Susan Crist Oral History Interview, February 5, 2020

Partial Transcript: What was the process for applying to colleges when you were a senior in high school?

Segment Synopsis: The interview starts with Susan's explanation as to how she picked which college to attend after graduating high school in 1979. She received little help from her parents, but during that time period it was normal for parents not to be too involved. She talks about how she had more involvement with helping her sons pick where to go to college than her parents did when she was choosing a university. She decided to look into the University of Idaho, University of Oregon, and Oregon State. She talks about how she has grown up in Oregon all of her life but that her parents attended the University of California Santa Barbara. They were also both involved in greek life.

Keywords: 1979; Golf; Golf Team; Kappa Alpha Theta; Law School; Los Angelos; Oregon; Oregon State University; Sigma Phi Epsilon; UCSB; University of Idaho; University of Oregon

Partial Transcript: Were you looking at other schools besides Oregon State? Why did you consider these other schools?

Segment Synopsis: Susan felt really strongly about looking into schools that had a women's golf team. She kept golf very near and dear to her heart since she had come from a golfing family and played in high school. Her dad and brother played college golf while her mother played recreational golf. She talks about how she has come to appreciate golf and the positive impact it's had on her life.

Keywords: College Golf; Family; Golf; Golf Team

Partial Transcript: Were your parents in business? How did you deal with your parents divorce?

Segment Synopsis: Susan explains her parents divorce after 26 years of being married and how it had a drastic impact on her life even while she was away at college. With the help of her sorority sisters she was able to overcome this emotional stage in her life. She felt as though divorce was still painful even as a young adult. After the divorce her relationship with her mother got even stronger.

Keywords: Divorce; Father; Homemaker; Mother; Parents; Sorority; Support

Partial Transcript: What did you learn from your mother after the divorce? How did her life change?

Segment Synopsis: Susan talks about the change in her family dynamic after her parent's split, specifically focusing on her Mother's struggles. She really learned from how her mom handled life after the divorce and respected the strength she had to start her new life on her own. One of her main takeaways was that you are in control of how you deal with the cards life gives you.

Keywords: Homemaker; Independent; Life; Mother; Social; Victum

Partial Transcript: What was your mother's background regarding home economics? What did she learn in her home economic's classes?

Segment Synopsis: Susan gives a little background information about her mothers education. Her mother majored in home economics at the University of California Santa Barbara. Susan talks about how she has never been drawn to cooking, sewing, or anything craft related. Even though her mother was not the best cook, one of the things her mother did excel at was money management. Susan learned a lot from her mother financially when she went through her own divorce. Susan also talks about when she introduced her mother to current husband how much it meant to her that she approved of him regardless of the age difference.

Keywords: Cooking; Divorce; Education; Finances; Home Economics; Marriage; Money Management; Mother; Sewing; Street Smart

Partial Transcript: Has golf been an important part of your life because of your parents? Now looking back, do you think your father's harsh words of advice were warranted?

Segment Synopsis: Susan talks about the pivotal moment her dad played in her motivation to do well academically when she had not been considered a strong student. Before she applied for college he said that she did not have good enough grades to get into college, a sorority, or even to graduate. At the time, it really had a negative impact on her emotionally. However, she has been able to reflect and understand that he gave her the motivation to succeed throughout the stressors of college. She went through a period in time where she was put on academic probation. During this time she thought back to what her dad said and made the decision to change her major to something she enjoyed.

Subjects: Change; Education; Father; Grades; Major; Motivation; Oregon State; Suspension

Partial Transcript: After you sent off your college applications, then what happened? What was your major when you came into college?

Segment Synopsis: After getting into all three of the college she applied to, Susan ended up making the decision to attend Oregon State because of the golf team. Oregon State did not have the resources to help students navigate through their first few months of college like they do now. She came into college undeclared but changed her major quickly after enjoying a journalism and photo journalism class. She had a very inspirational professors that helped her step out of her comfort zone and take on various jobs she wasn't going to otherwise.

Keywords: Barometer; College; Golf Team; Internship; Journalism; Oregon State; Photo; Undeclared

Partial Transcript: Did you end up getting an offer from one of the opportunities that your professor pushed you to apply for? Do you know where the barometer is on campus now?

Segment Synopsis: At this point in college Susan had declared her major in journalism, she had been writing for the barometer for three years, joined a sorority, and she had been an active student athlete on the golf team. She mentioned that she felt as though she got to a point where she couldn't put energy into all of her commitments so she decided to quit the golf team. She knew she had no interest in becoming a professional golfer so she felt as though staying on the team was not beneficial for her end goal. However, she knew she would someday return to the game of golf. She has fond memories of being a D1 athlete and still enjoys being an alumni for the team.

Keywords: Athlete; Barometer; D1 Athelete; Golf Team; Quitting; Sorority; Student

Partial Transcript: Why has golf held a special place in your heart for so long? How does your sportsmanship in the game of golf speak to your character outside of the game?

Segment Synopsis: Susan made the connection that you can tell a lot about a person by their sportsmanship on the golf course. She gave the advice that if someone were to cheat on the golf course, that they would most likely not be an honest individual. She takes pride in the fact that she can hold her own in the male dominated sport. She also shares the story about how she spontaneously met her husband on the golf course.

Keywords: Business; Character; Cheating; Golf

Partial Transcript: What were the classes like when you were in college? What is a test file?

Segment Synopsis: Susan talks about how her introduction classes at Oregon State were very large and at times overwhelming. She also mentions that within her sorority they had a test bank to help girls study for exams. She also spoke briefly about her time in the dorms.

Keywords: Courses; Dorms; Lectures; Milam; Oregon State

Partial Transcript: What was it like being around all of the freshman girls who pledged sororities? Did you know coming into college that you wanted to join a sorority?

Segment Synopsis: Susan had gone through sorority recruitment as a freshman, but did not actually pledge until she was a sophomore. However, she was able to learn more about the houses from observing the girls who were in them when she was a freshman not apart of greek life. She believed that her grades had a big impact on what houses wanted her. Unfortunately, this validated her dads statement of not being smart enough to get into a sorority. She shares how she loved living in the Kappa house and that all of her best memories were spent with her close friends in the house.

Keywords: Greek; Greek Life; Kappa Kappa Gamma; Recruitment; Rush; Sisters

Partial Transcript: What was Greek Life's reputation? How do you navigate talking about greek life in the professional world?

Segment Synopsis: When asked about greek life's reputation, she shares that you get very different answers depending on who you ask. If you are in the greek system, you believe greek life is great. For those who are not, they do not think highly of greek life. Even in the professional world she strays away from asking if individuals are in the greek system. She strays away from asking about greek affiliations because she does not want to be stereotyped. When she talks to people not in greek life she brings up her time on the golf team and with the barometer.

Keywords: GDI; Greek Life; Kappa Kappa Gamma; Reputation; Stereotypes

Partial Transcript: What was Kappa Kappa Gamma's reputation? Do you think sororities have changed since you were in college?

Segment Synopsis: She talks about why she was proud to affiliate with her sorority due to their fantastic reputation. She believes greek life has changed for the better. She feels as though it is a much more inclusive and progressive community. Cultural and interest based sororities and fraternities were not a thing when she attended Oregon State. Within her time at Kappa she attended retreats, house dances, wake up breakfasts, and fun recruitment events. She learned a lot of life skills and how to navigate friendships/relationships.

Keywords: Friends; Greek Life; House Dances; Kappa Kappa Gamma; Recruitment; Retreats

Partial Transcript: What did you do on the weekends? What were the sporting events like?

Segment Synopsis: Susan references the sporting events that she used to attend when she was in college. We had a really great basketball team, and people would even camp out to get tickets. On the other hand, our football team was not the best.

Keywords: Basketball; Football; Team

Partial Transcript: What is your favorite prank story? What other craziness happened within the sorority house?

Segment Synopsis: Susan talks about all the pranks that went on around the house when she lived in her sorority. She shares a story about how a girl tried to get back at someone for eating her leftovers by peeing in the food. She also shared a story about the couch catching on fire after fraternity men came into the house smoking cigars.

Keywords: Pranks; Sorority

Partial Transcript: What changes have you seen within kappa specifically? Do you wish that these changes had around when you were in the house?

Segment Synopsis: Within the sorority house, they faced issues such as eating disorders and theft. When it came to the theft, they put the house on lockdown so that the alumni could search the rooms. She does not remember hazing being a big issue on campus. She was never put in any uncomfortable situations or situations that would be considered hazing. Now days, even enforcing study hours is considered hazing. However, when she was in the sorority they did allow for study hours, and girls were even shamed for having bad grades.

Keywords: Alumni; Eating Disorders; Grades; Hazing; Sorority; Study Hours; Theft

Partial Transcript: Were you ever in any honor's societies? How did you get college credit through your internship?

Segment Synopsis: Susan was never in any honors clubs, but she did mention that her grades were significantly better in college than they were in high school. She even talks about how she was able to obtain college credit for doing an internship. Which was very helpful considering she received a 4.0! It took her four years and a term to graduate, so she technically walked during her fifth year.

Keywords: 4.0; College; Graduation; Internship

Partial Transcript: Did the sorority do anything special for your graduation? How did you feel about the sorority during your senior year?

Segment Synopsis: Susan reflects on her remaining years in Kappa. When she was a senior she felt as though she was done with all of the sorority stuff. However, she wished that she would have been more in the present during those last couple of months. Lived in the sorority for three years with 59 other women. After her senior year she had to move home and start her internship.

Keywords: Alumni; College; Home; Internship; Move; Sorority

Partial Transcript: Did you have a leadership position within the sorority? Tell me about an incident where you made a mistake in your leadership role.

Segment Synopsis: Susan was the house manager for her sorority. She shares a story about how she was perceived as being rude to guest. She had to go in and talk with the standards board. The standards board holds girls accountable when they are not upholding the sororities values. She felt horrible and made sure that she never did it again. She talks about how living in the sorority teaches you how to navigate and interact with various kinds of people. She compared her sorority experience to the real world since not everyone is going to be your best friend.

Keywords: House; House Manager; Leadership; Life Skills; Sorority; Standards; Trouble

Partial Transcript: What memories or lessons did you take away from kappa? What were some challenges in your life that you faced after college?

Segment Synopsis: Susan opens up about some of the hardships she went through in her life such as divorce, being a single mom, and getting laid off after 14 years. Although, after losing her job at Monster.com she was able to apply for an opening in higher education at Oregon State. She currently works at the College of Business working with alumni relations. She finds amazing alumni and companies to come to Corvallis to talk with the College of Business students. She loves seeing the alumni give back and having a part in changing our future work force. Since she's come back, she has been involved with her old sorority, and the golf team. Everything came full circle!

Keywords: Alumni; Austin Hall; Business; Business School; Companies; Divorce; Golf Team; Hardship; Mom; Single

Partial Transcript: Do you think either of your sons would have done well at OSU? What was your greatest accomplishment as a single mother?

Segment Synopsis: She gives a little background on her two sons who went to Linfield. She felt as though she was able to help facilitate a smooth transition into the real world after college. She speaks very highly of them, and her greatest accomplishment was getting them off of the payroll! She does wish that they attended Oregon State. She thinks that her youngest son would have enjoyed a little bigger college like Oregon State. She mentions that being at a bigger school such as Oregon State, it opens doors.

Keywords: After College; Boys; Linfield; Oregon State; PAC 12; Single Mother; Sons

Partial Transcript: What advice do you have for student going out into the workforce? What should students be doing during their summers away from school?

Segment Synopsis: Her advice to college students would be to have a job every summer. She heavily recommends studying abroad and obtaining experiences in which you will be able to talk about. Sitting around all summer will not help when it comes to your future job search. She enjoy's hearing about Gen Z's side hustles and hearing about what people are passionate about. As far as business students, she recommends not overlooking sales positions. She does not want students to overlook the not as appealing jobs since they are great for obtaining experience. Sitting and waiting for the "cool" job is just not going to happen.

Keywords: Advice; Career Fairs; Careers; College Students; Companies; First Job; Jobs; Recommendations

Partial Transcript: How has the College of Business changed? What is the college's blueprint model now?

Segment Synopsis: Even though Susan spent her college years in the College of Liberal Arts, she did know somewhat about the College of Business. She talks about how the College of Business now has changed for the absolute best. She speaks very highly of their blueprint of preparing their students professionally with resume crafting, interview questions, and financial literacy. When she went to college, they did not offer these programs. The College of Business really sets students up for success after college so that they have a plan when they graduate.

Keywords: Austin Hall; Blueprint; College of Business; Planning; Professional Development

Partial Transcript: What are some of your college regrets? What path did you take after college?

Segment Synopsis: She ends the interview by stating that she regrets that she never took the opportunity to study abroad. She realized that after her sorority sisters had studied abroad that they came back changed for the better. They saw the world through a different lens. She also talks about how she never tried to take the opportunities to work from the bottom up when she graduated college. She felt as though she took the path of least resistance. She has experienced the most growth in her life through the situations that were out of her control. She has built the confidence to allow her to push through her difficult times, and is very proud of where she is now!

Keywords: Confidence; Growth; Personal Growth; Reflection; Regrets; Risks; Study Abroad