College Offers Support Group For Parents And Friends Of Prospective Art History Majors

As Friends and Family Weekend at the College winds down, the Haybale looks back on some of the most memorable events of the weekend—namely, the unusually large turnout at what at first appeared to be an Alcoholics Anonymous group. Upon further investigation, however, our reporters discovered that it was indeed a support group—just not the kind we thought.

Instead of supporting each other as recovering addicts, these parents had gathered together to support each other in an arguably more difficult time: learning that their beloved children had chosen to pursue a degree in Art History.

“It came as a shock,” said Todd and Lisa Smith, parents of Kyleigh Smith ’27, as they processed the news that their child, once an Economics major, had recently developed a “fascination with frescoes.” “We kept waiting for Kyleigh to snap out of it. We thought maybe the architecture class was just an elective, but then we saw the stack of Frank Lloyd Wright books in her dorm. Then we knew…this might be serious.”

And Todd and Lisa weren’t the only ones lamenting the life path that could have been: Brock Hampton ’28 opted to join his family at the meeting to share his perspective. “I just want them to know that it’s not a phase. I was so scared to tell them, and I just thought that hearing from other parents going through the same thing could be really helpful for them.” Hampton’s parents, Miranda and Charlotte, wanted to be supportive but couldn’t help but harbor some concerns: “We’re just worried that this is something he might grow out of,” Miranda said. “I mean, what happens when he wakes up in 20 years and wants to become a consultant?”

Haybale reporters also spoke to the organizers of the event, alumni Dick Rogers ’74 and Roger Dicks ’77, both of whom were unable to land prestigious museum jobs after graduation and have been visiting lecturers at every school in the NESCAC ever since. “I just want these parents to know that it’s okay that their child is pursuing a less-than-traditional path. That’s what college is all about, right?” Dicks noted with a sigh once the meeting had adjourned. “They might never land a job at the Whitney, but if they’re lucky they might get a Warby Parker sponsorship—one of my buddies at Bowdoin even got Blundstones to sponsor his lectures for a semester!”

The group, known colloquially as PFART, will hold zoom sessions for those who were unable to attend this weekend, including presentations like “When Art History Happens to Good People” and “Why Not Just…Anything Else?”. In an attempt to reduce stigma, the group will also host panel discussions with graduates who have found success in the Art History field.

[Editor’s Note: Sources were unable to confirm the existence of these graduates before publication.]