<p>So, okay, I know some folks, and some alums aren't going to like this article, have trouble with the humor, and the deliberate, somewhat over-the-top stereotyping.</p>
<p>Myself? I thought it was GREAT!</p>
<p>"Sitting there that night, it dawned on me: This is who will be running the country when I am an old woman. I knew, right then, that we'd all be better off when these brave-new-world citizens were in charge."</p>
<p>How I learned to fear and admire young women
By Kimberly Marlowe Hartnett</p>
<p>NOTE: * Mini - I deleted the text of the full article and found and inserted the link. Please abide by the TOS rules on posting copyrighted material:
"Please do NOT post copyrighted material in our forum. Examples of copyrighted material include articles from publications or websites, book excerpts, or any other content which you have not created yourself. Fair use allows brief excerpts, e.g., a sentence or two, from copyrighted material for the purposes of review and commentary; please do not post massive excerpts from any source."
Thanks, Mod JEM *</p>
<p>I agree with you on the article, Mini. I particularly enjoyed the underwear quote, and hope to remember it to use myself at some appropriate moment. </p>
<p>Although I agree in part with Mini, I disagree with the way the author describes Smithies at the beginning of her article. Lest some poor young high school girl read that and feel that all Smithies smoke cigarettes, have piercings all over their bodies, and are known as gum popping she-wolves. Some may take less than a positive meaning if they don't understand the real meaning of the article. It is, in fact, what Mini says it is; a deliberate, over-the-top stereotyping of Smith students. I would just hate for the wrong message to be delivered to potential Smithies and their families. Thus, my letter to the editor:
[quote]
Dear Editor,</p>
<p>It was with great dismay that I read the article entitled "How I Learned To Fear and Admire Young Women" by Kimberly Marlowe Hartnett. Although I believe that Ms. Hartnett meant no harm while attempting to define Smith students, I believe that any young high school girl looking into all-women's colleges would be turned off by the depiction set forth in the article. </p>
<p>I have a daughter who attends Smith, and have had the privilege of meeting many of her "Smithie" friends. May I assure you that none of them are gum-popping, sleep-deprived she-wolves smoking cigarettes who have multiple piercings. Well...alright, I'll give her the sleep deprived part. I realize that what the author was trying to do was to explain how bright and articulate Smithies really are, and how proud she was knowing that someday they would become leaders in our world. I just wish she had articulated the first part of her article better, and not tried so hard to set up her real message.</p>
<p>I know I speak for many parents of Smithies when I tell you that we are so proud that our daughters chose a college that puts women first. Smithies are bright, articulate, and yes...not afraid to tell you what they think! Kudos to Smith College for providing these young women with an atmosphere and a belief that they can accomplish anything they put their minds to. Great profs, great housing, great food, and an extremely challenging educational environment...all in one of the nicest, funkiest towns found anywhere, Northampton.</p>
<p>Bright young women reading this should look seriously into applying to Smith, but be prepared to work and play hard. If you believe that you deserve one of the best educational experiences found anywhere on earth, then Smith may be for you!
<p>Yes, the author does reinforce some stereotypes of Smithies that definitely do not describe a lot of women on campus (myself included). But Smith is a very funky, very out-there kind of place (from my brief experience), and I think that prospective students should know that going into it.</p>
<p>It's just my personal opinion being a student here... it's certainly not the majority, but it has a funkier/artsier flavor than an Amherst or a Williams. It's one of the reasons that I chose it, actually.</p>
<p>[but it has a funkier/artsier flavor than an Amherst or a Williams]</p>
<p>The Cidadel has a funkier/artier flavor than Amherst or Williams. :)</p>
<p>No one will argue there are Smithies that are less button-downed, funkier, and artier than many students at some of the more conservative/preppy LACs. I believe what Bjm8 was referring to was the “very out there kind of place” comment. No big deal. All is good. ;)</p>
<p>Little defensive aren’t we? ;) No one mentioned Amherst as being preppy.</p>
<p>The reference was "some of the more conservative/preppy colleges.” </p>
<p>I suppose the Amherst dude who wore madras pants, a Ralph Lauren polo and a pale yellow sweater draped over his neck to class this week was dressed in Goth? :)</p>
<p>{Washington & Lee, Trinity, Colby, Georgetown, and Middlebury]</p>
<p>Wake, William and Mary, Vandy, Bowdoin, Colgate, Hamilton, Dartmouth, Holy Cross. Denison, HWS, Gettysburg, a large portion of Yale, Harvard and Princeton. Bryn Mawr, SMU, Dickinson, Emory</p>
<p>Little defensive aren’t we? No one mentioned Amherst as being preppy.</p>
<p>The reference was "some of the more conservative/preppy colleges.”</p>
<p>I suppose the Amherst dude who wore madras pants, a Ralph Lauren polo and a pale yellow sweater draped over his neck to class this week was dressed in Goth? </p>
<hr>
<p>Did my post sound defensive? That was not my intention.</p>
<p>Some people here are outrageously preppy. Others are funky and artsy. There is plenty of variation, as in most schools. I'd say that Amherst is not as preppy as its reputation.</p>
<p>{Did my post sound defensive? That was not my intention} {I'd say that Amherst is not as preppy as its reputation}</p>
<p>Some more than others, but no college is as preppy as its reputation. We were just having a bit of fun. Don’t take it seriously. My daughter is taking a course at Amherst. Except for the fact only 3 women contribute to the class discussion, two of which are Smithies ;) she enjoys the students, some of which are friends, very much.</p>
<p>I believe that the vast majority do not smoke, enough so that when people illegally smoke inside their House rooms, it provokes Smith's #1 intramural sport, arguing.</p>
<p>About piercings, I have insufficient data but certainly <em>visible</em> piercings as when dressed for class would be a distinct minority.</p>
<p>One can't help but think that the writer of the article arranged elements so as to compose the most dramatic images with which to engage the reader. No question that they're true but how true, or how representative, probably would spark Smith's #1 intramural sport.</p>
<p>I was amazed by how much EVERYONE participates in class discussions in my Amherst courses. Don't know which class your daughter is taking, but it was the thing that shocked me most. All of my courses are very discussion based and everyone partakes. It stinks that your daughter isn't getting to experience that. I am not such a loyalist that I can't identify real flaws with Amherst, but I think the classes are incredible even beyond what I expected.</p>
<p>Sorry for highjacking this thread. I like Smith a lot, too. Every prospective Smithie should know that Northampton is AMAZING.</p>