Controlling Mother

by Art Kaiser

I was director of admissions and records when we merged with SUNY in 1962. I recall getting the application for a student who was from the Buffalo area who had very high test scores and a pretty lousy record. We sent the usual letter saying if you want to talk about this make an appointment and come in.

This kid came in with his mother. I always like to talk to students without their parents being present, but the mother sat next to the kid. I was at a desk, and I said to him, "Now, I'm just a little puzzled with all this ability. You have a great deal of talent, you could do very well in school - but you haven't." And the mother leaned over and gave the kid a slap in the face. She's about five feet tall, he was about 6'2", and I thought, "Oh, my God, what's going on here?"

She said, "See what the doctor's saying?!" I said, "It's ok - I'll give you a chance to go to summer school if you want to. You take a couple of summer courses, and if you do well in the summer courses we'll consider you for the fall." She said "Say yes," and right away she gave him another slap on the face. He was a big kid. I said, "You think this over and if you want to talk to me again let's make an appointment for a week from now."

So he made the appointment, and the next week he came in with the mother again. This time I sat between the mother and the son.