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DEAR MOM

Mary Harrison

Dear Mom, Sept. 30, 1956

How is everything at home? I miss everybody.

Things are horrible up here. I certainly think that this year is
going to be nothing but a waste of time and money. Why people try
to convince you that you are absolutely nowhere without a college
education is beyond me. Honestly!! Now, don't get upset; I'll stick
it out this year for your sake, and perhaps I may learn something that
will help me in my later life, though personally, I doubt it.

Mother, frankly, nobody knows what is going on around here!
I mean, seriously!! At least the teachers had some intelligence in high
school. Now, you won't believe this, but half of the professors up
here do absolutely nothing but tell dirty jokes. Honest, it's true! And
if they're not doing that, they're talking so fast that a human machine
couldn't possibly take notes.. UGH! And here is the most drastic
thing of all; I have to take a language!! I won't even attempt to de-
scribe the horrors of that course. I've decided that they give fresh-
men the toughest professors of all just to harden us up for what lies
ahead.

Right now, all freshmen are "Rats," which means we have to
wear a ridiculous beanie and follow certain "rules" given to us by the
sophomores, who think they know it all. We were told that this pro-
cedure was to get us used to college life and traditions. Really, all
it is is disorganized persecution. I was punished yesterday. Now, I
realize that what I did deserved some sort of reprimand because I
changed the words to the college Alma Mater and made it into a song
about the chairman of the "Rat Court." The song was kind of nasty
and we all sang it before dinner. But still, I don't think that I should
have to scrub the steps of my dorm with a toothbrush. This just goes
to show you that maturity is absolutely nil up here.

What discourages me even more is the social (?) life. We had an
informal (mixed) get-together night before last. It was so informal
that most of the boys forgot to come. Those that did manage to shuffle
in congregated in a corner and remained glued there all evening.
You may be pleased to know that I am considered a wild social but-
terfly because I danced once around the floor. Not really dance, it