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Coming to Macalester
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Transferring from the U of M to Macalester
I transferred to Macalester in my junior year, coming from the U where I was not very happy with their elementary education program. Since I grew up in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood, I was a commuter and didn't get as involved in campus activities as many other students.
Kay Crampton Johnson
A whole new world
For a small town girl, Mac opened a whole new world. I remember Calista Olds as a person and her classes; the Brahms Requiem; singing with the symphony; Mrs. Turck’s breakfast; doing a recording; Morton’s church music class; Classes with Mitau (“Politics is good”); Dupre, Armajani, Holmes; introduction to the international outlook, including the Canadian American Conference; being introduced to so much that Weyauwega didn’t offer; how the professors cared -- everybody at Mac had somebody who cared about them; a world-renown astronomer from the U saying after an hour’s lecture, “But none of this may be true”; traveling to Illinois for a Christian students’ conference; the old 1930s cars we rode around in, like Sam Baez’ Hudson Hornet; and dorm life that led to all the contacts and long-term friendships.
Lois Keeney Rhoades
I knew it in high school
My first visit to the Mac campus was during my high school years. My dad, Ken Murphy, was a sports writer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. I spent one day with him while he interviewed some football players on the St. Paul private college campuses. During that time I wandered around three campus grounds. I was totally impressed with Mac. During my junior year in high school, I needed to interview a student on campus majoring in a field of interest to me. I knew I wanted to teach, so I set up an appointment with an elementary education major from Macalester. Best decision I every made, "Mac" (underline Mac). My parents wanted me to experience dorm life, since they attended college away from home, so I spent my sophomore year in Bigelow Hall. I will always cherish my education from Macalester, my dorm year and my years of elementary teaching. It couldn't have been any better.
Judith A. Murphy Masse-Kaffine
My father’s pride
The awesome feeling I felt the first day of college remains with me today. I was the first in my family, on both my Father and Mother's side, to attend college. I remember my father's pride as I left for college. The next memories are of the friends I met at the Student Union. Though much time has passed since then, we have remained great friends.
Dixie Lee Douglas Schamens
My first meal in the cafeteria
A funny memory of my first day at Mac was with Mrs. Caine, the wife of Vice President of Macalester, Dr. Caine, who was my host when I was met at the airport, brought to campus and to have my first meal in the United States! We went through the Cafeteria line, where I was offered all sorts of food! Not aware that the offerings were to help with choices, I accepted all that was offered feeling that to refuse was not polite! After two full trays, Mrs. Caine commented, “My Sally, you must be really hungry!” My retort was, “Not really, I did not want to offend the cooks for refusing what they were offering!” Mrs. Caine laughed with me and since then was my friend and teacher — teaching a lot of things including how to use a vacuum cleaner.
Rosalind (Sally) Lorenzana
Santos Moldwin
Why I chose Mac
My father’s father saw no reason for sons to leave the farm but my father did and became an engineer. My father saw no need for girls to attend college, but I could live at home in South Minneapolis if I could cover my other expenses. I chose Mac partly for its tuition scholarship but also because it had no sororities or fraternities. Mac had a big sister/big brother program. My big sister took me to all of her activities. A carload of us who graduated from Roosevelt High School rode each day to campus. We made good use of the off-campus lounge, the coffee shop, and the library. I worked at the library too.
Corinne E. Johnson Nyquist
From Montana to Minnesota
Moving from Montana to Minnesota was a cultural shock for me. Arriving on campus in my tailored slacks and western shirt with pearl buttons, I was later told I made quite an impression. I’m still not sure if that was good or bad.
Ramona Bole Kaszas
The other 16 hours of a day
My first memory of Macalester occurred a few months before I enrolled, while talking to a long-time friend and Mac graduate, Dick Stright ’54. At that time, I was enrolled at the University of Minnesota, majoring in finance. I asked Dick, “Why would I want to attend Mac rather than receive a business degree from the U.?” His answer: “You only work six to eight hours a day; what are you going to do with the other 16 hours?” Obviously, his answer bore out the value of a small college liberal arts education.
Daniel (Earl) Hazen
Attacked by hay fever during orientation
Attending freshman orientation at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi, and having one of the worst attacks of hay fever ever — sneezing, runny nose, water eyes. What a beginning!!
Ramona Bole Kaszas
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