February 10, 1056 [sic]Dear Mom and Dad,
Received your letter yesterday and am I ever proud to be able to say my brother was Mayor of Syracuse - even for a day. All my friends have been avoiding me since then for that is about all I can talk about and they are, rightfully so, darn sick of hearing about it. (that's lousy sentence construction for a potential English major!)
But a new topic of conversation has arisen in the form of a rise in tuition. As of next fall it will cost one $1950 to spend about eight months at this fair institution. This has set me thinking - along lines which I have been traversing for a few weeks - and I have come up with an idea which strikes me as being rather ingenious. How would you like your daughter to spend her junior year "abroad" in this country? To explain myself - junior year at some fairly large, co-ed university and returning to the "holy mountain" for senior year? I realize this idea will come as quite a shock to my staid parents but if you think about it for a while it won't sound quite as crazy as it seems at first.
As much as I love Mt. Holyoke, all my friends here, and my studies, I feel something is lacking as far as a well-rounded education (a term we hear often around here) is concerned. This little plan would actually enable me to have my cake and eat it too, we're all naturally very curious about what life in a big university would really be like and I, for one, would like to do something to ease this curiosity.
This idea has been mulling around in my mind for some time now, as I said, but I thought it was too late to contemplate anything like this for next year and senior year would be definitely out as I want to graduate from here. However, this $100 rise in costs (which was announced only this morning and then we discovered about it indirectly) made me think twice and then again. This is only the middle of February and with some fast action (but well thought out) it isn't necessarily too late.
I don't know what scholarship opportunities there would be for me at such a university - possibly Syracuse would be the best bet financially. I'll make inquiries and see what I can come up with but what I really wanted was your reaction to such a radical move. I don't really mean your first reaction because I think I know what that would be. Talk it over & think about it!
Now that the bombshell has been dropped - on to more ordinary things. Dartmouth was wonderful. Kept very busy - saw ski jump, slalom, an excellent play, went showshoeing, (wish I'd taken my skiis) [sic] went to a gathering of a bunch of folk music enthusiasts and spent a night atone of the DOC cabins - chaparoned [sic], of course. It was really a fabulous weekend and the fellows drove us home - me to Holyoke and Dick's roommate's girl to Pembroke. It's tough having to study after a vacation like that! By the way, Dick has invited me to go skiing with him during part of Spring vacation at one of the Dartmouth ski lodges in northern Vermont. Nothing definite yet, but will let you know. Edgertons are thinking of a trip to Florida springtime but aren't yet sure. I have an invitation to go there if they don't.
Had a letter from Aaron saying he wanted me back and that I would get a raise but not saying how much. Much as I hate to I'd better write him and find out. He's very casual and some of the kids last year didn't know how much they were getting until they saw their pay checks. I don't want this to happen to me!
Marks supposedly come out today but nothing yet. Don't know how they will be except for a very high three in Physiology. Miss Haywood told me personally that it was a very high 3 - almost a two - but that's no consolation at all. A 3 is a 3 and nothing else.
Am all set with a job for next year - if..... Working five hours a week in the library typing catalogue cards for the measly salary of 50 cents an hour. I could make more in the Post Office but couldn't work as many hours. Also this work will be more fun. I hope.
Guess that's all - please don't get too upset about this switch - I really love it here but think we are living in a highly rarified atmosphere - they do call it an ivory tower and I don't know but what that's right. The people you meet here are a type - not that I don't like this type but I'd like to meet some other types before I say I've had an education.
Let me know what you think. I will do a little research around here (you see this idea is just forming in my own mind. I don't even know what school I would consider) and will keep you posted. With bus travel so cheap and painless (?) perhaps I could work in a trip home for a few days but do let me know your reactions.
Edgy & I worked on our skiis [sic] this P.M. Haven't beening skiing yet but hope to soon. Could have gone this weekend but wanted to get caught up.
Please, please - don't get upset - I'll let you know how things are going.
Love to all,
Liz