March 1st, 2006
Come to Wellesley and Marry Them
Alexandra M. Gutierrez writes an article about Wellesley women and Harvard (as well as MIT) men but curiously doesn't refer to the episode of The Simpsons where Lisa, after being asked by spelling bee host George Plimpton to throw the contest in return for a scholarship to one of the Seven Sisters colleges of her choice. Peter has the transcript:
Barnard:(wearing glasses): We are the Seven Sisters. And you can attend any one of us! Like Barnard, Columbia's "girl next door."
Radcliffe: Come to Radcliffe and meet Harvard men.
Wellesley: Or come to Wellesley and marry them.
Mount Holyoke (slurring, champagne glass in hand): No. Party with me! (Falls face first.)
Vassar: Or nonconform with me! (Raises arms, reveals hairy armpits.)
Lisa: Uh . . .
Smith: (muscular, carries lacrosse stick, husky voice): Play lacrosse with me!
Bryn Mawr: Or explore with me! (She and SMITH kiss with passion.)
Lisa: No, I don't want to pay for college by throwing a spelling bee!
Sisters (in unison): Give in, Lisa! Get a free ride!
Plimpton: And a hot plate!
Sisters: (holding hands and dancing in a circle around Lisa): Free ride! Free ride! Free ride!
Plimpton: And a hot plate!
(Lisa wakes up screaming.)
Thanks to my friend Lisa, a Wellesley alum, for the link.