"And Who is Miss Crimaldi?"

by Rose Mary Madejski

Pharmacy students had to take physics as one of their prerequisites. We had this awful teacher, Dr. Payton. One time he walked in to class and wrote F = MA and then dismissed the class. I thought to myself, "I've been on the bus since 6:30 this morning, and that's it?!"

Eventually, I found a ride to school with Cozzie Constantino. Well, wouldn't you know for the first physics exam we arrive late. However, there wasn't one soul in the whole class who passed.

I was upset because I had come back to school from having tuberculosis and was trying to make up some courses. I went in to see Dean Murray and said, "I want to complain about physics because we're paying good tuition and traveling a long way to get here at 7:30 a.m. and we need a little bit more lecture than this."

The next time I walked in to physics, Dr. Payton said, "And who is Miss Crimaldi?" I said, "I am, sir." He said, "Well, Miss Crimaldi, let it be noted that you will not pass this course. People who complain about me don't get through this course." And I said, "You know Dr. Payton, I've overcome a lot of obstacles, and you're a minor obstacle."

After that he would pick on me, continuously. In the meantime, I started to go to another physics recitation section. I got a 90 on the next exam and then an 88. I was leading the class, but I figured I still wouldn't pass the course.

On the last drop/add day I planned to drop the course after physics lab. I went to lab and was halfway through the experiment when I looked down and saw Dr. Payton's feet. I immediately said," All right, you're not going to have me as a problem anymore. I can't take the stress that you're putting me under." And he said, "I came to apologize. I was out of line. You are a good student, and you've proved that time and time again on all your exams. I don't want you to drop the course."

But the most outstanding thing was that in my final year in pharmacy school, I got a call from him at home. He said, "Do you want to go to medical school?" And I said, "Oh, I'd love to go to medical school, but I don't have the finances and I'm engaged, so it would not be an opportune career choice at this point." And he said, "I'm on the admissions board. If you want to go, I will personally sponsor you. Think about it a little more because in 15 years it's going to be different. There'll be a lot more women in medicine, and I think you have the talent. If you change your mind, call me."

I talked it over with my parents and fiance and we all decided that I wouldn't go. But it was amazing how the whole thing turned around and we ended up as friends.