June 1999 marked the twentieth reunion of my college class. It was also the last June in which women graduated with Radcliffe College printed next to the Harvard University on their diplomas.
I was in the last class admitted by a separate Radcliffe admissions committee, and I graduated in Radcliffe's centennial. Count me as one of those women who was charged up to be attending something that was at least partly a women's college, and is sad to see it finally absorbed.
I felt we had the best of both worlds: a big urban coed school, with some strong women's college stuff, and opportunities to mix and match the two experiences. One of the best things was meeting the senior alumnae, who went to college back when it was a dangerously bluestockinged thing to do. I hear the trustees did their best, but had little choice given the way the earlier "non-merger merger" left them situated. Well, let it be a lesson to me to work harder to save things that I love. The Schlesinger Library is still incredibly wonderful and will become the focus of my Radcliffe passion.
One of the best Radcliffe things of recent years has been the 100% volunteer run Mentor Program that matched graduates with students interested in a particular career or lifestyle (e.g. "solo parent with 2 kids and a worldwide consulting practice" - injecting a dose of realism if possible). I hope it will continue! I learned a lot from my mentee (perhaps that was the point all along?) and after seeing my life she decided to explore other options besides high tech...
And the "externship" that I went on right after my own graduation dramatically changed my life. Thank you, Class of '47.
I still wear the ring - the seal is less obtrusive (snobby, arrogant, recognizable, you name it) than our brother school's. Well, and since I've gained weight the ring has actually been stuck on my finger. I'll close with the goofiest yet truest line from the fight song: Thou hast been a kindly mother, great fulfiller of our dreams.
This rant originally written 25 May 1999, moved to this location 26 March 2000, and the ring is still stuck on my finger...
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