Dan DaranciangThe quad erupting with Frisbees. WILD. Productions in Edison Theatre. Happy Hour in Bowles Plaza. Big lecture halls and teensy discussion classes. The old dorms on the South 40 where you have to brave the hallway to get to the bathroom, or the new dorms where you have to brave your suitemate’s wrath for taking too long in the shower. Living and learning at Wash U. evoke so many memories that it’s hard to pick one as the most special of all. Yet, seniors reminisce with pleasure about their tenure at Wash U.
“I could not have gone to a better school,” said senior Deepti Ramakrishnan. Some of her favorite memories came from her involvement in productions like Diwali and Carnaval, but also the drama department.
“I’m not even a theater major and I got to be in a play!” said Ramakrishnan, who acted in “The Good Person of Szechwan.” “The reason I like all these activities is because I’m in a setting where I meet so many people at the same time.”
Senior Andrea Perry also fondly remembered situations where she could make new friends.
“My favorite memory is having dinner at professor [Susan] Stiritz’s house,” she said.
At this dinner, students from her women’s studies classes got together to eat a potluck dinner and have a discussion afterwards in the professor’s living room. Perry especially liked this dinner because its personal setting broke the formality barrier of the classroom.
“It’s taking a classroom experience to the next level,” said Perry. “It’s more intimate.” She added that she made one of her biggest groups of friends through Stiritz’s classes.
Other students focus on the mishaps and funny moments that make them laugh a lot harder now than they did at the time. Senior Adam Messinger remembered a new learning experience from his first year.
Messinger had never used a microwave before college because his parents didn’t have one. One day, he put his mug in and turned his back to do something else. Soon he heard a loud pop and saw a bright flash out of the corner of his eye.
“There was soot everywhere,” Messinger said, laughing. “Apparently you’re not supposed to put metal in a microwave.” His roommate never let him forget that one. “It’s a true growing experience in college to learn how to use new appliances,” he said.
And on move-in day, Messinger and his roommate were so preoccupied with trying to be nice to each other that they didn’t notice that the rug they’d picked out together at the fraternity rug sale had a large stain on it and had a crease which tripped his roommate often throughout the year.
“Be mean to your roommate and you’ll have no problems,” he joked.
Senior Ozie Goodwin recalled many moments that were embarrassing to him at the time, but that he now finds very amusing. He remembered when he was in Thurtene honorary and was instructing all the groups who were to participate in the carnival to turn in their flame “retarded” certificates.
“I spent the entire meeting saying ‘flame retarded certificates,'” he said, shaking his head.
As an RA, Goodwin held a particularly memorable floor meeting to address some kind of liquid on the floor next to the toilets in one of the floor bathrooms.
At the floor meeting, Goodwin said, “And whoever is pissing around the toilets, please stop. That’s gross.” Apparently, however, Goodwin had misjudged the situation-the toilets had just been leaking water.
“You shouldn’t be afraid to laugh at yourself,” advised Goodwin.
Some seniors will remember the food and the good times that came with it. Senior Erin Harkless said she will miss Center Court Brunch.
“I go basically every Saturday,” she said. “And as I’m getting ready to leave Wash U., I’m saddened by the fact that I will no longer have made-to-order omelets available. I know I can make them myself of course, but they won’t have that skill and love that comes from the Center Court staff!”
Most of all, the seniors will miss their friends.
“There’s something about college,” said Messinger, “because unlike any other time in your life, you live with your friends. I almost feel like I’ve known the people from freshman year since I was in elementary school.”
“I’ve learned a lot from this community by being part of this community,” said Goodwin. “I’ll be sad to leave.”