Letter to the Editor (re New Directions)
We do have a boss here, the program director, David Hemmerling by name. He can sure be demanding! I think that’s because he wants every graduate to be a top officer of General Motors or thereabouts. He is definitely not harsh like a lot of people say, but he doesn’t like to take second best from any student.
Letter to the Editor
The Review (Page 5 & 8)
Circa 1984
To whom it may concern:
As many of you know, the New Direction program (AKA “The Tie Guys”) has another student in its group. I am, of course, that student. I am submitting this letter to The Review because I want to explain my reasons for joining The New Direction I would also like to explain what The New Direction program is all about and hopefully correct many false impressions that have been circulating on campus.
I did not decide to enter The New Direction program because of financial or academic problems. Although I have done well during my years of college classes, I have not gained enough confidence to believe that these years of study will prove to be of real value in the “outside world.”
Because I view my activities at SVC as determining, in part, what might be a slice of my future, these doubts have been painful at times. I would like someday to become special. A desire to be eligible to enroll in a Law School, or Graduate School, or even the seminary, caused me to move toward The New Direction. I believe that The New Direction would help me become a greater achiever and would help me discover new ways to use the knowledge I am gaining; it would help me discover new ways to use the knowledge I am gaining; it would help me to prepare to be open to many opportunities as they will arise for me.
I am really eager to express my views of the program. I can very sincerely say that I thoroughly enjoy it and appreciate it. New Direction life attempts to deal with every day, honest responsibilities as most adults handle them on the “outside.” In houses all over the country, like at the XXXXX house, people cook, house clean, repair things, and work to improve their homes. The program thinks that learning how to do these things very well now will help us to make a very smooth transition into what will soon become abrupt but daily adult responsibilities. We all hope one day to have nice houses, eat well cooked meals, and enjoy happy families. Living together in this fraternity and learning how to do these things well are not nearly as difficult as you might imagine. The graduates of New Direction say that these experiences are very worthwhile for the future. We entertained 30 guests with meals and accommodations during the Thanksgiving weekend. It was a happy time. We will all remember it for a long time. I know that the XXXXX family really enjoyed it, all thirteen of them!
To be involved in community service helps us to gain the ability to deal successfully with people beyond our peers. This community service should help us a lot in whatever careers we choose. It also helps us to practice some Christianity. These program activities do take up some of our free time, sometimes it seems like a lot of it, but working together in the group takes most of the strain out of the chores.
The big priority in the program is academics. We have to achieve! NDI students are being funded to learn something. The director tells us that amounts to a fair trade. A student going to the four-year program gets roughly $30,000. There are no repayment obligations of any kind at all, financial or otherwise. It’s completely free. When the student leaves, there are no strings attached. The graduates say that that is a good feeling when one is trying to get together a down payment on a house. Believe me the scholarship is very generous, even to the point of soap, shampoo and shaving cream. And we can raid the refridge 24 hours a day. NDI even pays for an occasional movie and the cokes and popcorn. A trip to New York or Chicago isn’t out of the question, expenses paid. We accompanied the boss to meetings, etc.
A lot of people think were swamped with religious requirements. NDI is a secular program. Here’s what we do. We pray before we eat. We go to Sunday mass together. Amen. That’s it. NDI has had a liturgical folk group that played at one mass a week, so the guy slept in on Sunday since mass was Saturday night. Right now it is not going on, but may start up during the second semester.
On weekdays we all get up at 6:00 AM. Lights out for everyone at 11:30 PM. We have to go to all classes, we have to study during the day and evening, we have to deal with program requirements, and we have to eat. Meals are on the schedule, but planning our day is a matter of our own gymnastics. For sure we have to get the job done (part of the $30,000 ), but we have television, HBO, the movie channel, movie discs, video games, a basketball hoop, card games, and a lot of other “distractions” in our day, as well. And people thought we were monks? We have to be responsible, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have fun.
I have been asked about adjustments to the program. Having campus guys give my suit the “bad eye” was strange for a day or two. Convincing people that I both like the program and am the same person I’ve always been has been hard. Wearing a tie in the shower seems strange. (Just kidding!) There really are no difficult adjustments at all.
We do have a boss here, the program director, David Hemmerling by name. He can sure be demanding! I think that’s because he wants every graduate to be a top officer of General Motors or thereabouts. He is definitely not harsh like a lot of people say, but he doesn’t like to take second best from any student.
I’m glad that I managed to get the scholarship and the special chance. Before I entered, I called David and asked if I could get in. He told me to come over to discuss it. There were a couple of empty rooms. He doesn’t believe in empty rooms. Two hours later I had a scholarship, the room, and a new opportunity. There was no hassle, no problem, and no strain. Believe me, I am grateful. The New Direction dream is simply to help people get ahead. But you have to want to get ahead; NDI will not give money or chances to anyone who wants to spend all of his time playing around.
And now I want to say that I really appreciate this chance to tell everyone about how XXXXX likes The New Direction, because he really does. If you want to know more about a good thing, ask me! Or ask any of the “tie guys,” they’ll be happy to tell you about it. If they seem shy, give them a break. Say hello! Thanks a lot.
[Name Withheld]The Review
Circa 1984
