Wednesday, September 16, 2020

September 17, 1956

   The date that Dorothy and Ruth and I started college, at Albany State Teachers College, the old campus of course. That was the start of 4 years filled with poverty and classwork and commuting. We did not attend a single college party in those 4 years, at least not Dorothy and me. Ruth lived in a Madison Ave. apartment the last few years and worked after classes, so it's not likely she did either.

   We were greeted by the dean or some official in the context of  the mandated Compulsory Convocation. Not a very encouraging or sympathetic address. He told us to look to the person on our left, and then the one on our right. Our Class of 1960 was the largest the college had ever admitted; there would not be room for everybody to stay. So one of us would be gone before the end of the year. Flunking out was a regular and predestined occurrence back then. 

    I was seated between Dorothy, who was smarter and a more diligent student, and Ruth, who was very ambitious. I had a sinking feeling, which lasted for the full four years. 

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