Raymond College

02/07/2026

Nothing could be clearer than this. Let's remind folks that he wants to sell access to our country to folk who can pay millions of dollars. Let us also be very clear that whether or not he was ever on Epstein's island the evidence is very clear that he marketed Slavic and Russian women like Melania on menu like cards to Epstein.

Trump's inherited racism has been clear from the earliest part of his career when he was attempting not to rent to black folks.

I am proud of the NFL for sponsoring Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show and I wonder aloud how much their own employment practices with largely black players affected their decision. They would much prefer not to advertise their own reliance on the racism that means so many black athletes sacrifice themselves as a way to find equal citizenship.

Late last night, President Donald J.

10/14/2024

This analysis is surely aimed at all Latinos, Blacks, journalists and Democrats.

So early on in his next term, probably on the first day when he assumes dictatorial powers, Donald Trump promise to turn out thy3 military to accomplish a mass deportation of "illegal immigrants" from this country.

What would the details look like? I doubt there are many folks in the military who have much thought about how to distinguish between a legitimate immigrant or citizen from an illegal one. Generally that has been a matter for the courts - not for the average citizen or soldier.

In fact we do have history in this regard. We have accomplished big expulsions In the 30's as many as 2 million folks were "repatriated" to Mexico without many clear legal programs to distinguish between U.S. citizens and Mexicans.

My guess is we would follow the same pattern this time with a lot of help from racist U.S. citizens. would round up folks suspected of being "illegals". Based on Trump's lying rants about Springfield Ohio he apparently thinks that Haitians in legally protected status are illegals.

You know how to recognize a Haitian, don't you? They are black people and they talk funny.

Make no mistake. The Donald's attempt to purify the blood of America does not intend to target his immigrant wife (who was at least briefly illegal according to reports) It will target anyone whose skin is not - by his definition white and certainly White folks like myself who would oppose and demonstrate against such indiscriminate moves. No doubt he would send along to another country along with all the journalists reporting he story and likely anyone else he can prove to be opposed to him.

If you are brown, black, yellow, or merely speaking against him, our first defense is your vote. Do what as you can to get it done, and please vote only once. I'd like the proven vote disruptors to all be MAGA Republicans.

Share this quickly before Facebook represses it.

09/14/2024

I have never believed that people vote on issues nationally. Locally yes. You know what it means to have somebody on your school board who wants to promote private education.

Nationally that's almost never.

Nationally it's almost never about policy, but almost always Barack Obama's beer test.

I'll make it simpler than that. Who would you like in your family?

By very old traditions, primitive ones, we anoint the President with magical and spiritual powers.

I think I could do Thanksgiving with Kamala's family. It is blended in a way I am familiar with. I know she would cook. I also suspect she would surprise me. (What does a curry turkey taste like?}

I know I would be welcome there. I know she would cook for me. I already know that she is and would be charming. She is on my side, interested in what my concerns are. And it wouldn't be a parade.

If I got to be in the Imhoff household during Thanksgiving, I would be just another welcomed guest. There would be no brass bands playing. I would just be another friend.

Contrast that for an uncomfortable moment with the Donald. Will his daughter come to Thanksgiving dinner? Does the Donald even celebrate that with his vision of apocalyptic America. Imagine for a moment what it must feel like to be imprisoned as Don Jr. and Eric are to their father's doomed perspective.

I will take the smile instead of the scowl. I will happily eat a curried Thanksgiving turkey if that's what she cooks.

I believe in the big, all encompassing, American family. It cannot be under siege because there are no "others". We are the hope of the world because we treat the world finally like family.

Our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are suffering now because they have a neighbor ruled by Ms. Cranky Pants.

We should not fail them. We will not fail them. They are family.

Please share the hell out of this folks. I am a writer who wants to be widely read.

07/04/2024

Here is a link to the pdf version of the "Mandate for Leadership..." Raymond is hosting a zoom-based analysis and discussion of the document. People on the listserv will have already received an invitation. If you want to be involved and are not on the listserv database, please comment below. Please include your Raymond affiliation (i.e., graduation date, years of attendance, faculty connection etc.) This is a closed discussion group.

05/25/2024

For Memorial Day from my life as I presented it in my novel:

Tom leaned forward rubbing his hands as if to wash them without soap or water.
"My first trip to the wall. My young friend Malikah graduated from Fisk. I'd been to her commencement. General Powell spoke. Malikah's mother had business in Washington, and I had an agency meeting. We met at the Memorial."
Tom folded his hands leaned back and looked up at the ceiling through moist eyes..
"I'd seen the traveling wall, but it's not the same. I think it's about the way the stone rises from the ground, biggest damn tombstone ever, made for all the men we'll never meet again."
Cheeks wet, Tom smiled.
"Malikah and I thought I was doing pretty well. I was cool. I was keeping it together.
The guardians at the wall are all old grunts like us, each in some uniform of his choice, some outward sign, jungle fatigues on one, a boony hat on another, several with a Division Patch, each declaring in his own way that he'd made the long damned trip with us.
"Midway down at the belly of the wall, a grizzled grunt grabbed a young girl leaning over the wall, almost dangling too far down from the top.
"'Don't', he said; 'You'll fall.'"
"Next to me a short guy said.'I was just trying to get a rubbing of my brother's name.'
"Well I'm a tall guy. Six foot three inches last time I looked. I could fix the problem. Piece of cake."
Tom smiled broadly, somehow amused at his own naiveté.
"Is that the name? I asked the short guy, pointing with my finger where the girl had reached. He nodded yes.
"They hand out paper for rubbings with large leaded pencils for the families at the wall. I took his, paper in my left, pencil in right, and reached up with both hands to the name of one I never knew."
Briefly, Tom bowed his head forward now as if in prayer, and then he straightened, spoke again looking each of us in the eye.
"Stretching to the top of my reach, I felt my hands pressing against the wall, its size and weight, suddenly crushing and enormous. One more time for just one more task, I was reaching out, giving support, and comfort to a long dead brother.

05/02/2024

Send your reservations in for the June reunion!

04/12/2024

This reunion is sneaking up on us! Get your reservation in NOW. https://pacific.imodules.com/s/749/16/interior.aspx?sid=749&gid=1&pgid=6690&content_id=7425&fbclid=IwAR3pzddMe00vHZfWvgzdVndLhcZQ8XtpXmMlAtBMjdmefz8d7xyAI28laio_aem_ASWI0CpPLTfaMJxsYka3-AlejaSTB5wc8z0bac6u9D_qND9N8ZmD4YsTzpXkljEZo35eTU5MQYBJhPRbjk0oYf9y

Our Raymond community continues to experience new ways of coming together, learning, and sharing. 2024 brings a live, in-person reunion in the heart of Stockton at University of the Pacific. We will connect both on and off-campus for this adventure - 62 years after the founding of the College of Con...

03/29/2024

From my novel, The Last Lost Warrior, for Vietnam Veterans Day:

Tom leaned forward rubbing his hands as if to wash them without soap or water.
"My first trip to the wall. My young friend Malikah graduated from Fisk. I'd been to her commencement. General Powell spoke. Malikah's mother had business in Washington, and I had an agency meeting. We met at the Memorial."
Tom folded his hands leaned back and looked up at the ceiling through moist eyes..
"I'd seen the traveling wall, but it's not the same. I think it's about the way the stone rises from the ground, biggest damn tombstone ever, made for all the men we'll never meet again."
Cheeks wet, Tom smiled.
"Malikah and I thought I was doing pretty well. I was cool. I was keeping it together.
The guardians at the wall are all old grunts like us, each in some uniform of his choice, some outward sign, jungle fatigues on one, a boony hat on another, several with a Division Patch, each declaring in his own way that he'd made the long damned trip with us.
"Midway down at the belly of the wall, a grizzled grunt grabbed a young girl leaning over the wall, almost dangling too far down from the top.
"'Don't', he said; 'You'll fall.'"
"Next to me a short guy said.'I was just trying to get a rubbing of my brother's name.'
"Well I'm a tall guy. Six foot three inches last time I looked. I could fix the problem. Piece of cake."
Tom smiled broadly, somehow amused at his own naiveté.
"Is that the name? I asked the short guy, pointing with my finger where the girl had reached. He nodded yes.
"They hand out paper for rubbings with large leaded pencils for the families at the wall. I took his, paper in my left, pencil in right, and reached up with both hands to the name of one I never knew."
Briefly, Tom bowed his head forward now as if in prayer, and then he straightened, spoke again looking each of us in the eye.
"Stretching to the top of my reach, I felt my hands pressing against the wall, its size and weight, suddenly crushing and enormous. One more time for just one more task, I was reaching out, giving support, and comfort to a long dead brother."

03/19/2024

Raymond College Reunion
June 4-6, 2024

Our Raymond community continues to experience new ways of coming together, learning and sharing. 2024 brings a live, in-person reunion in the heart of Stockton at University of the Pacific.

We will connect both on- and off-campus for this adventure, 62 years after the founding of the College of Consequence. Our 2024 reunion is hosted by a wide variety of folks from throughout the history of the college. It reflects many of the “lessons learned” from our prior get-togethers. We will join colleagues and friends from across the span of Raymond history, share sparkling conversation and witty repartee - or at minimum enjoy some hugs and laughter and happy tears. We will meet new friends, share some conversations appropriate to this time in our lives, as well as discuss whatever issues we want.

Bring your Raymond friends and join us June 4, 5, and 6, 2024.

Your Raymond Reunion Committee, Bill Kenah '65 '66, Dave Ellis '65, Dave Wellenbrock '67, Doug Haner '65, Edna DeVore '67, Jim Lynch '68, Laurel Koepernik '69, Norma Chinchilla '65, Paula Sheil '75, Ursula Shepherd '66, and Wendi Maxwell '71

Details: check-in begins at 1 PM on Tuesday, June 4th at the Alex & Jeri Vereschagin Alumni House. Reunion activities conclude on Thursday, June 6, with a farewell brunch at the home of alumnus David Wellenbrock '67. In-between are opportunities for programs, tours and plenty of celebration.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel for the rate of $139/night + tax. Secure your room by calling (209) 944-1140 before May 10 and using group code "Raymond College24."

02/28/2024

Reminder: Raymond Reunion June 4, 5, and 6, 2024 in Stockton. Registration cards will wing their way to you through the mail within a couple of weeks.

1. Why is it mid-week? Those are the dates we could easily get from the Alumni Office. They don't conflict with other on-campus activities.

2. Will there be a high table dinner in the Great Hall? OF COURSE! But you don't have to dress up.

3. What's the cost? Final budget is still in the tinkering stage. We are keeping the cost as low as possible. Your formal "invitation" will have the registration fee, plus other information.

4. Are all the activities on campus? No, we have a couple of events at private homes - Tuesday evening and Thursday morning. We will carpool as needed.

5. Where's the hotel? We have a discount on rooms at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel. Details will be in the invitation.

6. What if I can't afford all of this? We are NOT coordinating people sharing rooms or getting lifts from the airport. That said though, if you need some financial help, let us know and we'll see if there's help available...

Hope to see you in June!
Wendi Maxwell, Raymond 1971

12/23/2023