1. OlderStudents,YoungMinds
By Mary Fennell
Purchase College hasadiverse studentbodyandallowsseniorstoauditclasses. Auditorscan
take a maximumof twoclasses forcrediteachsemester.
In orderto registerforclasses,anauditormustbe at least60 yearsoldand paya small fee.
Auditorsdon’tneedtopaytuitionbutif theywant to enroll innon-creditclasses,guarantee aspotina
class,earn college creditoruse the physical educationbuilding,the auditorshave topayfull tuition.
Auditorsare free totake the classestheywantbutare not able toregisterfortheirclassesuntil
aroundthe secondweekof the semesterafterall the new andmatriculatedstudentsare registeredand
settledintheirclasses. Theyalsodon’ttake testsorparticipate inexamreview,theysimplytake the
classfor enjoymentortolearnsomethingnew.
RogerMoyer whohas a bachelorof science inindustrial
engineeringfromVirginiaTechsayshe begantakingclassesin2007 after
he retiredinorderto fill inthe missingliberal artsside of hiscollege
experience.“IfoundIreallyenjoyedthe classes,andhave continuedasa
matterof interest,stimulation,andabilitytoattendandbenefitfrom
excellentprofessorsatminimal cost,withoutrequirementsotherthan
those I place onmyself.”SaidMoyeronhis classes.
Otherauditorshoweverhave otherreasonstotake classes.
Barbara Ames has beenauditing atPurchase for24 years. “I had a very
close friendwhohadheardwe couldauditclasseshere because we were
both60,” Amessaid,giggling. “Itrieditandjust lovedit,andit’sbecome
a reallyimportantpartof mylife eversince.”
Barbara lovesliterature classesandhistoryclassesinparticular
and has takenmanyotherclassesincludingarthistory,philosophy,and
political science. Herhusband,Irving,alsotakesclassesas an auditor
since he stoppedworking11 yearsago. Ameswas a scientistandnow
takesliberal artsclassesandaccordingto him, he lovesit.
Anothercouple,PhilipandHarrietJanaveyhave beenauditingforabout16 yearsand have been
takingall theirclassestogether.Theydecidedtoauditclassesaftertheyretiredandhave beentakingart
history,cinema,history,literature andpolitical science.“We enjoythe intellectualstimulationandbeing
withyoungpeople,”saidPhilipJanavey,“aswell as the otheractivitiesofferedbythe school suchas
films,lectures,andlive performances.”
Many auditors enjoy beingaroundyoungstudents.“Youcando thiskindof thinginotherplaces
but we love the factthat here at Purchase we are withyoung,matriculatedstudents,”saidAmes,“and
that’sa verypositive thingforusbecause we love beingaroundyoungpeople.We’reinterestedinwhat
theyhave to say,and we feel we canlearna lot fromthem.They’re usuallyveryfriendlyandvery
pleasantandmake us feel welcome.”
Figure 1 Senior Auditor Patricia
Torres reads the slides as the art
history lecture contines.
Photo/ Mary Fennell

2. But whenauditorstake classes,theyare notalwaysable tocontribute tothe classes.I’ve had
professorswhoaskedusnotto speakinclass because itmaybe intimidatingforstudents.”Amessaid.
“On otherhand,I’ve hadother professorswhohave saidif you have somethingsignificanttosay,you’re
welcome tosayit.”
“I don’tletauditorsanswerquestionsinclassbecause theyhave somanythingstheyknow,I
don’twant the discussiongoingoff onatangent,”saidart historyProfessorJane Kromm.“Iknow that
soundsharshbut it’seasierthatway.”
The auditors have expressedtheirunderstandingbyagreeingtothe professorsrules.If they
have a question,theywillaskafellowstudentortheywill waituntilthe classisovertoask the
professor. “Mostauditorsrealize thatwe are guestshere,andwe’re nothere toshow how smart we
are,” saidAmes.“If youhave somethingsignificanttosay,that’sfine,butif not we mainlyjustsitback
and take notes.”
“As longI can keepwalking,I’mgoingtokeepauditingclasseshere atPurchase,”saidBarbara
Ames“It hasbecome suchan importantpart of mylife,andthere are so manyinterestingthingsgoing
on here,Ican’t see myself goingwithoutit.”