COLLEGE 30 YEARS AGO
Arnn and Craig deny roommate rumor, but share memories of undergraduate years, 'no gray hair'
Marieke van der Vaart
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News
Mickey Craig, chair of the political science department, said Collegian reporters approach him every five to six years to ask about his experience rooming with President Larry Arnn in college. One time a reporter even approached him about rooming with Supreme Court Justic Clarence Thomas in law school.
Craig didn't go to law school. He never roomed with Thomas. He also never roomed with Arnn.
But he did attend the same undergraduate and graduate school as the Hillsdale College president.
Both Arnn and Craig attended the University of Arkansas and then Clairemont Graduate School. Both shared favorite professors. But the two completed their coursework at separate times, never took a class together and did not share a dorm room.
"I've known him a long time. I had a full head of hair and no gray hair," Craig said. "But he's much older and much shorter than I am."
Arnn remembers hearing that a fellow University of Arkansas student was studying at Clairemont when he was in England.
"Mickey seemed like a regular guy - people liked him," Arnn said. "He liked baseball - he was a big Cardinals fan. Mickey might know more about baseball than me. And that's saying something."
For his part, Craig, or the "Mickster" as he was called in graduate school, remembers staying with Arnn on a visit while Arnn was housesitting.
"Before Penny, he was a sloppy dog," Craig said, adding friends called Arnn 'L.P.' for short.
It was the professor they had in common who encouraged Craig to pursue Clairemont and asked Arnn to set him up for his visit. Indirectly, Arnn played a role in shaping Craig's academic future.
It seems only fitting that Arnn credits Craig for helping influence his academic future too, this time when he came to Hillsdale. Arnn said that hearing about the school from Craig who taught here 14 years before Arnn came on board helped establish the school's credibility.
"To hear that it was a basically decent place," Arnn said, "I could believe that of him."
Ten years into their professional relationship Craig knows what's what.
"He's the boss," Craig said, laughing.
And Arnn isn't above cracking a joke at his colleague and underclassman.
"I did know Mickey when he was a seedy-looking kid," he said laughing.
Craig didn't go to law school. He never roomed with Thomas. He also never roomed with Arnn.
But he did attend the same undergraduate and graduate school as the Hillsdale College president.
Both Arnn and Craig attended the University of Arkansas and then Clairemont Graduate School. Both shared favorite professors. But the two completed their coursework at separate times, never took a class together and did not share a dorm room.
"I've known him a long time. I had a full head of hair and no gray hair," Craig said. "But he's much older and much shorter than I am."
Arnn remembers hearing that a fellow University of Arkansas student was studying at Clairemont when he was in England.
"Mickey seemed like a regular guy - people liked him," Arnn said. "He liked baseball - he was a big Cardinals fan. Mickey might know more about baseball than me. And that's saying something."
For his part, Craig, or the "Mickster" as he was called in graduate school, remembers staying with Arnn on a visit while Arnn was housesitting.
"Before Penny, he was a sloppy dog," Craig said, adding friends called Arnn 'L.P.' for short.
It was the professor they had in common who encouraged Craig to pursue Clairemont and asked Arnn to set him up for his visit. Indirectly, Arnn played a role in shaping Craig's academic future.
It seems only fitting that Arnn credits Craig for helping influence his academic future too, this time when he came to Hillsdale. Arnn said that hearing about the school from Craig who taught here 14 years before Arnn came on board helped establish the school's credibility.
"To hear that it was a basically decent place," Arnn said, "I could believe that of him."
Ten years into their professional relationship Craig knows what's what.
"He's the boss," Craig said, laughing.
And Arnn isn't above cracking a joke at his colleague and underclassman.
"I did know Mickey when he was a seedy-looking kid," he said laughing.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Joy Pavelski
posted 2/11/10 @ 10:57 AM EST
This article was hilarious. Great quotes. I can't even critique it because I enjoyed it so much. That "sloppy dog" quote...haha...
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