May 11, 2008
the davie popular
5/11/08
A few transitions happening at our glorious alma mater, and all three bear mentioning. And I'm not even talking about the excellent Holden Thorpe being named Chancellor of UNC, which is a big deal for those of us in his age group. I watched a Heels game in a hotel room with Holden, and he is not only a top-notch leader for Carolina, he also knows when Tyler isn't moving across the paint to provide secondary defense.
But here's our personal stuff. First off, Tessa and I are beyond over the moon that our nephew Sam applied to UNC in the hardest admissions year in history and GOT ACCEPTED!
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me, Lucy and Sam at the Morehead sundial, March 2007
We can't wait to be Creepy Aunt 'n' Uncle™ coming down to Chapel Hill every weekend we can, thoroughly embarrassing Sam until he has to sit us down and say "look, I really love you guys, I do, but..."
Passing Sam on I-95 on his way out of North Carolina is our mentor (and minister) Peter Kaufman. This is a huge loss for UNC, and it's doubtful they even know it yet. After battling the administration for a long time, the University of Richmond made him an offer nobody could have refused, and thus he's taking his show up to Virginia, where we hope to keep teaching his class each year.
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Peter introduces Tessa, March 2004
The term "dying breed" is thrown about like a sad cliché, but that's what Peter is: a true iconoclast that held thousands of 20-year-olds under his sway, if only for a few months. He is not the most political, or politic, teacher in the world, and no doubt left many of his colleagues throwing their books across the room after some arguments.
But these colleagues weren't fit to carry his water; and now that I'm in a position to give money and time to UNC, I can call things the way I see them. Peter was a huge feather in Carolina's cap, a published, brilliant thinker with huge swaths of expertise and huge swaths of doubt. At our wedding, when he shouted out his benediction in ancient Hebrew, it felt as if the words fell from the sky in glorious rapture. His absence on the quad should be mourned.
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The Kaufman Benediction made Chopin freak out
And lastly, our buddy Ehren graduated from Carolina today. But here's the thing - he actually left school many years ago and was finishing by correspondence. His very sweet girlfriend Tammy planned a surprise party at a park in Brooklyn and a ton of friends showed up at noon to celebrate his commencement.
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Lindsay and Ehren at the farm, September 2005
Problem was, Ehren was not there, and couldn't be reached by cell phone. Nobody knew where on earth he was, and as more people gathered, the weirder it got. Turns out he had attended a bachelor party for another Carolina grad the night before, and the rumor was they were still opening bottles of tequila at 4am. He finally surfaced later in the afternoon.
Thus Ehren not only missed his original graduation back in the '90s, but also missed his surprise graduation today due to tequila, which, in my book, is PURE ROCK AND ROLL. I raise a shot of Don Julio 1942 Anejo for Ehren's effervescence, I raise a glass of ancient wine for Peter's constancy, and I raise an ice-cold Coca-Cola (like Roy has) for my nephew Sam's initiation into the fold that has kept us warm for lo so many years.
Posted by Ian Williams at May 11, 2008 11:02 PMCongratulations to Sam! He must be a superstar.
I love that Chopin was right up there with the wedding party. Bless his little heart. Your Chopin posts are some of my favorites -- I miss him!
chopin was herding the wedding party.
Congrats to Sam (and Ehren---three of my UNC hours came via the correspondence school).
Loved Peter Kaufman's Religion class in undergrad - great stuff!
Congratulations to all! This time of year always makes me nostalgic for my beloved Chapel Hill and Carolina. *sigh* I only hope that Caleb and (introducing our newest son!!) Grant Campbell are able to attend one day.
Even though I don't know any of you and haven't ever been to the UNC campus, that was fascinating and hopeful reading, so congratulations, Ehren, Holden, and Sam!
there you go again - making me regret that I didn't go to unc.
and nice job sam.
Congratulations to Sam and Ehren -- you're both "pure rock and roll!"
religion 30 was my favorite class at chapel hill. kaufman is a huge loss. i can understand him bolting for an ivy, but richmond? what in the world did they offer him? relgion dept chair?
I saw an article last month about Dr. Kaufman leaving (and posted my bittersweet feelings about it here). He had started the Scholars' Latino Initiative at UNC. Richmond provides financial aid for illegal immigrants, and this is not allowed in the UNC system. Possibly, at Richmond he has more of an opporunity to increase his impact in this arena with a SLI and more there.?
Congrats to your nephew. It was a sad day in our house when my sister didn't get in out-of-state...almost had to have my UNC tatoo removed, I was so disappointed! One reason we moved back to NC ia so our kids will be in-state applicants when the time comes! However, even in-state kids have a tough time getting in...so Sam must be quite a kid to apply from outside of NC.
Congrats to Sam and Ehren! How fun it will be for you guys to relive the UNC experience through Sam for the next 4 years (watch out Sam :)
Let us know when he finds out where he's living then we can all wax nostalgic about moving into the dorms our freshman year.
One of the perks of being a Senior Marshall was breakfast with the Chancellor before graduation. Facing a long, early-morning drive, my parents were going to skip it until I guilted them into coming. Of course we partied late into the night and I spent the night at my boyfriend's. I can still remember the wake up call from my parents - who were of course at the breakfast. So here's to you Ehren - and Sam - for my personal stroll down memory lane today!
Congratulations to Tanya on the birth of a new baby boy! Hooray for Sam! Hooray for Ehren! Hooray for Holden!
Hey, thanks Rebecca! :)
Bear with me. . . is Sam the son of Dennis McFarland whose books I enjoyed so much? If not, I am just getting my xtcianians mixed up. If I am right, I have been reading your blog for entirely too many years and have officially become Creepy Blog Reader (TM)!!!
Congrats to Tanya!
Wow. Thanks, Ian, and congratulations to Sam, who seems to be a remarkable young man and a great addition to the Tarheel fold. I would offer up this one piece of advice: go to classes, occasionally listen to authority figures, and don't sleep through any tests. You can spend 7 years in Chapel Hill if you want to, but just get your degree first.
Ian, I eagerly anticipate bringing my particular brand of Pure Rock 'n' Roll to the Jartacular in less than a fortnight.