Via Email
President Steven Poskanzer’s letter in the Voice [“Celebrating Sports,” Laird 100, winter] describes a fundamental truth about a liberal arts education. Carleton is a special place because of what it offers in the marketplace of higher education, and even more importantly because of the kind of students its offering attracts. People come to Carleton because its core mission is to provide a world-class education, both in the classroom and through cocurricular activities, such as its varsity athletics program.
Carleton has expertly balanced its academic and intercollegiate athletic programs for years, with one glaring exception: football. The Carleton football program is not competitive in its league and has not delivered a winning season since 2008. As the number of top students who are willing to endure increasingly lopsided losses declines, the future of football is very much in doubt at Carleton.
Losing football at Carleton will fundamentally change the fabric of the college in ways difficult to measure. As two alumni who would never have attended Carleton had it not offered a varsity football program, we urge Carleton to acknowledge there is a problem and make clear its commitment to correct it.
—John E. Schlifske ’81
—Michael J. Francis ’84, P ’19, ’21
I was a member of Archery Club and I am glad to see it is in good hands [“The Sporting Life,” winter].
Brianna Quincy ’16 became captain of Archery Club in her junior year when it was hardly a club at all. They had two members, a few antiquated bows, and targets with more holes from mice than from arrows. She contemplated her options. Without good equipment, she could never attract members. Without members, she could never get funding. Without funding, she couldn’t get equipment. The issues seemed cyclical, but Captain Quincy resolved to pull the club from its death spiral.
She spent hours repairing bows and waxing strings, talked to a multitude of freshmen at the Activities Fair, and drummed up support at floor meetings. A small group of regulars formed and, in no time, Captain Quincy had new members sinking bull’s-eyes.
The group began to grow. Before long, there were twice as many members as there were targets. Captain Quincy spent her own money on unique targets, and the legion of balloons, pumpkins, and squash stood no chance against volleys from Quincy’s Archers. Members begged for extra meetings. Captain Quincy secured more funding and was able to assemble an arsenal of bows for each skill level, which the club still uses today.
Through perseverance, energy, and dedication, Captain Quincy built Archery Club into what it is today. She deserves to be known for her accomplishment.
—Ryan Wegner ’16
Walking through the neighborhood, I was glad I’d worn a Carleton T-shirt. A fellow coming toward me said, “Hey! I went to Carleton, too.” Here we are—Simon Ginet ’14 and Bill Buffett ’55—having coffee in Arlington, Massachusetts. We are planning to meet again soon.
—Bill Buffett ’55