Expecting haikus?
Hope you’re not disappointed.
This year, something new.
Yes, the big envelope is on the way. While you wait, we thought it would be exciting to give you an introduction to the city you can call home next fall: Portland, Oregon. No matter where you begin or how you choose to get here, you’ll find a city bursting with character: delicious coffee and fancy foods made in kitchens on wheels, ten-foot bicycles, vintage clothing stores, art, music, the greenest trees you can imagine (you’ll see), more bridges than you can cross in a single day, falling water and wide open spaces. And at the heart of the city, you’ll find Reed—an institution devoted to intellectual curiosity, creative exploration, individual discovery, collaborative community, a principle of honor, and the power of inquiry.
For three years, we’ve run the “haiku” video as a special surprise for admitted students. This year, we came up with something a little different in the hope that we could introduce you to students and the city simultaneously. Portland is known for its platinum status as a biker’s town—so we asked Ethan to hop on his two-wheeler and pedal down from the west hills and across the Willamette. Our public transportation system is a paradigm for the rest of the country, so Nora decided to take the Max from the airport with a stop on Hawthorne Blvd. along the way. Mikey began his drive at Multnomah Falls, a mere thirty minutes from the center of the city, winding his way back through incredible vistas. And Martha took advantage of Portland’s tight neighborhoods by strolling to campus from nearby Sellwood. It was a blast shooting with each of the students this fall—I hope you get a sense of some of their personalities through the video.
I first heard Finn Riggins when they played a phenomenal show at Musicfest Northwest in September. A few weeks later, they played a concert for Reedies here on campus. When we began exploring music for this video, they became the obvious choice. There was something about their style that just seemed to fit with the story we were trying to tell. Wake (Keep this Town Alive) in particular is upbeat and fast-paced, with a feel of instrumental complexity that matches the city. Having had a positive experience on campus, the band had no hesitation in agreeing to be the soundtrack to your acceptance to Reed. Not a bad gig, to say the least. Head on over to their website and check out some of their music as you let the congratulations soak in.
So there you have it. Four students. A terrific soundtrack. Four different ways to get to Reed. Whether you start in Korea, Texas, New York or Seattle, you’ll eventually find your way to Reed. The Odyssey that you’ve made to get to this point is only the beginning of your new intellectual journey. At Reed, you’ll find some of the brightest students anywhere in the country. Start the conversation. Aristotelian ethics, spectrophotometers, quantum mechanics, international trade, number theory… nothing is off the table.
We look forward to seeing you here next fall.
Congratulations,
ian fisher ‘07
Reed College Admission
P.S. For those traditionalists out there, you can find a haiku Easter egg in the video if you look carefully… a little nod to Olde Reed. Keep your eye out for a Greek owl, as well.