It is a bit grey out this September 2020 morning. And I stayed up last night re-reading a book I love: The Call of Stories, by Robert Coles. Coles was an early proponent of the importance of literature for medical students and went on to teach literature in settings where this presumably luxurious enterprise might have seemed, well, a distraction from the importance of learning anatomy or statistics. In business and medical schools, law schools, and other professional settings, Coles’ name may be forgotten, but his impact, as a relatively early reminder that we ARE our stories, that physicians help us to tell our stories, continues. A physician, Coles treated people not just symptoms in part (in his own self-reflection) because of literature. A teacher as well, he learned and taught by listening to his students’ stories.

Today, as we face the first presidential debate (by the time you read this the first will be in the past), I am reminded, too, of the power of persuasive speech, persistent questioning, and the many ways we must bring our critical powers to decision making—whether voting (please do), choosing courses, or grocery shopping. Perhaps, like Coles, we do so more effectively when we also reflect on how these are understood through the power of narrative, including those we tell about ourselves and others, framing our lives, our ethical dilemmas, and our actions.

Coles reminds us that presidential debates, daily tasks, facts, emotion, books read, and voices heard are what we weave together to make a life and a community. We each make our tomorrows in part by pragmatic, data-driven, and evidentiary decision making. (That is why we wear our masks and socially distance, for example.) Coles reminds us that situating our lives in story—our own and those of others—matters too.

At Salem, our story is one that weaves together our nearly 250 years with those of today and tomorrow. Ours is a story woven of many stories and masses of data-driven decision making. Just as by voting, we (those of us who can) move the story of our nation forward, so too in our actions today we build the community, the future, that is Salem.

What will you do, today, to build tomorrow?

Susan Henking
Interim President

The Center for Women’s Political Engagement and Public Service is excited to announce a recent grant of $1,000 to partner with the Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) Coalition. This grant aligns with the mission of the Center to engage women and girls in the political community and the democratic process. The SLSV partners are committed to “institutionalizing student voting engagement for the long-term,” and Salem Academy and College is proud to be a part of this coalition. These funds will be used to engage and educate women and girls in the community for the 2020 election. We are committed to encouraging all women to vote and be part of the political system on this important centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Elizabeth Wemlinger
Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy
Co-director of Center for Women’s Political Engagement and Public Service 

The phrase “silent assassin” is tossed around throughout sports to label an individual that has an unassuming appearance, but will make an impact, at the exact right moment, that will spark their team to a win. That type of individual would also be characterized as having a super competitive spirit, loving the game at its fundamental level, and using their instincts to make the difference to forge their team to victory.

Anyone who has ever interacted with Alexis Sunderland, C’20, wouldn’t consider her to be a “silent assassin” on the court, because she is always smiling and pleasant by nature. However, if you watched her in the role of Salem volleyball libero, you would see a different person come to surface. You would see someone that loved to compete to win. Every. Single. Time. Period.

“I have always grown up with a competitive spirit,” said Sunderland. “I started in dance at a young age and when I had to compete, I had to completely turn into a more serious person.”

Read more about Alexis here.