I got my MRS degree from Syracuse University.
My clueless alma mater keeps sending me mail addressed to "Corrie B. O'Neill." O'Neill is my boyfriend's last name, not mine. He also graduated from Syracuse University. The school seems very eager for us to get married (they're probably hoping our kids will become Orangepeople, too). Maybe this email, sent last night, will set SU straight.
Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 19:14:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Corrie Pikul"
Subject: my name
To: newhousealumninyc@gmail.com
For the past year or so, I've been receiving mail from Syracuse University addressed to "Ms. Corrie B. O'Neill." For example, a recent flyer with information about the Lubin House Scholarship Reception was addressed to "Mr. Kerry G. O'Neill & Ms. Corrie B.
O'Neill."
This is a mistake. My boyfriend's name is indeed Kerry G. O'Neill. However, my name IS NOT "Corrie B. O'Neill." My name was, is, and always will be "Corrie B. Pikul."
I am not married -- to Kerry G. O'Neill or anyone else. I have never been married. It appears that Syracuse has assumed that because I share the same address as a man, I must be his wife. The university has also assumed that, as a married woman, I must have taken my husband's surname.
This is an outdated, old-fashioned, and ignorant assumption. I'm offended that my "progressive" liberal arts school has stripped me of my name, my singlehood and my identity. In addition, Syracuse has confused my friends and fellow alumni (many of whom have emailed and called me to ask when I got married!!). My alma mater has done all of this without even having the good manners to send me and my "husband" a wedding gift.
I have telephoned the SU Alumni Relations office about this matter several times. I have been verbally assured that I am listed in the SU alumni database as "Corrie B. Pikul." But this recent mailing has left me unconvinced. Could you please change my listing in the database BACK TO "Corrie B. Pikul"? Could you delete the name "Corrie B. O'Neill"? And could you please send me an email confirming that this change has been made?
I'm also curious to know why Syracuse has acted like a meddling old aunt, and has presumptuously married me off. Can you tell me how and why my name was suddenly (and incorrectly) changed to my boyfriend's? Since graduation, I have shared apartments with several other Syracuse alumni, yet I've never had this problem
until now.
Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
CORRIE B. PIKUL
Newhouse, 1997