Date nears for seniors to be released into the wild
Whitman College is one week away from graduation. The campus is bursting with expectation and excitement, students happily exchanging numbers and charting out their summers. In the offices of the President and the Dean of Students, however, faculty and staff are making different preparations.
“It’s almost here,” says Donna Cummins. “The Great Migration.”
Cummins is referring to one of the most important events in the life of a Whitman College student: the release of a graduating senior into the wild.
“The release is definitely something to watch,” says Cummins. “These students have been kept in captivity for the past eighteen years, their needs closely monitored and wants satisfied. They’ve been fed a steady diet, been carefully socialized, and participated in numerous experiments. We’ve done all that we can for them. The real test is what they do out there without us.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean that the new alums are on their own: each individual is fitted with a radio collar for further observation during their first few years of freedom. This move, while drastic, is considered necessary, as the sudden transition from a stable environment to an uncertain future can come as a shock to graduates. Although most adjust after time, there have been reports of twenty-somethings suffering from depression, early onset of alcoholism, and repeated viewings of Zach Braff films.
But as Cummins explains, it’s part of the circle of life.
“We can’t take care of them forever. It’s difficult for many students to adjust, having imprinted like that. But they have to leave sometime.”
Although this is an annual event, many administrators still find the process difficult.
“It’s so hard to say goodbye,” says Dean of Students Chuck Cleveland, wiping a tear from his eye. “My babies are all grown up.”
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