Tufts in 150 Characters, part 4
How would you describe Tufts in 150 characters or less?
That's the question we've asked thousands of Tufts alumni as the 150^th anniversary of the Tufts University Alumni Association approaches.
We got the idea from Twitter. Our hope has been to invite replies – word pictures, haikus, bits of verse, brief reminiscences – that portray the colorful mosaic that is Tufts.
The response has been remarkable. A few criticized the grammar of the question. (Yes, it should be 150 characters or "fewer" – Ed.) But many more expressed great enthusiasm for the assignment.
Below are some of the very creative, colorful, and sometimes poignant replies received to our initial e-mail this past fall.
If you haven't already, we invite you to send us your description of Tufts in 150 characters or less by emailing alumni@tufts.edu.
1 - 40 | 40-80 | 80-120 | 120-155
Painted pictures on the cannon, candlelit faces on the hill, brisk air on the Row, and the perfect snow create the picture of Tufts University.
—Sharie Hudson, A05
—Sharie Hudson, A05
Walt Whitman beneath the trees coupled with ragtime guitar improvisations.
Other students came and went, smiling at the entertainment.
Hills trekking kept us fit as rangers.
Healthier than we could ever have imagined.
Tufts Funiversity (just the way it read on the car stickers.)
—R.J. Leupold, A72
Other students came and went, smiling at the entertainment.
Hills trekking kept us fit as rangers.
Healthier than we could ever have imagined.
Tufts Funiversity (just the way it read on the car stickers.)
—R.J. Leupold, A72
Lifelong friends + lifelong learning = a life full of blessings and rewards
—Weslie Stubbs Robinson, J79
—Weslie Stubbs Robinson, J79
Tufts to me is a place that is international in focus, with a strong service orientation running through the schools that all provide a premiere liberal arts education.
—Robert C. Ayles
—Robert C. Ayles
A symphony of student movement, high aspirations, voices containing
invincibility, laughter, walks through the cutting winds of winter,
extreme focus, joy!
—Harry Nord
invincibility, laughter, walks through the cutting winds of winter,
extreme focus, joy!
—Harry Nord
The light Charles Tufts lit upon the Hill in 1852
Today shines brightly around the world.
—Paul Leyton, A50
Today shines brightly around the world.
—Paul Leyton, A50
I always enjoyed that Tufts was an open community, no hierarchy of classes (freshman etc.) students and faculty walking the campus greeting each other, including faculty and President Wessell’s wife, Marion, who enjoyed talking with students. Also, the encouragement of faculty for students not to hesitate in coming to their office if they had a problem or question. And, I especially remember having a meeting with the Dean of Students who offered his hand in greeting as I entered his office for a meeting—I will skip telling what the meeting was about! Tufts, a great environment to learn many things.
—Ken Barclay, A62
—Ken Barclay, A62
1970—a time of student unrest, knowing we could remake the world—Tufts /accepted/ us: believing in us as persons-learners-contributors to our community.
—Maggi Murdock
—Maggi Murdock
High autumn. An English class, with steam for breath, discussing Hawthorne under a blazing tree in front of East Hall. Library aroma on a wet day. Passion, tranquility, learning.
—Esther Rudis, G74
—Esther Rudis, G74
Cinder block walls, phones in the halls, freshman frights
Learning the ropes, hanging with dopes, sophomore delights
JYA, then senior at last
First job, first apt., study, friends, and out with a blast
—Kathryn Pierce Dietz, J76
Learning the ropes, hanging with dopes, sophomore delights
JYA, then senior at last
First job, first apt., study, friends, and out with a blast
—Kathryn Pierce Dietz, J76
Tufts University is a rich Tapestry that woven together with different color and gender of human being and culture that makes the globalization much simpler solution and thus serving the world of humanity.
—Tofigh Raayai, D.M.D., M.Sc.D., President, Tufts Dental Alumni Association
—Tofigh Raayai, D.M.D., M.Sc.D., President, Tufts Dental Alumni Association
Tufts means enhanced educational opportunity through gifted faculty and meaningful relationships.
Tufts means the long lasting imprint of knowledge gained and friendships.
Tufts means personal wealth through experiences and memories from which one emerges prepared for life's future.
Tufts means one has the college education, no matter what the major or career focus, to successfully contribute to society through example—at work, or in service to community, state, country or world families. Tufts means after many years the flavor lingers and like a very good red wine, is enhanced by time.
—Marjorie Murray Medd, J64
—Marjorie Murray Medd, J64
Pax Et Lux
The Ex College Grad Course Urban Design
Psych lab rat Suzy Q leads me to change the world for special children
With Landscape Architecture
—Nancy S. McLean, ASLA, PIBC, MCIP, CLARB
The Ex College Grad Course Urban Design
Psych lab rat Suzy Q leads me to change the world for special children
With Landscape Architecture
—Nancy S. McLean, ASLA, PIBC, MCIP, CLARB
Comradeship on the Hilltop. Educational advancement. Dorm life among peers. Fraternal life. ATO. Cousens gym. Lectures. Prof. Grey.
—Edward W. Cook, A53
—Edward W. Cook, A53
Posnapalooza, Chinatown pad thai, marathon training, and Jake’s at noon;
Galas, T tokens, Rooftop summers, Match Day, and it all ending too soon.
—Nihil Theodore, Tufts M.D./M.P.H., 2002
Galas, T tokens, Rooftop summers, Match Day, and it all ending too soon.
—Nihil Theodore, Tufts M.D./M.P.H., 2002
Unparalleled passion, knowledge and commitment from professors, staff and students…An intellectual high seared in memory forever.
—Katja Pauwels, GMAP09
—Katja Pauwels, GMAP09
Tufts is...
A walk up the library steps with Goddard Chapel in sight
A sweltering move-in day with teary-eyed parents
A candlelit ceremony during Orientation Week
A three-hour lunch at Dewick
A bumpy ride in the Joey to Davis Square
A blustery walk through the Professors Row wind tunnel
A chai tea and pistachio muffin from The Rez
A sled ride down the President’s Lawn
A numbing run around the quad during NQR
A long night spent in Tisch with 200 of your closest friends
A bone-chilling walk home from swim practice with frozen hair
A candy bag from Jumbo Express
A beautiful spring day with trees in bloom on Boston Ave.
A muddy mosh pit at Spring Fling
A traditional painting of the cannon
A hug from a professor at Commencement
A group of lifelong friends that you first met in South Hall
...is Tufts
—Michelle Caswell, A09
A walk up the library steps with Goddard Chapel in sight
A sweltering move-in day with teary-eyed parents
A candlelit ceremony during Orientation Week
A three-hour lunch at Dewick
A bumpy ride in the Joey to Davis Square
A blustery walk through the Professors Row wind tunnel
A chai tea and pistachio muffin from The Rez
A sled ride down the President’s Lawn
A numbing run around the quad during NQR
A long night spent in Tisch with 200 of your closest friends
A bone-chilling walk home from swim practice with frozen hair
A candy bag from Jumbo Express
A beautiful spring day with trees in bloom on Boston Ave.
A muddy mosh pit at Spring Fling
A traditional painting of the cannon
A hug from a professor at Commencement
A group of lifelong friends that you first met in South Hall
...is Tufts
—Michelle Caswell, A09
It says it all!!
Along the Row -- by John Holmes
—William C. Blanker
Along the Row -- by John Holmes
—William C. Blanker
Freedom; intellectual challenge; Jackson; area colleges; Boston culture; life challenges: Tufts Weekly, working in PR office, Mayoralty.
—Donald W. Nelson
—Donald W. Nelson
In the fall the beauty of the trees on Professors Row
In the winter the crunching march of the V-12 in the snow
In the spring V-E day, hope and the awakening of life
In summer V-J day, how were we to know
There never would be an end to strife
—Hersh W. Libo, M.D., Class of 1948
In the winter the crunching march of the V-12 in the snow
In the spring V-E day, hope and the awakening of life
In summer V-J day, how were we to know
There never would be an end to strife
—Hersh W. Libo, M.D., Class of 1948
Tufts is where I first landed in this country as an adult. Tufts is where I first realized Elephants were significant in my life. Tufts is where I first met my now husband.
—Saskia Meckman, J94
—Saskia Meckman, J94
Tufts affected my life profoundly. I met my husband, and I wrote a paper on the population explosion; this so influenced me that after two biological boys, we adopted a Korean daughter.
—Nancy Worth Mirman, J64
—Nancy Worth Mirman, J64
Robert Frost at Chapel
John Holmes at Packard
reading John Ciardi
Dr. Myrick's green bag
full of Blue Books on Shakespeare
Dr. Blanchard reciting
/A Clerk ther was of Oxenford/
—Jean English Gibran, J54
John Holmes at Packard
reading John Ciardi
Dr. Myrick's green bag
full of Blue Books on Shakespeare
Dr. Blanchard reciting
/A Clerk ther was of Oxenford/
—Jean English Gibran, J54
Tufts was and continues to be a wonderful social, educational and cultural experience for me. Coming from a very small town in rural Massachusetts, Tufts opened my eyes to the world and fostered creativity and motivation to do and be more. I have the benefit of doing business with Tufts today and frequently get to visit the school. While I’m amazed at the newness I see each time, I am equally amazed by the fond memories it brings back. Last year I wanted to name the 10–12 year old basketball team I was coaching the “Jumbos.” Unfortunately, 10–12 year olds do not yet appreciate our wonderful mascot—we ended up the Longhorns.
—Christopher D. Wells
—Christopher D. Wells
Ultimate Frisbee defined our lives at Tufts and our memories are rekindled whenever we play a round of Frisbee golf through campus.
Begin at the hydrant outside West.
Aim for the third lamppost outside Bendetson.
Around the big tree (recently removed, sadly) and back to the flagpole.
Down past Eaton to the tree outside Miner.
Up the hill past Braker to the lamppost near East.
Across the quad, down the library steps, to tap the elephant statue near the library’s entrance.
Over the hill to the lamppost at the entrance to the president’s lawn.
Head up to the back doors of Ballou (disc must hit wood, no metal hardware).
Throw the disc upside down (a hammer) through the wheels of the cannon.
Make a sharp left around Ballou, past Jumbo, and back to the hydrant.
See you on the course!
—Dan (E01) and Allison (A02) Forseter
Begin at the hydrant outside West.
Aim for the third lamppost outside Bendetson.
Around the big tree (recently removed, sadly) and back to the flagpole.
Down past Eaton to the tree outside Miner.
Up the hill past Braker to the lamppost near East.
Across the quad, down the library steps, to tap the elephant statue near the library’s entrance.
Over the hill to the lamppost at the entrance to the president’s lawn.
Head up to the back doors of Ballou (disc must hit wood, no metal hardware).
Throw the disc upside down (a hammer) through the wheels of the cannon.
Make a sharp left around Ballou, past Jumbo, and back to the hydrant.
See you on the course!
—Dan (E01) and Allison (A02) Forseter
Tufts—a place of free thought and valuable insights, guided by experts—for a century and a half.
—Dean Fournier, A56
—Dean Fournier, A56
I had an image of college life that I thought unattainably bright. My
experience at Tufts was so radiant that it rendered that image black
and white.
—Arjun Chawla, B.A. Economics, Class of 2007
experience at Tufts was so radiant that it rendered that image black
and white.
—Arjun Chawla, B.A. Economics, Class of 2007
One humid evening, late, I saw a piercing red window glowing in the Goddard bell tower, a light above, an eternal hope, a thing of unutterable beauty.
—James Harbeck, G05, G08
—James Harbeck, G05, G08
Ascending worn steps on shoulders of giants to vistas of possibility atop the Hill—opportunity burning indelibly in Tufts’ light of contribution.
—Mark R. Ferri A84, F86
—Mark R. Ferri A84, F86
Good times had by all
Life’s Tufts—then you graduate
Best four years ever
—Adrian Wilairat, A01
Life’s Tufts—then you graduate
Best four years ever
—Adrian Wilairat, A01
My 69 words worth:
What fascinated me about Tufts was the coming together of “the varied.” Varied peoples, varied cultures, varied flags, varied views. From politics to peace, from religiosity to spirituality, from hills to flat lawns, from snows to summer, from old world architecture to new world technology Tufts just seemed to embrace and embody the varied. If variety is indeed the spice of life then Tufts is best described as delicious.
—Nalini Srinivasan, F06
What fascinated me about Tufts was the coming together of “the varied.” Varied peoples, varied cultures, varied flags, varied views. From politics to peace, from religiosity to spirituality, from hills to flat lawns, from snows to summer, from old world architecture to new world technology Tufts just seemed to embrace and embody the varied. If variety is indeed the spice of life then Tufts is best described as delicious.
—Nalini Srinivasan, F06
The rawness of youth and insatiable wanting, smoothed and guided by so many knowing hands. Do anything, be anyone. The world unfurled at your feet.
—Caroline Wolter, J01
—Caroline Wolter, J01
Tufts in the '60s: Traditions/transitions, halls/hills, change/growth, joy/heartbreak, mentors/wisdom, moments in time/memories enduring.
—Keith Hagel, A67
—Keith Hagel, A67
Two roads diverged in a spring-green wood,
and I chose the one to a Medford hill
where a columned Hall on the summit stood—
and the change wrought there is a wonder still.
—Joan Monkievich Mountford, J66
—Joan Monkievich Mountford, J66
Winter Spring Summer Fall
Bush Dewick Ballou Hall
Nasty Weather & Bubs Galore
Chi-O Girls on Fraternity Floors
A Capella Makes Me Scream
Fowler's Hair & Shattered Dreams
—Josh Cohen (Class of 2003)
Bush Dewick Ballou Hall
Nasty Weather & Bubs Galore
Chi-O Girls on Fraternity Floors
A Capella Makes Me Scream
Fowler's Hair & Shattered Dreams
—Josh Cohen (Class of 2003)
