Pearls and Cashmere

As a student body with a strong sensibility towards social justice, we believe it is our responsibility to show Ms. Spurzem exactly what the Smith student body is like. Work together, Smithies. Let's send a message.
Class of ‘09. Biology major. Hubbardite forever. White. Heterosexual. Recovered Catholic/Atheist. Lower middle class. Raised in single parent home. 4.0 GPA in high school. Decent, but not spectacular, SAT scores. Love yoga, baking, hiking, and long walks on the beach. Ambitious. Activist. Currently in grad school. Less idealistic than I used to be, but still think I can change the world for the better. I chose Smith because I knew it produced confident, intelligent, opinionated women. I wanted to be one of those women. I am humbled and honored to now call myself a Smith alumna.Smith helped me grow both intellectually and personally. Smith challenged me on a daily basis. I was forced to decide what my opinions were and to defend them intelligently. I learned who I was and what I thought. I consider the diversity of the Smith student body to be a tremendous asset. How can one grow if one is not exposed to new ideas, experiences and world views?The new Smith student body that you despair of (including its lesbians, international students on financial aid, and low-income women of color who are the first in their family to go to college) are the people that I respect and admire more than anyone else in the world. The people that you deride are my best friends and my role models. I am very proud to be part of this generation of Smithies. As for marrying an Amherst man, there’s slim to no chance of that happening for me (no offense to my friends that went there). My current boyfriend is thoroughly wonderful. I can’t imagine a better partner, and guess what? He doesn’t even have a bachelor’s degree (…yet). Ms. Spurzem, I laughed when I read your letter. I thought it had been submitted as  a joke. The views you expressed are offensive and outdated. Are you sure you didn’t actually graduate in the ’30s? For the record: This sweater is cashmere. I got it for free at a clothing swap.

Class of ‘09. Biology major. Hubbardite forever. White. Heterosexual. Recovered Catholic/Atheist. Lower middle class. Raised in single parent home. 4.0 GPA in high school. Decent, but not spectacular, SAT scores. Love yoga, baking, hiking, and long walks on the beach. Ambitious. Activist. Currently in grad school. Less idealistic than I used to be, but still think I can change the world for the better. 

I chose Smith because I knew it produced confident, intelligent, opinionated women. I wanted to be one of those women. I am humbled and honored to now call myself a Smith alumna.

Smith helped me grow both intellectually and personally. Smith challenged me on a daily basis. I was forced to decide what my opinions were and to defend them intelligently. I learned who I was and what I thought. I consider the diversity of the Smith student body to be a tremendous asset. How can one grow if one is not exposed to new ideas, experiences and world views?

The new Smith student body that you despair of (including its lesbians, international students on financial aid, and low-income women of color who are the first in their family to go to college) are the people that I respect and admire more than anyone else in the world. The people that you deride are my best friends and my role models. I am very proud to be part of this generation of Smithies. 

As for marrying an Amherst man, there’s slim to no chance of that happening for me (no offense to my friends that went there). My current boyfriend is thoroughly wonderful. I can’t imagine a better partner, and guess what? He doesn’t even have a bachelor’s degree (…yet). 

Ms. Spurzem, I laughed when I read your letter. I thought it had been submitted as  a joke. The views you expressed are offensive and outdated. Are you sure you didn’t actually graduate in the ’30s? 

For the record: This sweater is cashmere. I got it for free at a clothing swap.

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