The College Charade

‘Wednesday’s child is full of woe....’

Adjusting to college life after aging out of the foster care system, required a system of strategies no teenager, in my opinion, should ever have to employ. I spent four years navigating a space without the benefit of a map, or emotional support. I learned to adapt, always keeping a Plan B simmering on the back burner. Indeed, there were many irons in the fire; and not all were of my own choosing. 

In the 70’s Widener’s campus life was the scene of simultaneous social and racial transitions. It was transforming from a traditional military culture, to the admission of women to Penn Morton College in 1966. At the same time Affirmative Action opened doors for African Americans to have a path to success via a college education. Widener was predominantly white and male oriented; a relatively  private institution, with few African Americans. I got a sense the administration did not want us there, and the school in general, showed in not-so-subtle ways, that they did not feel we belonged.

Project Prepare came to the rescue. The program directors Dr. Alonzo Cavin and Dr. Eugene Sparrow placed relentless pressure on us. Not only were we to excel academically, but it was stressed that we should  integrate everything we could; every fraternity, sorority, sport or extra-curricular activity on campus. They even suggested we breach the cafeteria lunch tables in order to ‘encourage’ conversation and promote a cultural exchange. It was a little rough initially. Resistance to change. Traditions. Status Quo, etc., etc. In the end, things have a way of 'coming around' when given a chance.

As a result of these directives, I pledged Kappa Theta Delta, a sorority I cared not an iota about, as its culture was completely foreign to my lived experience up to that point. Interestingly enough, I became Rush Chairman in my senior year, and I must confess, I rather enjoyed hearing the pledges chant “Sister Germaine, what can I do? As I am now, so once were you.”  I became a cheerleader, having executed a perfect ‘flying stag’ jump at try-outs. The funny thing is, to this day I understand nothing about football. Back then, I just stood in line, and shook my pompoms whenever the team captain shook hers; and that added up to two expectations fulfilled.

---

Enjoying this? The full blog is available on Substack. Subscribe below to continue

reading.