You were just doing what you thought was right. For a humble, working class kid from Northampton, Massachusetts, it probably felt that simple. You couldn’t have known that your actions in the spring of 1961 would alter the trajectory of your college and etch your name into Williams history. But that’s exactly what happened. You were captain and quarterback of the football team. A Junior Advisor and President of your fraternity. You had hard earned social capital and weren’t afraid to spend it when the inequities and injustices within the residential and social structures of the fraternity system were glaring. You weren’t alone in seeing those, of course. Many before had spoken up against that system or had their Williams experience negatively impacted by it in silence. You and a handful of fellow undergrads set out to make change. A first meeting drew under 20 students. The next saw that number double. A third meeting brought together close to 100 students but now with voices in opposition to your efforts in attendance. A deeply thoughtful petition was written and it concluded, in part, by recommending “the immediate establishment of a committee consisting of Trustees, students, faculty members and alumni to conduct a complete investigation of the social system.” Forty-six undergrads signed on to what would come to be known as the “Grinnell Petition”. That document was on John Sawyer’s desk when he began his transformative tenure as Williams President in July of 1961. Shortly after, you were one of two students named to the Angevine Committee formed by President Sawyer and the Board to determine the role of fraternities. The rest, as they say, is history. And your college is forever grateful for the part you played in helping Williams move forward.
In recognition of your distinguished achievement in service to your college, Williams is proud to honor you with its Bicentennial Medal.