulate thought and discussion, “I Built the PEC,” to demonstrate the range of opinions and activities on the campus and in its broader How one exceptionally well-orchestrated road trip by Mitch Erickson ’72 community, and to provide news about the started the modern student peace movement. College and its alumni. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily refect offcial policy of Grinnell College. Central Switchboard 26 Departments 641-269-4000 Me and the S&P World Wide Web Student Musings .......inside front www.grinnell.edu by Sam Tanenhaus ’77 Rejected! On the cover: Photo of The Grinnell 14 courtesy of The editor of the New York Times Book Review refects Grinnell College archives Letters .................... 2 on his friend and Grinnell classmate John Chambers ’77, Have we become so mindless? the man behind the downgrading of the U.S.’s credit rating Campusnotes .................4 Alumni culture, summer 29 scholarship, and the Grinnell quiz Turnaround (Liberal) Artists Book Excerpt ............... 34 Classnotes ................. 35 Printed in the USA by Doug McInnis Printed on recycled paper Please recycle Does a liberal arts education really equip graduates to Alumni Musings ........inside back thrive in times of change? Five Grinnell alumni fnd out. What Economic Recovery? The Grinnell Magazine Fall 2011 1 Have we become so mindless that every article has to pass the political correctness test? —Glen Peiffer ’72 LETTERS Mindless Political Correctness Multiple Motivations Recruiting Brochure I thought the “Leadership Bill Paley, the founder of CBS, In the Summer 2011 issue of I just received the Summer 2011 Paradox” article (Spring 2011 before gaining approval; and she The Grinnell Magazine, poet Ilya issue of The Grinnell Magazine. issue) was a valid article not often testifed before Congress. Kaminsky argues that love of Is it my imagination, or have because of who it was about or She is an attorney, now retired, language and wordplay may the pages gotten bigger? It’s now mentioned but because of its with a master’s of taxation degree make one a poet, while having rather awkward to read and looks content. Maybe someday we will and MBA. A tell-all book was something to say will not. Can’t like a coffee-table book when laid get beyond judging based on written about CBS years ago, both motivations coexist? If things down. I hope that the magazine gender or color but on content CBS: Refections in a Bloodshot Eye, go well, one spurs the other along is scaled back to something more and character. Have we become so that became a bestseller. Marilyn in happy complement. convenient, but I fear that it has mindless that every article has to could add her own stories about —Mark Maire ’78 become a recruiting brochure pass the political correctness test? the politics, power struggles, Duluth, Minn.

Load more

  48

Copy Link