Class Notes: Generation Conversation

Although they are from different generations, Irene Colle Kaplan ’58 and Johanna Matulonis ’23 have both been part of University his-tory during periods of great change. Colle Kaplan, a retired teacher in Minneapolis, was a sophomore when the Men’s and Women’s Colleges merged on the River Campus, and Matulonis, a biology major from Belmont, Massachusetts, has been living on campus dur-ing the pandemic. Among their many connections, Matulonis is the recipient of the Edward L. and Irene Colle Kaplan Scholarship, which Colle Kaplan and her husband, Ed, also from the Class of 1958, established in 2013.

What are some of your standout memories from campus?

Colle Kaplan: I have two. One is about the classes themselves. Back when I was a student, all the classes in the first two years were assigned. It was called “core curriculum.” We went to English, Government, Western Civilization, and other classes together. It was just an old-fashioned, healthy atmosphere that we all loved. Mind you, we only had about 400 students in our class, so things were much smaller back then.

And, here’s a funny memory. Our synchronized swim team was doing our last show in our senior year. The lights went down, and we got into position. When the lights came back on, we saw that we had an extra swimmer with us. A duck. One of the guys had put it there. It was probably my husband-to-be and friends, although he and the others never fessed up. That would not have happened at an all-girls school.

Matulonis: Here’s something I don’t think I’ll ever forget that happened during the pandemic. It was a warm Saturday early in October, around 75 degrees. I was involved in organizing bonding events for my sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, so we all grabbed food and blankets—and masks—and went to Highland Park where we had a picnic together. That was so much fun, and it felt so normal, which is a hard feeling to find right now.

I also remember a pre-COVID time when a friend and I bought an ice cream cake to celebrate her birthday and we ate the whole thing together in one sitting. I love that it’s a close-knit community here.

What was your biggest challenge as a student?

Colle Kaplan: People were ambivalent about the merger. But, on the plus side, we looked at it like a new adventure. We were uncertain but optimistic. Before it happened, we were very comfortable. Twenty-three of us lived together at the Bragdon House on Prince Street.

We had a house mother, a curfew, and we started forming our lasting friendships there.

Matulonis: All the COVID restrictions can be isolating. For instance, we can’t hang out or go to the library. Being a college student on campus right now requires a certain level of maturity. We have to constantly think about what’s safe for ourselves and for those around us. I’ve chosen to be on campus because I know I can still share experiences with my campus friends. We’ve created this very solid support system for each other.

We are all going through this together and there’s comfort in that.

Read more of the conversation online.