Going the Extra Mile
Going That Extra Mile
by Helen Johnson Ackerman
Remember the “good ol’ days”? When Takoma was Queen because there were no other campuses to compete with her? We were proud of high academic standards and a tight-knit, little group of faculty that was able to patrol its ranks against “watering down the courses.”
Then came the opening of the Rockville Campus (1965) and a life and death struggle for survival at Takoma. There were those of us who were concerned about the rising tide of agitated citizens in the community who really wanted to “run us out of town.” So we tried to promote programs that would actively engage citizen participation and approval. Such was a Friday night film program that was organized and sponsored by the Learning Resources Department.
The first year we worked ever so hard initiating a series of films that people either had not seen—like Kenneth Clark’s Civilization—or those classics that people would want to see again and again. We kept names and addresses of persons who attended, from which came extensive card files for mailing notices. We conducted our own publicity campaign through the media, libraries, distribution of posters, etc.
At last we felt the first year was a huge success, and we were ready to embark on the second year’s program. Everything was in place. We had selected a series of outstanding film titles for the season and had announced them through our extensive mailing and publicity strategy developed the first year. This was the year that Citizen Kane was being studied in every English department in the country. We had chosen this title as a real winner to start the series early in the fall semester. We had booked the film with a distributor in New York well in advance. But as the crucial date neared, we received no film and no explanation from our film distributor. Our phone calls and letters of inquiry were also of no avail. Yes, the film had been shipped. It was probably right in our local post office, they said.
Finally, late Thursday, the day before the series was to begin, LaVerne Miller, chairman of the Learning Resources Department, and I decided that something had to be done. I would go to New York early Friday morning, go to the film booker, and demand a copy of Citizen Kane. We went to Harry Packard, our business manager, explained our predicament and asked that he approve payment for one round-trip plane ticket to New York. Harry was not immediately convinced that he should disburse college monies for such a “wild goose chase,” but after a little coaxing, he was persuaded. Now, it was up to me to “bring home the goods.”
I’ll never forget that day! Up early and off to National Airport for the first shuttle flight, arriving in New York before nine o’clock. In fact, I was waiting at the office door when the various employees started arriving for work. I explained my problem to each employee as he arrived; and each time I told my story, the person I was telling it to looked at his files, checked his film locker, and came up with nothing. “Very great demand for this film, you know; every school in the country is requesting it this year.” I was beginning to have serious doubts about my ability to deliver Citizen Kane back at Takoma. Finally the boss arrived! We went through the same routine which was old hat for me by this time. I was getting pretty distraught; what could I say or do to make them produce that film? After all, it was their responsibility to supply the film; we had booked it months in advance, and it was terribly important to us that we have it on the date requested. (Maybe I even stomped my foot a time or two.) Anyway, the boss began to give a little. He said, “Well, there’s an outside chance that we may get a print back in the mail today. Come back at eleven a.m.”
So I walked the streets for two hours. I didn’t think the chances of getting that film were very good. How could I face people back at Takoma without it—LaVerne, Harry, the audience? Maybe I just wouldn’t go back if I didn’t get the film. At eleven o’clock, heart in my mouth, I walked into the film distributor’s office and asked for the verdict. They had a film for me! Hallelujah! (I’ll never know whether the film really came back in the mail, or if they had an extra print in reserve.)
A frantic trip back, and I walked across campus feeling very much like “007” coming in from a successful mission. All I had to do was smile when they asked, “Did you get the film? Did you get the film?”
It was standing room only that evening in the Science Building lecture hall where the films were screened. Maybe it was just luck that saved the day, but without the extra effort which we were willing to expend, we could not have succeeded. And I’m sure that this was only one of many instances where a little extra effort saved the day and kept our campus viable.
Footnote:
Takoma Park Campus: Secretarial Studies Department, 1965–1973; Learning Resources Department, 1973–1983; Professor Emerita.