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I Was Sold a Dream of Free Laundry

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When I arrived in the fair land of Goucher, I embraced the beautiful idea of free laundry. We may have had crappy machines that made you feel stained (ever-broken, rarely fixed), but they didn’t even require a dime. It was a magical time to be alive. 

But now darkness has agitated our kingdom, and my digital dollars are going down the drain, along with the suds, as the spirit of free laundry evaporates away. My waiting time for a usable washer shrunk like clothes in the machines. During the last quarter my funds were depleted as metaphorical quarters dissipated from my living quarters. The 63 dollar credit we started with was long ago rinsed away. The $15 condolence perk long forgotten, I fear the coming spring will be harder than winter in Westeros. Will next semester’s $48 credits Tide me over? I think not. My clothes may have been laundered but my money was simply washed away.

The Clothesline app does not line dry clothes for me, nay, it fails to even work on my phone. And an app that collects my every location like lint is one that needs to be uninstalled. I should have expected this dream to dry up and become a bleached nightmare. Burnt clothing may be a thing from yesteryear, but now in the Seventh Generation we have been transformed into a land of fire and antipathy, no extraneous burning of sheets needed. The dream of free laundry still lives on in all the socks eaten by the machines, with the hope unpaired socks have found a new home where laundry is still spinning free.

By Max Ravnitzky ‘28

Featured Image Source: Levi Boyer ’28

Zimmer’s 1991 Of Birds and Words: A Modern Reexamination

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I recently re-read Steve Zimmer (class of 1992)’s October 3rd 1991 piece; Of Birds and Words, for a different upcoming Quindecim article, but I also wanted to respond to the philosophical side of his piece. Below are some of my thoughts, which do not necessarily represent SGA, ECO, Quindecim, or any other organization for which I am an officer or member. 

For context, in 1991, Steve Zimmer was the President of the Student Government Association (SGA). The SGA was trying to convince the Goucher administration of a number of student priorities including “diversity and moving towards a more multicultural community,” prioritizing student quality of life, and reducing paper-waste. After years of conversations, then-President Dorsey and some of her administrators pushed rhetoric matching what SGA had been saying in what he describes as a “tape-recording” fashion. Zimmer, my favorite Q writer, argues to be skeptical of the words of the administration, and to continue to fight to make sure that promises are kept in a timeline that is reasonable to students. His argument is crafted into the simile of a bird crashing into a window. 

Zimmer starts to clarify his allegory with the following: “Simply, things are not always as they appear. Even the seemingly unobscured shortcut may be laden with dangers that lurk just beneath the surface. We have one important advantage over birds: the ability to be skeptical. Skepticism is the art of taking a perceived truth and turning it over and over with a critical eye then drawing an informed conclusion about whether the ‘truth’ is actually as it originally appeared.” We have the ability to know and act before we end up crashing like the birds that are currently hitting the windows of Van Meter.

I would argue that on many fronts the current student body finds itself in a similar position and should consider reading Steve’s writing from the 90s. For the juicy details of where I believe these concepts apply, please read part two which is published online.

The last part of Zimmer’s piece talks about the power an individual has on campus: “I give the[m] kudos because without publicity or drawing any attention to themselves one person identified a problem and took simple direct action to rectify the situation. This is precisely the direct action us glory-hungry social activists make big speeches about. And it worked. The birds now recognize glass for the danger it truly is and fly over the Habit Trail, not into it. One person has affected change. The message here is that it is not us podium-pounding attention-seeking “leaders” from the SGA, Cause, ECO, etc. that are going to make a difference. It is each and every one of you, recognizing the need for change and taking action, not in the name of a club, but in the name of making a difference. What we need are more individuals who have the courage, creativity and conviction to put up a piece of paper when a piece of paper needs to be put up, to affect change when changes need to be made.”

I share this quote as I find it inspiring, and I hope that the modern Gopher can live up to the vision that Steve Zimmer lays out. We should be the “Inspiring Global Changemakers” Goucher claims it wants. This can be done in any way you wish– supporting protests, something small like holding the door open for others, or writing a Quindecim article to draw the community’s attention to a problem. 

We in the Goucher community should take more direct action rather than try to be a “podium-pounding attention-seeking ‘leader’’ (in the words of Zimmer) that are usually ineffectual. Now is the time to take the direct action that you know will help make our campus better. 

If any member of the Goucher community needs help to make positive change, you can reach me at Max.Ravnitzky@goucher.edu, or via my SGA email at SGAAcademics@Goucher.edu, or at the ECO email at ECO@Goucher.edu. 

If you are Steven Justin Zimmer (class of 1992) or anyone who can help connect me to him, please reach out to me.

By Max Ravnitzky ‘28

Featured Image Source: The Quindecim via JSTOR

Of Birds and Words: A Modern Reexamination Part II:  

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If you have not already, please read part one of this op-ed. It outlines some of Steve Zimmer’s incredible 1991 piece and ideas that might apply to our current situation. This second part is focused on examples of where I believe we as a community should perhaps be skeptical of the administration and focus our energies on making sure they deliver on their promises. Below are some of my thoughts, which do not necessarily represent SGA, ECO, Quindecim, or any other organization for which I am an officer or member.

After much discussion about the issues relating to missing third spaces (places outside of home and work) especially Alice’s (the removed café in the Athenaeum) and the Gopher Hole (a closed non-alcoholic student bar underneath Mary Fisher), President Devereaux and many senior administrators have made promises to create new spaces and to look into reopening the Gopher Hole. The Gopher Hole has been a forever promised project, but has recently made progress due to long hours of advocacy and planning by SGA, specifically Attorney General Elowyn Ingler and President Christian Houck.

While I give some credit to the administration for installing tables, benches, and hammocks across campus, I know it happened due to SGA and student pressure. This has been a huge boon to the current husk that is our student culture. 

I am also appreciative of Associate Vice President for the Library & Learning Commons, Beatriz Hardy, for supporting the move to 24/7 hours and Director of Public Safety, Tiffany Justice, for implementing the change so quickly. While this is a nice start, there is so much more to be done.

I have no doubt the administration intends to put in more student spaces, but their timelines are too long. The ambitious 2022 Goucher College Campus Master Plan outlines a new student center attached to the Alumni House, to be constructed between 2028 and 2033. However, given financial constraints, I doubt the plan is going to be implemented in a timely manner. Goucher’s administration and Board of Trustees tend to think in terms of years and decades, yet the need for “third spaces” for students is immediate. This shortcoming could be impacting retention and graduation rates, and our ability to attract new students, all of which hurts the college’s financial position. Having a café and a student center are now requirements for a quality college experience in the eyes of many prospective students. We need good student centered spaces to remain competitive. 

The SGA Executive and Legislative Branches are continuing to engage the administration on this issue. All students should be involved in creating such spaces for our community, as it will take all of us working together to revive campus spirit in places new and old. 

To proceed to my academic concerns, I fear the potential for a series of quickly implemented large scale changes at Goucher. We have gone through many such overhauls of how Goucher academia is structured and what is taught. Some major program changes happened as Zimmer was SGA president in 1991-1992. The last major program shift in 2016-2019 ended with the firing and retirement of many key staff and faculty, and its ramifications still haunt the community.

Last week, I was dismayed reading old Q articles about the 2018 Program Prioritization Process (PPP), and thinking back on the numerous conversations I have had with different faculty, administrators, and staff. Olivia Baud’s September 2018 Quindecim piece about a meeting on the then-upcoming PPP lists the people in that meeting, none of whom are still at Goucher. Professor Michael Curry, who is later quoted in the article, is the only one mentioned who remains. Numerous programs of the time were lost and about 50 faculty left within the first two years of this change.

The 2019 Administrative Services Review involved outsourcing Campus Safety (which failed after only a few years) and firing several key administrators/staff. This included ACE staff (Kay Beard and Peejo Sehr) who were beloved enough by the community to have a large scale student movement form around trying to keep them at Goucher. Please find the Q’s coverage of this on its website here and here. 

PPP in combination with the 2019 Administrative Services Review were in my opinion probably a series of hastily-made, stupid mistakes. But due to Covid overshadowing the effects of these changes and the fact that almost every administrator joined Goucher after this, the full negative impact is not understood by the current leadership of Goucher.

With some of the changes already starting, planned, or considered at Goucher and the upcoming search for a new president, I fear that such an ill-thought out upheaval might happen at Goucher in the next few years. We are a bird heading for a glass window without realizing it. I am not sure anyone at Goucher, save maybe a few faculty who have been at Goucher for decades, understand what is ahead. 

Another issue of concern for the student body, especially in these troubled times, is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Goucher has continuously promised investment and prioritization of DEI, but often failed to fully live up to its promises.

As Goucher admits a more diverse student body every year, but the nation and the world becomes more hostile to DEI programs, the students that such programs support, and international students, what needs to be done? 

I am not sure, but a good place to start would be beginning the search to hire more full time professional staff such as a new Chaplin, a full-time VP of the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Excellence (EIE), and several new Center for Race, Equity, and Inclusion (CREI) staff. Currently Dr. Isabel Moreno-López serves simultaneously as Undergraduate Associate Provost and temporary VP for EIE, but her contract for the latter role is soon to expire. 

We should heed the advice of Zimmer and be skeptical of the rhetoric of the administration as we push Goucher to being closer to its ideals. 

This naturally brings me to sustainability at Goucher. According to the Goucher commitment to sustainability webpage, “In May 2011 Goucher completed its first Climate Action Plan (CAP), which set a goal to reduce the college’s greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions 20% by 2020.” My understanding is that Goucher has not measured its GHG emissions since at least 2018. On the reporting platform Second Nature, the last data is from 2017 which shows an approximate halving of our yearly GHG emissions. But I have to assume with more buildings and no further public reporting, our emissions have made negative progress since then. Our neighbor (Towson University) has kept up public reporting from 2007 to the present with continual GHG emissions cuts.

This is merely the tip of this iceberg of several ambitious goals and programs started at Goucher that have halted the last 40 odd years. This happens even as environmentalism has become a long-running theme of the Goucher community with ECO starting in spring of 1990 and Ralph Nader visiting the campus shortly after in spring of 1992. And of course, fascination with the natural world can be traced back to the founding of our institution and to John Goucher. This kind of environmental focus by the Goucher community pops up from the 90s until Covid, when it died. The environmental ideals hold strong in the form of multiple programs and our unique environmental general education requirement. The latest revival of ECO is an attempt to help bring back this culture of environmentalism into the forefront of discussion and action.

  When Kent Devereaux became president, in his first interview with the Q (by Editor-in-Chief Neve Levinson ‘20 and News Editor Jibril Howard ’22), he talked about the need for a sustainability plan and coordination of our sustainability efforts. Current sustainability efforts are not coordinated. Since Goucher’s last Sustainability Coordinator (Daniela Beall) left in 2021, there has been no replacement. I am aware of many public and private promises and efforts related to sustainability that give me significant hope, but I remain skeptical. 

As ECO president, I am trying to make this campus more environmentally conscious and active through education, environmental conversations, direct action, and advocacy. I hope more of the community can join ECO. Or you can follow the ideals of Steve Zimmer and take direct individual action to solve environmental problems on campus.

Another idea that the student body has long complained about is that Goucher focuses more on recruitment and not enough on student quality of life and student retention. We see this in Zimmer’s own article. The administration has recognized and acknowledged this concern and taken some actions either directly or through the Student Success Taskforce (which I now find myself as one of its members). 

With retention from the first year at Goucher to the sophomore year fluctuating between 70% (during covid) and 86% (in 2013) according to its common datasets, the latest publicly reported retention rate of 79% is not bad, but could be significantly better. Our graduation rates within 6 years is poor at 57.17% for the last reported cohort of the entering class of 2018. Although this number was affected by Covid, it is the best publicly available data and it is still about 12% worse than Towson University for the same period of time. Retaining students helps Goucher meet its financial objectives, and the increase in quality of life that is necessary to achieve this is good for students. 

The administration, particularly Associate Vice President for Student Success, Dr. Emily Perl, met with SGA to discuss the issue of retention, what they are doing to address it, and to invite some students to join a couple of committees to work on those issues. This was last academic year (April 2nd, 2025). Since then, I have joined the Student Success Taskforce, appointed Shaun Chaney ’27 to the Board of Trustees Student Success Committee as a non-voting member, and had significantly more conversations with Dr. Perl and other administrators in my new role as Director of Academics. While I cannot talk about confidential conversations, some progress is being made, even if it is not enough.

President Devereaux spoke at the December 3rd,  2025 SGA General Assembly about the future of Goucher. Graduation rates, retention rates, and student satisfaction were mentioned as the focus for the next three years especially as part of the next strategic plan. He talked about including student voices in many key committees and decisions in the shared governance (of students, faculty, administrators, and trustees) structure that is central to liberal arts institutions. President Devereaux specifically brought up how the next presidential search to replace him will have multiple student representatives on it. We need to be skeptical and make sure the actions taken by his administration match these words and promises.

I hope the Office of Institutional Effectiveness gets enough data from its student satisfaction survey for the administration to understand that serious investment into the school and its community needs to happen now.

Obviously, student retention directly relates to a sense of community which is directly connected to the aforementioned need for quality third spaces, and other issues that are beyond the scope of this op-ed. While this common interest and communication from the administration showing a desire to work with SGA on this issue is great, I remain skeptical until I see significant action involving large-scale funding. I believe with further advocacy Goucher can become a place students can and want to stay for the full duration of their undergraduate education.

There are many other examples where comparison and discussion of issues from the early 90s and the problems facing current Goucher students would be of value, but there is insufficient room to discuss them in this piece. I hope that the student body can join my calls to help make sure that the administration lives up to its many promises, and we don’t just crash into the glass window Steve Zimmer described.

My thoughts are best concluded with a quote from President Jimmy Carter when he spoke at Goucher College on September 26, 1991: “I advocate a strong and deep commitment for college students for a better world …. Let your voice be heard.” 

By Max Ravnitzky ‘28

Featured Image Source: The Quindecim via JSTOR

Letter From The Editor: A Journalist’s Christmas Wish

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Dear Reader,

You may have noticed a distinct lack of papers filling the news racks around campus. You have a good eye! We didn’t put out a print edition this semester, due to a handful of reasons. The first being lower attendance than usual, and while our meetings have been jolly with our few core writers, we crave fresh faces, and new voices. With less writers comes less pieces, and we didn’t think that you, our reader, deserved a size 50-font version of the Q. 

It should go without saying that I am extremely proud of our publication, and all the hard work and time that has been put into everything written this semester, and I am only slightly saddened to publish on the web. That sadness comes not from the content of the articles, but from the wish that these pieces could see newsprint this winter.

A huge theme this semester in the Q, and everywhere else has been student passion and initiative. We see this in the opening of the Ath 24/7, as well as the Gopher Hole opening after nearly half a decade. We see this in independent student bands, in the arts, and in our newly minted Rowdy Radio.

Our treasurer Max Ravnitzky’s article(s) opens a dialogue with past writers for our paper, back when we had a classified section, “conservative corner,” and had the opening of Towson Town Center announced in print. While the web is the future for seemingly everything, the print version of the Q that was put out every fifteen days, before our WordPress site was created, speaks to the work put in and the love held for journalism. It is more than just reporting, though, more than anything it is a student forum. It is the excitement of seeing the newsstands stocked by the Student Market. It is where everyone can talk in an honest, open way, where all ideas and passion projects can be entertained.

We want to make that happen for you. Our (loftier) goal is to put out three print editions next semester, budget permitting. Two is our more realistic goal, but again, hoping for more. If you have anything at all you want covered, want to write about, or simply want to suggest to us, do not hesitate to email us, come to our Sunday meetings (4pm, Student Publications Office in Mary Fisher) or just stop me on Van Meter Highway.

My only Christmas wish this year–and into the new one–is just to have MORE. More Q! As stressful as it can be, I love this paper, and I love what it provides to Goucher students. There are no readers without writers, and without writers, there is no Quindecim. Thank you to all who have read, contributed, or shouted us out. We want to continue to serve you all, and part of that is making sure every single student knows that they can be a part of our wonderful, free, independent, and often silly publication. Spread the word.

Happy Finals Week,

Sam Rose

Goucher Rocky Horror: What to Know

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Goucher’s annual production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do while waiting for next year’s show. For the uninitiated, Goucher’s version has a few expectations, surprises, and aspects of the show’s culture that may not be obvious. As somebody who has been on all sides of the show—a cast member, a director, and an audience member—here are some things to consider before you show up next Hallow’s Eve. 

  1. Learn Your Lines

One of the biggest things that makes Rocky Rocky is audience participation. The easiest ones are following a character’s name, for example, when “Brad Majors” is said, the audience yells “asshole!” Likewise, when “Janet Weiss” is said, the audience yells “slut!” and for Dr. Scott, the response is “suck a cock!” 

Not all of them can be found online or at an outside production, though. Some are exclusive to the great institution of Goucher College. During the number “There’s a Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)” when the titular chorus is sung, the audience sings “over at the Towson Town Center,” drowning out the original lyrics.

Similarly, Brad’s line of “it’s probably some kind of hunting lodge for rich weirdos” gets a response of “Goucher College?” As the audience members appear in Frank’s final number (“I’m Going Home”) some viewers might shout “Edenwald?” Goucher students, creative as they are, might continue inventing new ones specific to this school, but these are the ones I’ve consistently heard each year. 

However, as funny as you think your callout might be, if you’re the only one shouting it, make sure it’s loud and clear–otherwise you’re both embarrassing yourself and confusing the cast members. Rocky Horror is undoubtedly a funny show, but a viewer who thinks they’re funnier than everyone else can spoil an otherwise seamless showing.

Here is a link to the full script containing all of the callouts past directors have compiled. Not everyone knows all of these, or expects you to hit every one. As a rule of thumb, pick the ones you think read the best and make you laugh. If you want to be really on top of things, watch the movie with friends and practice your callouts together before you show up in person. 

  1. Ready Your Wardrobe

The beautiful thing about this tradition is that everyone has their own interpretation of what constitutes a costume. Some might describe Rocky as a burlesque show, some might say it’s one big Halloween party, and others might just enjoy it as an excuse to turn loose and dress however they please.

Regardless, the best thing you can do is make an effort. Make sure whatever costume you wear won’t hinder your own enjoyment, or other’s enjoyment of the show. That means making sure you won’t get cold butt cheeks sitting in Merrick in a thong, and also that you should aim for the back row if you come in your favorite wizard outfit. 

I’ve heard it expressed that people are afraid of going to Rocky because they don’t know how to dress, or they don’t want to look stupid. I’ll tell you that the only way you can look stupid at Rocky is by looking normal. It’s the one night at Goucher where you can truly dress however you want, so however that looks for you, take advantage of that. Dress up as one of the characters, dress up in fishnets, hell, dress up as a medieval monk, just don’t come trying to be cool.

 Most importantly, don’t be an “asshole” about “sluts.” If I want to show up to Rocky Horror in nipple pasties and latex, that’s my business. Costumes do not equal consent, and as you should know, taking photos, harassing cast members, or generally being creepy or judgemental can get you kicked out or even banned from all showings.

3. Respect The Space

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Rocky Horror can get a little bit rowdy. Speaking from experience, the show gets a bit of a bad rap among Goucher faculty and staff for a reason. This is for a few reasons, namely being the way the performance spaces are left following a production, as well as the drinking culture that has emerged from the tradition.

Keeping Dunnock or Merrick clean is fairly easy, no matter if you are an audience member, tech, cast, or something else. Clean up all your trash, don’t mess with anything backstage that isn’t explicitly used in Rocky Horror (ex: any musical instruments that might be around) and be polite to your peers when finding a seat. Some Rocky veterans might be familiar with prop-based audience participation, such as throwing rice during the wedding scene, tossing literal toast into the air during “a toast,” or firing water pistols during the scenes with rain. As fun as these may be, these are generally discouraged at Goucher. Not only will it cause a mess, you’ll probably be the only person throwing bread, and once again, it’s everyone’s job to keep the stage tidy.

As for alcohol, the truth is that nobody can stop audience members from getting intoxicated, and because Rocky is a notably hands-off show in terms of faculty intervention, I don’t foresee that changing anytime soon. It’s true that students are allowed, if they are of age, to drink inside their dorms with other students above or at 21. For any administrators reading, my official advice is that Rocky should be a straight-edge event. Now that it’s just students reading, the only advice I can dispense is that audience members should not be so intoxicated that they become a danger to themselves, performers, or the people around them. Nobody wants to be sitting next to someone sloppily drunk for their first time at Rocky. I recommend experiencing Rocky sober, at least when popping your Rocky Horror cherry, and that goes extra for anyone who might be considering performing in the future.

4. Miscellaneous Tips

-If you’re in the main cast or ensemble, take your pictures before the show starts. Otherwise, you’ll end up a disheveled mess by the end of it, trying to take photos in a space where people are packed shoulder-to-shoulder.

-Use the bathroom or grab a water bottle before the show starts. Nothing breaks immersion like somebody flooding the auditorium with light, and getting through a narrow aisle in high heels is not anybody’s idea of fun.

Finally, let’s not forget the work that goes into keeping the show alive. There’s a reason that the auditoriums fill up year after year, and it’s because of the students who dedicate their free time to creating something truly great for this school. If we want Rocky to continue to thrive, we need to respect all the resources that get put into it. That means showing our appreciation by attending, cheering on, and participating in a ritual that makes Goucher what it is. 

By Sam Rose ‘26

Featured Image Source: The Vintage Poster

Goucher Student Leadership: Lost to Time?

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A Response to Shawanda Ayers’ 2000 Quindecim Piece

I was reading old Quindecims, as one does, and ran across Shawanda Ayers’ November 8th, 2000 piece titled “Does Goucher Have Adequate Student Leadership?” She answered that Goucher has student leadership problems due to cliques, inadequacies in leaders selection processes, and too many clubs. I think this idea in general is probably fair, but she could not see the leaders that would graduate out of Goucher soon after. 

Johnny Olszewski ’04, the staff writer for the Quindecim at the time, would step up and become the Student Government Association (SGA) president and now serves as Goucher’s first alum in Congress. 

Lindsay Johnson ’05, a community leader, class of ‘05 President and EARTH member (the environmental club at the time), who now works at Goucher as the Director of the Community Based Learning. 

Tammy Mayer ’04 connected the community of old Goucher in her work in various local organizations. Tammy, now living in France, leads international coaching sessions on climate communication through One Climate Action, an organization she founded. 

Natali Fani-González ’03 was a leader on campus as co-President of HOLA (Hispanic Organization for Learning and Awareness) and as an RA. She worked at CASA Maryland right after graduation. Natali continued to serve her community as the recent graduate member of the board of trustees, on the planning board of Montgomery county, and now is representing me and my neighbors in the county council of Montgomery County.

 Damon Highsmith ’03 served as president of the Alumnae and Alumni of Goucher College, serves on the Board of Trustees, and helps the world and people through his work in the EPA. 

These are just a selection of the more famous ones who I have talked to, worked for, or are in congress. I am not sure how much of this is the effect of their work post-graduation and nostalgia, but from where I am sitting it seems that the early 2000s had plenty of student leaders, or soon-to-be leaders.

However, I also want to respond to this question as a student leader in 2025. Goucher has a very different student leader problem, but one that the community still needs to address.  Goucher has approximately 30 active clubs currently, which is more than last year, but way less than pre-COVID. 

Unlike Shawanda, I think more clubs, not less, will help with campus engagement. As I have started–or am in the middle of–the process of helping start a few clubs and Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) within my time at Goucher, I think that problem is mostly solving itself. But if you have a club you want to start, please go to SGA and the Office of Student Engagement, their jobs are to help students with campus activities. We can use a few more unique and fun clubs, alongside more revivals of older clubs.

The other half of the problem with student leaders is half of them run everything, and cannot or have not found adequate replacements. I thought the Student Engagement Team (SET) would be in this category when their amazing president Esther Everson ‘25 graduated last year. But Shaun Chaney ‘27 has really stepped up to the plate and impressed me alongside the rest of the incredible SET crew who outdid themselves this year with a great Get Into Goucher. But I am less sure about other RSOs. 

I, as someone who helps run almost a dozen RSOs/clubs, am looking to find replacements or more people to assist me in running said organizations before the year is out. Please come join us at events and volunteer to help run a club. It is a great and fulfilling experience, and the Maxes of the world need help. I want to spend more of my time doing activities and less doing paperwork and planning, or to concentrate my efforts with fewer and/or different clubs.

The fact that Goucher is very cliquey seems to be the most insurmountable problem. I try to be friendly with everyone and definitely am connected to more people than most, but still find myself outside of the many small bubbles that exist in the Goucher social scene. 

As for me, feel free to come up and talk to me, or email me. I am always happy to talk to new people. This is strange for me as someone with Autism and ADHD, but I found that I like conversing with the many interesting people in the Goucher community. I try to connect with someone new every week. I think a few more of us doing so will make Goucher a more welcoming and fun school to be at.

The final problem touched on in Ayers’ piece, but potentially misunderstood, is that people do not show up to campus events, even when they are fun and unique. I think the problem is with the community of Goucher, and less so with student leaders. There are so many events that will be very fun that I am planning, or am aware of, for this year alone. Please join some clubs, and participate in college life. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the more people at them, the more fun they are.

What do you think about the Student Leaders of 2025 Goucher? Are you going to step up to replace them in 2026?

By Max Ravnitzky ‘28

Image Source: Goucher College Digital Library via JSTOR

In Da Club: Past and Present Goucher Organizations

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Goucher, like most small colleges, centers the social community around clubs and student organizations. And also like a lot of colleges, this student life took a major toll during COVID-19, and requires active student leaders to maintain them. Goucher, especially, has played host to a myriad of weird and wacky clubs and activities.

Pirate Club for the longest time was the quintessential example of this unique club spirit, but it seems like many clubs, it did not make it through COVID-19. I am not sure what exactly they did. (If you are familiar with their history, please email me at Max.Ravnitzky@goucher.edu)

Donnybrook fair, the school yearbook, is one of the longest running traditions at Goucher starting in 1896. It is one of the primary sources for all three major histories of Goucher College. When there were profits from sales, they went to a variety of charities, and to student events. It has been out of production since 2019. We will see if this historic institution of Goucher is ever reawakened. 

Hot Steel, a concert night, was another of Goucher’s biggest traditions that has been lost. In Dorsey Courtyard, students from colleges and universities all over the Baltimore region would gather for a night of their lives. Many Goucher students met their husbands and longtime friends there. This musical event would open the semester with a bang.

May Court was seemingly a short-lived tradition at Goucher of crowning various students into symbolic positions in May. I have heard from some peers about a similar idea taking inspiration from our sister school of Morgan University and their royal court. We will see if any flavor of this is ever revived.

The Ministry of Funny Walks, started as students doing hacky sack for breaks from physics homework, evolved into another one of Goucher’s most unique clubs. It does not exist anymore. The name comes from a Monty Python sketch of the same name.

Trips to Washington have been a part of being at Goucher since 1890 when students attended a reception for President Harrison, but were disappointed to not meet First Lady Caroline Lavinia Harrison. This has evolved into Goucher’s modern student trips to DC, which involve advocacy and activism and may or may not be directly supported by Goucher’s administration.

Goucher Yells was a Goucher tradition tracing its origin to at least fall of 1892, with “a general college committee on ‘yells,’ whose business it was to stimulate the use of the college yell and see to it that each class in college had its yell,” was formed. The Histories of Goucher College makes consistent reference to the yells throughout the various years, so I am not sure when the practice died at Goucher. I hope someone, be it me or another, actually commits the time to revive this activity, ironically or otherwise. 

Glee Club was the first club organized in 1889 according to The History of Goucher College by Knipp and Thomas. Of the four musical organizations described in this first history of Goucher College, only Choir and Jazz Band still exist. Choir, Jazz Band, and the acapella small ensemble do amazing performances that punctuate the semester, captivating audiences.

The Reverend’s Rebels was one of several major musical groups on our campus. Their website claims that they formed as an a cappella group “to break away from the tradition of singing exclusively religious music at Goucher and do something a little different.” This amazing group no longer exists actively on campus.

Fencing was a major club and even sports teams at Goucher. Alumni told me during Alumni weekend that in their time, the fencing team competed nationally, and did well as there were so few women’s teams. They, alongside Humans versus Zombies, are the only clubs to have explicit exemptions to the weapons policy. However, fencing is not taught or practiced at Goucher any longer. 

Beekeeping Club, like many other clubs here, died during COVID-19. It is one of the few clubs on here that was net profitable, from selling honey. As cool as it was, it was reliant on the support of staff who donated their time and expertise to students, and when they left and COVID-19 hit soon after, the club dissolved. 

“Goucher Nerdfighters” was a club with a badass name, but I have to assume they were just a fan club for the Green brothers. Hank and John Green are the creators of Crash Course, Vlog Brothers, Complexly, Awesome Socks, and many other online ventures, mostly focused on education and making the world a better place. Again, this club seems to have passed in the pandemic.

SEPIA (Sexual Education Positivity Inclusion and Activism) and Men of Strength (MOST) were both clubs at Goucher that worked together for healthier relations. This kind of work is still being done today under the Wellness center and its peer educators.

CAUSE was one of the biggest organizations at Goucher that worked for the betterment of the wider community. It no longer exists, but Goucher students still participate in such activities through the office of Community Based Learning, Goucher Prison Education Program (GPEP) volunteering, Hillel, Food Recovery Network, and independently.

House culture, as any older Alumni may have known it, is dead. Our student governance is completely separate in SGA, student leadership control of room draw is greatly diminished, and very few students stay in the same dorm every year. Attendance for events put on by Residential life is often low. Potential revival of some form of this model has been discussed by some but nothing has come in the short term. What is left of this concept and perhaps may grow further is special interest housing such as the Gaming House, Arts and Media House, and Language House. Alongside these housing, we have the new Latinx house and the Robinson-Barland House for identity based housing.

Car/Van destruction for finals week or GIG is one of the most fun sounding short lived traditions at Goucher college. With some more safety equipment, and purchasing vehicles that would otherwise be scrap, I believe it can be brought back. 

Get into Goucher (GIG), was started over 40 years ago as a surprise event in the spring run by house presidents featuring a nice picnic, conversations with Alumni, and class cancellations for the day. This was a very special community event. Now it has been moved to the fall, classes go on as normal, and it is planned well in advance with public knowledge by SET (Student Engagement Team) and OSE (Office of Student Engagement). This shift is symbolic of the larger changes in our community and on campus events. 

Goucher has a weird relation with campus life, as it shuts down third spaces for events (Gopher Hole, Alice’s, etc) with recent promises to reopen some of these spaces, postponing educational events related to Palestine and antisemitism, and trying to bring Edenwald residents on campus. Goucher is trying on an administrative level to revive campus life to support its struggling retention rate, but I am not sure they know the correct way to go about it.

Esther Everson has led SET as President in running numerous campus events and being a core part of this community. They also helped co-found and run the Al-Jaalia Arabic Club which is one of the more active if small clubs. Their example should be a guiding light in what this community looks for in a leader.

The list above was just a small sampling of the unique clubs and activities Goucher has played host to over the years. I have talked about the past culture and clubs, but I believe as importantly we must look at a selection of our current clubs and organizations to see the future for our community.

Hillel is a longstanding part of the Goucher community, with much of the direction and leadership of the organization being chosen by current students. Alongside traditional services, other activities to connect to Judaism and Jewish culture are hosted. 

Humans Versus Zombies (HvZ) is a hallmark of Goucher College. Created in Fall 2005 at Goucher, it has since spread to colleges and universities across the globe. Goucher’s club is still going strong, putting on the most amazing and unique events. This is why the open invitational event currently planned for the fall is so exciting. To adequately describe the impressive game, its history, and its future would take another few pages. But needless to say, I am excited to grab my blaster and bandana and run away from some zombies.

Seltzer Club, created by Dylan Halsted, is another one of the unique clubs at Goucher college. Their discord conversations ranking Seltzers is fascinating, and they have many members. The concept of putting on events to dress up for but serve primarily seltzers is humorous and cool. The club looks to leave for an early grave as Dylan graduates. We will see if anyone steps up to lead the club.

Dungeons, Dragons and Gophers is another creative club that sparks a unique community that I view as essential to our student body. Focused on role playing games, this club was effectively reborn post COVID-19 with its current name. 

Equal Access is a club dedicated to creating space and advocating for people with disabilities. This group is symbolic of the spirit of Goucher students in their inclusivity. As Goucher becomes more well known for accommodating students with disabilities, Equal Access will grow in importance.

Nomad Student Organization (NSO) alongside Goucher International Student Association (GISA) have been great clubs that will only grow as the international student body grows. 

Movimiento Estudiantil Hispano Americano (MEHA) is another successful unique club that is representative of our campus getting more diverse

Independent Music Club (IMC) has hosted numerous amazing events this year including a Bob Dylan show. This is a club that brings the community together, including professors and students. I am excited to see what they do next year!

The Goucher Food Recovery Network is a great club that works with Bon Appetite to bring excess food waste to the people that need it. 

Pizzazz Musical Theatre is the group that currently puts on musicals for the Goucher community. Theater is a big part of the history of Goucher College even if we only currently offer a minor, and so I am happy that this part of our community is active. Trail to Oregon is their current show happening May 9th at 8pm and May 11th at 7pm in Merrick Lecture Hall.

The Preface is our long running literary magazine. They are key to an important part of our community, and are still going strong. The Preface Release party on Monday May 12th 7-9pm in the Undercroft. I am eager to see the newest book.

And we cannot forget our very own Quindecim, which does journalism and other cool stuff. The office is in Mary Fisher, just above the historic lobby and functions as a third space. Sam Rose is the current Editor and Chief, so any complaints about mistakes made in this or any other Q piece should be directed to him. With more students, the Q functions as another impactful voice of the student body.

Rocky Horror Picture Show Club puts on the biggest event of the semester in its production of Rocky Horror. Goucher has been putting this event on every October for decades. It has developed its own traditions and quirks in our community. Advice for what to expect from the show can be found in Joshua Haynes, ’27’s Quindecim piece.

Frisbee and Volleyball Club are the two current mainstays of club sports, both have waxed and waned in popularity over the years. As an officer of the frisbee Club, I am obligated to tell you we are the cooler club sport. With Frisbee Goucher is one of a few colleges to have a disc golf course on campus. This is awesome, even if the course has missing holes, tees, and unplayable holes. The Volleyball club has access to an outdoor sand court as well as our indoor courts. Despite the quirks of our college, campus club sports are valuable parts of our community. 

1021 HipHop and Dancers of Color Coalition (DCC) are both clubs that showcase the unique talents of the dancers of Goucher college outside the dance courses and performances. They are a core part of the unique culture at Goucher. I hope they maintain their ability to surprise and excite audiences well into the future. 

Gopher Strides is a new club this year dedicated towards creating a community through walks, jogs, runs, and hikes. With its creative name created by Joshua Haynes, this club fills a unique niche, and I predict it will become a cornerstone of our community.

Every Registered Student Organization (RSO), which includes all official clubs, (except SET) are all overseen by Goucher’s Student Government Association (SGA). So, if we want to create community at Goucher, we must have willing partners in SGA and its supervisory organization, the Office of Student Engagement (OSE). As a current senator, I promise to do everything in my power to support clubs and communities. With the election of President Chistian Houck and Vice President Delaney Dorr, both of whom made similar promises and have the experience working in SGA to back up the promises, I am hopeful that SGA continues its work supporting clubs and community, as well as its other duties in advocating to the Administration and assisting the student body. 

I am a believer that community and connection has to be formed by and for the people in the space. So, I ask you to go out and help create the community you want to see. Create a wacky club that you think no one would be interested in, join your friend’s weird club, go to events that interest you, join SET and SGA to help create and support unique events on campus, and just be a part of our unique community.

But before I ask you to do anything, I am leading by example. I try to attend as many community events as possible, and am planning to create my own, some of which are mentioned below.

I founded the Goucher Bridge Club and currently serve as President. We meet once a week, learning and playing the most beautiful strategy card game, currently mostly socially. The Bridge Club welcomes any member of our community; students, staff, faculty, and alumni to join us. I aim to create another inclusive, fun, and unique space for everyone. We are planning to do something big for the hundredth anniversary of contract Bridge on November 1st, so save the date.

And of course, there’s the famous satirical pineapple on pizza protests, which brought changes to the demonstration policy after conversations with Dean Smith and Dr. Isabel Moreno Lopez. And reinvigorated conversations about freedom of speech in a fun and safe way even as some co-conspirators did not show up. I commit to continue doing serious work both through professional channels and when those do not fully work, through humorous campus activities. As “Tzar/War Chief” of the Board Game Club of Goucher College, I promise I will lead the club to victory in “warfare” between clubs.

On a very different note, I am working alongside several others to revive the Environmental Concerns Organization (ECO). It was a group started in spring of 1990 to start recycling programs on campus. They got Ralph Nader and other famous guests to visit, alongside taking action on campus and in our capitals of Annapolis and DC. At some point it faded. And in 2018 it was revived, only to die at some point soon after. Third time’s the charm.

This new version of ECO will be inclusive of everyone in our community, welcoming staff, faculty, and most importantly students to join us as we educate ourselves and take action on environmental issues. I view environmentalism as an interdisciplinary set of problems, and therefore would like to collaborate with artists, scientists, political groups, Bon Appetit, the Food Recovery Network, the Garden Club, the office of Community Based Learning, Goucher’s Facility Management Service, SGA, and the environmental studies department. We will host discussions, take direct local action, and advocate to others be it through art, literature, or politically. We will make Goucher more environmentally aware. ECO is looking for people who can dedicate the time to help plan and organize events. Please email me if you are interested.

With some hard work we can create a vibrant, unique, strong community culture that goes beyond the clichés that Goucher’s marketing uses. Please join me in these efforts.

By Max Ravnitzky ‘28

Photos by Levi Boyer ’28

Correction: The group originally listed as performing virtually in 2020 was Red Hot Blue, not Reverend’s Rebels.

Why I Have a Dorm Cat (And You Should Too!)

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There are only seventeen registered emotional support animals on this campus, and I believe that we need to get those numbers up. Why, you ask? Picture this, you come back to your room after a long day of classes, throw yourself on your bed, completely drained and tired. But then, you feel something jump on the bed with you, it’s a cat. It has no idea what you have to deal with, all it knows is it’s excited its owner is back. It curls up by your head purring in content and your struggles just drift away. 

Freshman year, I left my cat Plumeria at my mother’s house and her absence weighed on me a lot, transitioning to college is difficult and not having my baby made it even worse. The next year I got her registered as an ESA and moved her into the dorm and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Having a dorm cat helped my mental health tremendously, even on my worst days she motivated me to get out of bed and go to class. My GPA went up an entire point after having her in my dorm for the year. 

Knowing how a dorm cat helped me, I decided to ask around campus to get others’ thoughts on dorm cats. 

First, I spoke with Destry Butler, a senior who has lived with his dorm cat Freya since freshman year. “I got Freya because I wanted to kill myself. Having something I could care for and communicate non-verbally with was comforting.” I personally find this statement alone to be a convincing enough argument for dorm cats. 

But, if personal anecdotes don’t convince you, I also reached out to the Office of Accessibility Services; the office that handles ESA registration I was able to speak to Nancy Williams-Nettles, Director of Accessibility Service who told me “[ESAs] can reduce anxiety and stress, enhance emotional stability, alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation, and provide a sense of purpose for individuals facing mental health challenges. Adjusts dopamine and serotonin levels.” 

Having Plumeria waiting for me each day really made my dorm room feel like home. I went from rarely wanting to be there, to my dorm being my favorite space on campus. She made my transition from college life to adulthood smoother, too. When I feel overwhelmed or stressed, burying my face in her soft fur brings me all the comfort I need to get through the day. 

If you somehow still aren’t convinced then I leave you with this compilation of some of the lovely dorm cats on this campus. 

Plumeria McCormack.

Photo Credit: Heather McCormack

Sookie Doo Dorr. Sookie’s owner included this note which was too cute not to share! “I know you only need a photo, but Sookie has a lot of depth. Her favorite color is pink, she hates legs and ankles, and she loves loves loves the sink and the sun.”

Photo Credit: Laney Dorr

Freya Butler

Photo Credit: Destry Butler

Darcy Duval


Photo Credit: Ruby Duval

By Heather McCormack ’25

The Ghost of the Goucher Theater Program

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Let’s face it, the arts at our liberal arts college are on its deathbed, and we might be the reason. Did you know that Goucher used to be the second most successful theater program in Maryland, but now in 2025, there is no longer a theater major. Back in the early 2000’s, Goucher would produce 2-3 full scale shows a semester. A Goucher professor, Rebeca Free, states “At a certain point, we were doing too many [shows] for the size of our space and the size of our faculty.” At one point they were even doing shows that were too big for the company they had, such as Peter Pan, but in the end their numbers grew exponentially due to the sheer number of student volunteers and the commitment shown by them. 

Is that commitment still alive at Goucher today? 

Professors are reluctant to direct a full-scale production nowadays due to lack of student commitment. Professors expect students to put aside 20 hours a week for rehearsals, but the average Goucher student often cannot sacrifice that great amount of time to a show they are unfamiliar with. Goucher at its heart is a school of people that love to create. 

Michael Curry is a professor who loves to help produce student written plays, and recently that is all Goucher has been doing. It’s good to have a professor who will fully support you and your new ideas, but unfortunately there’s less of a turnout in both volunteers and audience members when it comes to student written plays.  On the other hand, the Rocky Horror Picture Show club has a consistent volunteer count and audience, however this is student run, not student written. To contrast, Pizzazz, the musical theater club, produces prewritten shows and is also student led. This semester they are producing a full-length show, but they lack the numbers Rocky Horror has. So, what’s the disconnect? What do Goucher students really want? 

Before anything we need a committed group of students who are willing to spend a significant amount of time in rehearsals. Whether it be on stage or backstage, we need a community stable enough to run a full-scale production and have fun while doing it. Shows like Chicago or Legally Blonde can only happen with that kind of support. 

We have Goucher alumni that are willing to come and teach those who are new to theater but have a passion to learn. And there is always room for theater veterans in leadership roles to make the shows even better. 
We want to know who wants to revive the once deceased Goucher theater program. Fill out our survey so we can see who’s interested and reach out when a plan has been made.  

By Nathaniel Lehman ’27 and Juno Norman ’28

Featured Image Source: Nathaniel Lehman and Juno Norman

Opinion: Inaccessibility to Goucher’s Financial Aid Department

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         For many students, navigating financial aid is already a stressful and complicated process—but for first-generation college students, the challenges can feel overwhelming. At Goucher College, where 97% of students receive financial aid, one would expect a well-functioning and accessible financial aid department. However, for students like me, the reality is far from that expectation. I am a first-generation college student with immigrant parents who do not make enough to afford my tuition. That means I am the only person I can depend on to pay for college. The easy path would be to attend community college for two years and transfer to a four-year college for my remaining two years, but unfortunately, that is not an option.  

Attending a four-year college is my only path to success, which is my number one goal. Any normal student would be getting information about federal aid from their parents or other family members, but I don’t. I am the one who applies for Financial aid, scholarships, loans, etc. I am the one who has to fill out my parents’ part on my FAFSA application, and I am the college student who has taught herself how to understand these government forms simply because my parents do not speak English. So, when I did my research on Goucher College in late 2023 when applying, I was happy to see that 97% of students at Goucher receive financial aid.  

However, during the summer before my fall semester, I was shocked–to say the least–after seeing that I owed Goucher a payment of nearly $14,000, due the day before move-in day. I had no knowledge of this until a month before I was supposed to start my fall semester. I felt alone and blindsided, all while having to figure out how to come up with the money on time. Eventually, I was able to start a payment plan, which required a minimum of $500 to enroll–more money that I didn’t have, but with the help of my friends and family members I was able to come up with $500 in time to secure a place here at Goucher.  

This is my story. But after a few interviews with other Goucher students, I was able to realize that my experience is not far from many. Here’s what they had to say.  

Morgan Hott, a first year student, notes that the best way to receive assistance from the financial aid office is to visit in person, as email responses are slow. “..You HAVE to go in person, or else you are stuck waiting for email responses.” She claims that incoming students/first years in particular need more transparency when it comes to preparing for the investment that school is, and providing better guidance on how to deal with Goucher systems.  

 Leila Townsend, a junior transfer student from Anne Arundel Community College, echoes this sentiment. She describes her frustrating experience attempting to contact financial aid, recalling how she left multiple messages without receiving a response. “When I was transferring here from ACC, they were unresponsive. I would call, I would leave messages—several a day—no one would get back to me,” she says. 

Compared to her experience at ACC, where financial aid assistance was more efficient, she found Goucher’s process to be unreasonably slow and disorganized. 

Even students who typically have no issues with financial aid have encountered problems due to delays and miscommunication. Andrea Bailey, a senior, shares that she repeatedly received emails about an unpaid balance—only to later be informed that the financial aid office was simply waiting for scholarships and grants to process. “They ended up telling me I didn’t have to pay it, they just had to wait for the aid to come in,” Andrea explains. “But they would keep emailing me reminders to pay the bills. It was a lot of running around.” 

The delays and lack of clear communication appear to be tied to staffing shortages within the financial aid department. Banda Chiwengo, a senior RA, describes his difficulties securing his Sellinger Grant and obtaining help. “Every time I’d reach out to the financial aid office, they wouldn’t respond to my emails. Don’t bother calling—you’re not going to get an answer,” he says. His frustration only grew when he attempted to visit the office in person, only to find no one available. “They’re virtual on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it didn’t matter if you tried to make an appointment—you really could NOT get in there.” 

A deeper issue became clear when Banda discovered that Goucher’s financial aid department lacked a head director. “At one of our meetings, I looked at the screen during a presentation, and at the top of the financial aid structure, where the head director should have been—there was nobody,” he recalls. “That’s why no one could actually answer our questions. People were jumping between roles in the financial sector, but no one was actually in charge. Besides that, they just suck. The communication is terrible.” 

Despite the experiences of these students, Alisha Mondloch, Director of Student Financial Services, claims that the last time she has heard of a student having trouble with contacting the financial aid office was last summer. “I have not received anything this term about the inability of any of our aid officers to follow up. We have a feedback form on the Goucher Website. Normally, our office is pretty good about response time, but I haven’t heard anything since–like I said this past summer.”  

When asked about resources that could help with students who need immediate financial aid assistance, but struggle to get an appointment, Mondloch responds, “I’m not sure where the struggling to get an appointment is but, we have resources listed on our website, we have different cohorts of students that we work with specifically and reach out to students about filing their FAFSA and making sure that their portal is up-to-date and submitting their documents there.”   

The disconnect between the administration’s perception and students’ lived experiences highlights a serious issue. While financial aid is a part of college accessibility, Goucher students are struggling to get the support they need. Delayed responses, a lack of transparency, and understaffing have created unnecessary stress for those who are already navigating an overwhelming system on their own. If Goucher College truly prides itself on supporting students financially, it must take active steps to ensure that its financial aid office is responsive, well-staffed, and committed to meeting the needs of its students. 

By Benvie Ondongo ’28 

Featured Image Source: Goucher College Website

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