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As an aside, I've spoken with several classmates who were interviewed by Mr. Pitkin, and only spoke glowingly of their experiences at Reed. I guess that's not news.

That is a dangerous, dangerous slippery slope. That's why this is terrible, awful journalism. Reed should not be on the defensive on this. Everyone in Portland, and reedies in particular, should go on the offensive to hold their local media to task, Blatant lying, distortion through omission, and intentional deception should be beneath a widely read publication. It shouldn't even be on a blog.

Great example: Mr. Pitkin made up a fantastical holiday called "Nitrous Day", where students use nitrous oxide as their celebration. Reality: we hold a nerdy spring party called nitrogen day, celebrating the world's most abundant element, but really celebrating the sunny days. We even have t-shirts with puns on chemical symbols for nitrogen.

When confronted with this distortion, reedies were told that they'd correct "nitrous" to "nitrogen". Well, what about the clear goddamn lie that went with it, that was obviously inextricably linked to the other fabrication. Oh, sorry, silent on that one. Liars.

posted 5 years ago
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I second this comment. Moreover, it isn't just Reed or Portland. Check opiate use over history in Europe and the US, and you find that it is highly connected to the presence of war in the countries that produce or can produce those drugs. The 1980s, late sixties, early 70's, now. Vietnam, first Afghan war, second Afghan war.

It's NOT a comment against these actions, don't read it as that if you're tempted to. It is just a comment that heroin problems are as much a matter of availability in a society not really well-versed in how to deal with it that causes this, more than a college culture, or a high school culture (where the problem in this case, started).

posted 5 years ago
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You have no idea what you are talking about. Ever heard of the naked mile at Michigan? Just one example. Do a google search before you make claims of exceptionalism.

That's first. Second, as you may or may not realize, Renn Fayre (proper spelling) cannot "counter" claims, or realities, about academic standards. I am a Reed graduate, and I've taught at an Ivy League school, and I can assure you, Reed was more rigorous, and more difficult, not only than undergrad at an Ivy, but more difficult and rigorous than graduate school there as well. Moreover, campus is actually closed to the public at all times, as it is private property. The college just restricts ALLOWED visitors during Renn Fayre. And we restrict the campus to protect our students. No college, not just Reed, wants lots of off-campus folks attending a college party, as when they get rowdy or cause damage, they are harder to find, and hold accountable.

I really wish people would actually try to learn about the school before being so judgmental, and then if they do, offer a fair assessment. I can't tell you how dismaying it is as a Reedie who loves his school to constantly feel such condescension and emnity from the people of the city I call home.

posted 5 years ago
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I really hope people will start learning the truth before accusing others of being spoiled or arrogant.

Here's the truth: half, HALF of Reed students are on full financial aid. I dropped out of high school, then found the right track in life, and took some courses at a local university, and got good grades and SAT scores. Reed accepted me, gave me a full need-based scholarship (like HALF of the students there) and then paid for me to attend Oxford for my junior year. Thanks to Reed's generosity, I was able to attend Oxford, and was accepted to graduate school at Harvard. And I was a high school dropout from a broken home.

What's more, I, like so many of my classmates, never touches drugs, and never wanted to. I didn't even have a beer until I was 23.

Stop, please, please stop pretending that you are an expert on our college, and our backgrounds, when you are not. Can't you all see that you are clearly off-base, and offending good, hardworking young people? I'm told time and again we don't fit in, we're arrogant, we're all rich, etc. Well, I'm none of those things, but it seems people in Portland already know me once they know where my degree is from. I can't believe how arrogantly WE are treated, in that it doesn't seem we are granted the dignity to earn our own identities if we went to Reed. Instead, we are lumped into one homogeneous mass, all with the same background, the same income, the same social failings, and the same attitudes and personalities.

We don't do that to anyone else at Reed, and no such behavior would ever be tolerated there. Don't do it to us.

posted 5 years ago
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