- 3-D Design
- Cell Biology and
- Genetics I: Biotechnology and Society
- Critical Studies of Sports in the Media
- Empires
- Epic Traditions
- Foundations of
International Politics
- Game Theory and Social
Choice: Conflict,
Cooperation and Strategy
- Human Geography of
Global Issues
- Introduction to Creative
Writing: Environmental Writing
- Introduction to Psychology
- Literary Seductions
- Love and Death
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By Hallie Goodman
Hastings, Minnesota
Undeclared
When I received my Macalester registration guide, I was overwhelmed by the number of first-year course choices. Not only did I have to pick a course, I also had to decide whether I wanted to live on the same floor with people in my class. In the end, all my first-year preferences included residential living.
We had the common bond of living together, being in class together and forging ahead into our new college world together.
-Hallie Goodman |
Having waited eagerly to find out who my new roommate would be, I was stunned to receive my dorm assignment-a single room. I arrived on campus feeling a great deal of apprehension, worried that I would be left with no one to talk to, eating alone, walking to class by myself.
I soon found I had nothing to worry about. From my first night in the dorm, I was surrounded by both the History and Media Studies sections for our course, U.S. Jews at the Margin. Instead of everyone staying closeted in their rooms, doors remained wide open, introductions were made, and friendships began. The class consisted of people from all over the United States and other countries, including Puerto Rico, Senegal and Cyprus. We had the common bond of living together, being in class together and forging ahead into our new college world together.
We met our professors as a group. We descended on the library together. After class, we trouped en masse to lunch. One night, nearly everyone from class ventured off campus by bus, light rail and taxi for the midnight showing of Harry Potter at the Mall of America. Wednesday nights were class movie showings, where we met in a more laid-back environment. If we had nothing else in common, we could always discuss the latest Yiddish film we had seen or laugh together at the Marx brothers or Barbra Streisand in Yentl.
Our first year is now behind us. We have all ventured forth, made new friends, participated in new activities and expanded our knowledge. But that bond remains. We walk across campus and see familiar faces that were part of our comfort zone when everything else was daunting and new.
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