Our latest in an occasional roundup of quotable 乐播传媒 quotes, this time about a terrifying regatta, why the Quad was like Candyland this fall, and the beauty and strength of being in solidarity with one another.
“I love the group so much. Couldn’t be happier to run behind anyone else. They’re like big brothers. They keep you protected on the field, and if I mess up, they keep me in line.”

鈥 Ryan Lynskey 鈥27 of Cranford, N.J., a standout running back for the football team who set a single-game this year, on how he feels about the teammates who do the blocking on every play
鈥淚t feels like everyone knows everyone on campus, and they all hold on to little details about each other, and community forms around you really quickly.鈥
鈥 Ramona McNish 鈥28 of Alameda, Calif., on what surprised her about her first 30 days at 乐播传媒

鈥溊植ゴ is one of my favorite places in the world. It fills my heart with only good memories.鈥
鈥 Marriane Magid Jones 鈥93 on visiting campus, and son Elias Jones 鈥27, during Back to 乐播传媒
鈥淚 was absolutely terrified. It鈥檚 such a challenging course, but being in the boat was an incredible experience. The night before the rowers wrote me letters, just encouraging me and instilling a little bit more confidence. It was a real team mentality.鈥

鈥 Hannah Herbst 鈥28 of Larkspur, Calif., a rowing coxswain on her first Head of the Charles Regatta, over the Charles River course, which is notoriously difficult due to its bends and bridges
鈥淎bove all else, we are citizens of Lewiston, affected by the tragedy and also showing up wherever and however.鈥
鈥 Garry W. Jenkins, speaking at the campus Remembrance Service, held in Gomes Chapel one year after the Oct. 25, 2023 mass shootings in Lewiston

鈥淲e belong to one another, we have carried one another in this past year, and we will always tend to one another amidst celebration and grief. Not only are we strong when we are together, but, like this garland, we are beautiful.鈥
鈥 The Rev. Brittany Longsdorf, the college鈥檚 multifaith chaplain, speaking at the Remembrance Service and referencing a garland created from strips of ribbon, on which community members wrote blessings, wishes, and hopes for Lewiston
鈥淚 was shaking in my boots. But I had some words of wisdom from my teammates and my coaches, and I just told myself, 鈥楤e speedy, be you, be the big goalie that you are.鈥欌

鈥 Ava Donohue 鈥28 of Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., field hockey goaltender on overcoming nerves in her first-ever shootout, a victory vs. Wesleyan
鈥淭here is a symbolic difference between owning weapons for hunting and owning weapons for sport or defense. The former is not infused with the implication of violence against humans. The latter carries with it that possibility.鈥

鈥 Professor of Sociology Michael Rocque, and the increase in owning guns for non-hunting reasons
鈥淔or those who identify as Latinex, it鈥檚 a chance to enjoy a comforting taste of home, while for others, it serves as a welcoming introduction to our vibrant traditions.鈥
鈥 Alexis Gonz谩lez 鈥26 of Hanford, Calif., club president of Ra铆ces Unidas, on the annual Taquiza Familiar, a party, dance, and celebration
鈥淚t鈥檚 like Candyland.鈥

鈥 Isabelle Larson 鈥25, of East Aurora, N.Y., scanning the fall colors of the Historic Quad as she settled into an Adirondack chair to do some reading before a morning class

鈥淚 heard someone say on the sidelines like, 鈥楽he鈥檚 going to win this.鈥 And I was like, 鈥極h, am I that far ahead?鈥欌

鈥 Phoebe Pohl 鈥25 of Wayland, Mass., on winning the Maine cross country championship as the 乐播传媒 women won their eighth straight state title
鈥淚 just feel like I have an obligation.鈥
鈥 Angus Carter 鈥25 of Camden, Maine, who came upon a blood drive in the Gray Athletic Building and decided he should give
鈥淒uring the prior Trump administration, students said they didn鈥檛 want to go into public service, or into the foreign service office, or into the military. I have a really strong reaction to that. Diverse people need to self-select into government and public service jobs. You matter, and you can make a difference even in a bureaucratic position.鈥
鈥 Associate Professor Clarisa P茅rez-Armend谩riz, during a post-election panel discussion, asking students to seek out mentorship and guidance in considering a career in public service, and not abandon the idea out of fear that might not be warranted

“I love the atmosphere, especially when there’s a lot of people in the crowd. All the noise just kind of gets stuck in the gym. It echoes and it’s really cool.”

鈥 Skye Higashihara 鈥28 of Honolulu, Hawaii, on the acoustically intense atmosphere in Alumni Gym
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important for someone who understands the gravity of those situations to be there.鈥

鈥 Emily Scarrow 鈥25 of Washington, D.C., on volunteering as a wig and headwear consultant at Lewiston鈥檚 Dempsey Center, which offers personalized and comprehensive cancer care at no cost. Diagnosed with Hodgkin鈥檚 lymphoma during her first year at 乐播传媒, she is now cancer-free
鈥淚 remember how much he hated it if we thanked him on air. Which, of course, we did regularly because he deserved our gratitude.鈥
鈥 Craig Patton 鈥91, recalling the 24/7 support that adviser Gene Clough gave the fledgling campus television station in the late 1980s into the 1990s. Clough died Oct. 23 at age 77 from complications of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 that good in high school and wasn鈥檛 that good freshman year at 乐播传媒. So I had imposter syndrome, having to justify to myself that I鈥檓 good enough to be running with these people. I’ve been talking to a sports psychologist who helped me realize that these thoughts and pressures are just that 鈥 thoughts and pressures. So I can just run and have my best day. I absolutely believed that I deserved to be there.”

鈥 Cross country runner Andrew Mottur 鈥25 of Rumford, R.I., on finishing fourth out of 104 runners at the Maine state championship, helping lead 乐播传媒 to the state title
鈥淢y performance became less about perfection, and more about connecting with people and sharing the beauty of music.鈥
鈥 Marrich Somridhivej 鈥26 of South Windsor, Conn., who performed Amy Beach鈥檚 鈥淪ummer Dreams鈥 during an outdoor concert at Lewiston’s Looking Ahead Clubhouse, a vocational center for adults living with mental illness

鈥淚 see anti-trans panic as premised on a fundamentally troubling denial of our shared humanity.鈥

鈥 Stephen Engel, a professor of politics and associate dean of the faculty, speaking at a post-election discussion, commenting on anti-trans rhetoric during the presidential campaign that was used to discredit Democratic priorities and deny the dignity and humanity of transgender individuals
鈥淗onestly, there aren鈥檛 that many issues that Trump is personally invested in. A lot of what we hear him talking about are these transactional relationships that he has with allies. It鈥檚 a way to reward them for support in getting him elected.鈥
鈥 Professor of Politics John Baughman, on how President-elect Trump鈥檚 approach to governance, often giving positions of power to loyalists for political gain rather than prioritizing specific issues himself
“We鈥檙e a bunch of big, fun, friendly, large humans.”

鈥 Peter Simplicio 鈥25 of West Hartford, Conn., a member of the football team鈥檚 award-winning offensive line that was twice selected to D3football.com’s “Team of the Week,” on the unit’s work-hard, play-hard mindset: “We have a great time at practice, we joke around, but when it’s time to get things done, we get it done.” Besides offering consistent protection and strong run blocking, the unit did not commit one holding penalty all season




