Thanks to a malfunctioning tape recorder and a broken heater at the Argus office, this week’s Wesceleb, Katie Sloan ’05, and I sat down for a chat in a true eighteenth-century fashion. Feather pen and inkwell in hand, I shivered as Katie nostalgically recapped her life at Wesleyan, her parents’ lives at Wesleyan, her older brother’s life at Wesleyan, and her future as a dance therapist. Yes, that’s right, she has found the only occupation in the United States that combines her major (psychology) with her “unofficial concentration” (dance). She also has the inside scoop on Bennet’s dietary preferences, and knows how many Wesleyan students really do hate Republicans.
MC: What dance performances are you involved in?
KS: Right now I’m in Terp, but I’ve done lots of senior thesis dances and spring dances. It’s strange because dance is something I never was involved with until I came to Wesleyan. I started out on the diving team until I hurt my back and had to quit. I’d been involved with sports since I was four so I didn’t really know what to do with myself after that. Then I thought, I like dancing at parties, why not try out for some dances?
Traditional Wesceleb plug: Oh, and by the way, tickets for Terp are currently on sale at the box office.
MC: Are you a dance major?
KS: No, I’m a psych major, but on my resume it says I have an “unofficial dance concentration.”
MC: Speaking of resume, where are you going to send yours post-Wesleyan?
KS: Well right now I’m looking at two different avenues. One is in News Media production because I am really interested by the business aspect of that. But my other option is the one I’m more excited about.
MC: Which is?
KS: Dance Therapy.
MC: Dance Therapy?
KS: Yeah, it’s an alternative form of therapy that focuses on movement and rhythm. It’s most famous for working with people that have eating disorders, and people with autism. But it can be used for a variety of cases. I’ve even heard people using it as a form of couples therapy.
MC: What kind of training would you need to get to be a dance therapist?
KS: I would first do a job-shadow with a dance therapist to make sure I really liked it before committing to another two to three years of schooling. I’d want to make sure it was what I really wanted before spending another large amount of money on school.
MC: Interesting. But changing the subject, I heard your parents met at Wesleyan. What’s the story on that?
KS: Yeah, they met in Clark. It’s a really funny story actually. My mom had a really hot roommate so my dad made friends with my mom in order to have an in with the roommate. Then, when he realized that there was no chance with that one, he gave up. But their friendship still continued. Finally, on Valentine’s Day of their freshman year, there was a single white rose on my mom’s door from a secret admirer. Assuming it was from my dad, she got really excited and asked him out on a date, which started their whole relationship. It wasn’t until four or five years later that my dad confessed it wasn’t actually him who gave her the rose.
MC: Did she ever find out who really sent it to her?
KS: No, she never did, but now, every Valentine’s Day, my dad gives my mom a dozen red roses with one white rose in the bunch.
MC: Awww.
KS: Yeah, it’s pretty cute.
MC: And your older brother met his serious girlfriend here at Wesleyan too?
KS: Yeah, he graduated two years ago and is still dating the same girl.
MC: Are they going to get married?
KS: I don’t know, he doesn’t tell me. As a sister it is my job to pry, but I never find out. They are living together though.
MC: Do you ever feel pressure to find your future spouse at Wesleyan?
KS: You know, it’s funny because I realized sophomore year that I had always unconsciously assumed that I would meet my husband at college, because that’s what my parents did. But then, I realized, that’s just not in the cards for me. And I’m OK with that. Actually, I’m more than OK with that.
MC: So did your parents and brother tell you crazy stories about Wesleyan?
KS: No, they actually didn’t tell me anything. I was totally unprepared. But now it’s great because I understand a lot more about where my parents came from and where a lot of their ideas were formed. Even the brand of yogurt my mom eats, that Stonyfield stuff, is the kind they sell at Weshop. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it, but I just thought it was pretty funny. On a bigger scale, I understand a lot of what they believe as far as politics and social issues.
MC: So what else do you do at Wesleyan?
KS: Well I work on the kitchen staff for the president’s office.
MC: You cook Doug Bennet’s meals?
KS: Not exactly. I cook under this guy named Phil, who’s a great chef and cooks food for all of the campus special events—receptions, visiting speakers, stuff like that. Basically, I get paid to learn how to cook, so it’s a really great job. Except for the fact that I got this injury working. (Holds up bandaged index finger for me to see.)
MC: What happened?
KS: I burnt it on the stove. It swelled up really big until I finally went to the Health Center.
MC: So how does the president’s food compare to campus food, specifically Mocon?
KS: I’d say it’s a hundred percent better. Phil is really talented, and all the food is fresh and handmade.
MC: So is your senior spring pretty busy then? What about a thesis?
KS: I’m not doing a thesis, but it’s a psych project with a write-up analysis that will turn into a Senior Essay. It involves surveying college students about discrimination along party lines.
MC: What does that mean exactly?
KS: Well I haven’t finished compiling the data yet (thinks about whether or not she can disclose such information) but I guess I can tell you because I’ve already collected the data. It basically is a test on whether or not people of a certain political party are more likely to discriminate people of the opposing party when a clear political majority exists, like at Wesleyan. I got the inspiration after the election when I heard people make such disparaging remarks about how all Republicans must be stupid, and it made me sad to hear that kind of discrimination.
MC: Are you a Republican?
KS: No, but I’m not a Democrat either. The cool thing about this project though is that if it turns out well, they might want me to go to L.A. and speak at a National Psychology Conference.
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