On March 11th I nearly lost my mind. Two days earlier Denison University alerted students and parents that spring break would be extended, and if possible, students should pack up their dorm room. I sent Mark some boxes and instructed him how best to pack up a freshman year by himself. I told him he could still go home with new friends to Pittsburgh for spring break as planned. I was checking in with my son Thomas studying abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, in the hotspot of the pandemic, who was desperately arguing to let him stay put. On the evening of the 11th President Trump announced to the nation that flights from Europe would be halted, the NBA announced the cessation of their season and Tom Hanks announced his positive Covid test. Suddenly we had to figure out how to get our son Thomas home, we said goodbye to our beloved Lakers and their first winning season in 10 years, and I had to tell Mark he couldn’t go to Pittsburgh. Was Thomas going to be stuck in Europe? Was Mark’s freshman year really getting cut short? Famous actors and NBA stars can get Covid 19? Something that was out there was now here. We had entered a new reality.
That is why I am writing this letter to you Adam Weinberg. What I did not fully grasp BEFORE, was how much I would hope for and rely on information. Any nuggets would do. I got chaos, obfuscation and ego, as usual, from the White House. I gave them a chance, at least. What I got from Denison University was consistency, clarity, and coherence. Granted, Denison’s mission has lower stakes than state and national governments. They make decisions affecting far fewer people. The stakes were high for the entire Denison community, however, and students and parents were treated to the seriousness and sobriety and personal touch deserved from an institution during a crisis. Naturally, behind the scenes at Denison there must have been tremendous chaos and confusion due to incomplete and limited knowledge about the virus. Yet in every email and video message there were calming words, encouraging words and clear communication about what was known, not known, and plans up to that point. This is what I want when the Big One hits here in Los Angeles. Clarity and calm when, basically, nobody knows anything.
We have been a part of the Denison family for a short time. Mark decided early he would only apply to Denison. You will have to ask him exactly why Denison, if he is even able to articulate his 17-year-old-boy rationale. We are thrilled this is what he chose. My husband and I attended Pomona College and finally we got one of our three kids to choose liberal arts too. Our oldest, Caroline, attended Lehigh University for her own great reasons – finance major, active Greek life, beautiful campus on the east coast. Our son Thomas chose the University of Colorado Boulder for his perfect reasons – triathlon team, endurance training at altitude, 250 majors to choose from. These are great institutions perfect for these kids. But there is something special about a residential college, and I felt from the beginning this would be the right place for Mark. How lucky for us this is where he will be in the post-Covid reality, where supportive adults will be there to encourage and support and challenge students in a strange new world. Keep celebrating the liberal arts colleges! I will too. We believe in you. Good luck this summer preparing (please God!) for a return to campus in the Fall.
Sincerely,
Joan Raney
P.S. I wrote this before George Floyd. Now you are reminded again of your value to the community.