All in the Family
“Part of the Family” [summer] was terrific. It did not mention, however, that in 1985 students in the then-existing college governance system proposed an amendment to the college’s antidiscrimination policy to prohibit discrimination based on “sexual or affectional preference.” The trustees promptly adopted it. Somewhat relatedly, in 1987–88 students proposed and the trustees adopted a comprehensive anti–sexual harassment policy applicable to all. Neither policy was conventional then, but each reflected an aspiration to make the Carleton family healthier for all. Good that it continues today
– Eric M. Robinson ’88
A Much Needed Break
I was glad to read about the college’s push for more ADA-accessible and all-gender bathrooms [“Room for Everyone,” Around the Bald Spot, fall]. When I was a Carleton junior in the early 1970s, I took the LSAT at a big Chicago law school. Midtest we were given a 15-minute break, but all the bathrooms on the test floor were for men only. After an urgent search, I found a long line of women test takers waiting for the only women’s bathroom on another floor.
When the 15 minutes expired, the women had to decide whether bodily comfort outweighed the need to have the same amount of time to take the test as the men. The test resumed without us. I chose medicine over law, but you don’t need an MD to know that when you have to go, you have to go, and everyone deserves a pot to pee in.
– Gail Welsh ’73
Mierow Still Inspires
Charles Mierow [“Larger Than Life,” fall] was my favorite teacher. Professor Mierow told us about Blaise Pascal, the French philosopher who said, “Man is a reed, the weakest of nature, but he is a thinking reed.” Simply put, but straight on. I took every course this gentle professor gave us. Thank you, too, for the grand picture of the attentive students listening to him. I might have been in that room on that day.
– Robert Richardson ’54
Travelogue
In the fall Voice, President Steven Poskanzer asked alumni who had taken an overseas program in the ’70s to write about their experience [Laird 100]. In 1978 I participated in the London program with English professor Wayne Carver. It was a life-changing experience. I traveled with my roommate Julie Dynes ’80 through Dorset, where we met a dear couple who invited us to visit them in Sherborne. We were treated like royalty in their small town as we celebrated Guy Fawkes Day.
After graduation I studied in England again when I was training to become a teacher and learning about progressive education. I also spent five weeks in a geography teachers’ exchange program in England and Ireland. I taught in various international schools before working in Winnetka, Illinois, for more than 20 years. I have traveled or lived in 45 foreign countries and returned to England six times. My hope is that every Carl could have an overseas experience.
– Mary Groetsch ’79