With graduation day approaching, we thought we’d share this commencement story from 70 years ago. We think it shows the thoughtful way the University treats its students. Even seven decades later, we think we still have that personal touch.
This story was brought to us by Detroit Mercy’s Alexandra Hichel, a web developer and designer in the College of Liberal Arts & Education.
Alex’s aunt, Marie Hichel attended University of Detroit in the 1940s. What made that newsworthy was that Marie was blind. She was actually one of two sight-impaired students—Edward V. Grzywinski was the other—at University of Detroit at the time. Both were featured in an article (shown left) Alex believes was in the Detroit Times in 1946. The Detroit Free Press ran a story about the two unique students when they graduated.
On June 12, 1947, the following article appeared:
Out at the University of Detroit there are two blind students, a boy and a girl.
The school has no special facilities for the blind and makes only one slight concession to them. But that’s the way Marie Hichel, 22, of 3446 Yemans, and Edward V. Grzywinski, also 22, want it. They aren’t asking any favors.
Miss Hichel is led from class to class by her Seeing-Eye dog, Skippy, who is on the ground floor for a college education. Grzywinski makes his way from class to class with a cane. He is a step-counter … moving precisely through his dark world by having memorized the number of paces along walks and corridors and up steps.
These two maintain their place with the students who can see by that extra effort the handicapped are willing to make. But it has given them a little something extra for the competitive world. While the other students take notes in class, they can punch them out as fast or faster in Braille, using metal plates. And while the other students merely write out their notes, the two blind students type theirs. Both have to employ “readers” … fellow students. They read aloud the textbooks, the research books, books to be reviewed. Naturally, since they pay their readers, both blind students have developed remarkable memories. Once over a lesson is enough.
“The faculty has been wonderful to us,” the two say, “but we want no special consideration.” The sole concession the school makes is giving them oral examinations. Miss Hichel plans on finding a place in social work. Grzywinski’s ambition is to become a teacher of literature “preferably at Oxford.”
Somehow it seems odd to say that their sights are high. But that’s the way the “handicapped” are … wanting no more than an even chance.
The photo caption accompanying the story added more information: Marie Hichel … and Edward V. Grzywinski, … both blind, were given a tremendous ovation when they received their bachelor of philosophy degrees from the College of Arts & Sciences. Miss Hichel, blind since she was five years old, was led to the stage by her Seeing-Eye dog, Skippy. Grzywinski, who lost his sight at the age of 10, was assisted by fellow students.
Marie married and worked for the State of Michigan Department of Social Services in Hamtramck for 42 years. Unfortunately, the University does not have any more information on Edward Grzywinski.
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