Written by Zoe Manoukian
Family Weekend often invokes fond memories among Roanoke College students. Sophomore and Pi Kappa Phi president of the Alpha Alpha class William Carol Olson is especially enthusiastic about the holiday this year.
“Last year my parents, who met and graduated here at Roanoke College came for a visit. They couldn’t make it this year, but I feel that I still had a rewarding weekend. Possibly an even more insightful one of that!” He kept his reflections brief and vague. Naturally, he was hiding something.
Upon further ethical probing, he led me to his dorm room, where I discovered an abundance of organic snacks and cages fit for a large marsupial of the western hemisphere, and Jack Hanna inspired portraits command stripped to the cinder block.
“I adopted Winston in the final weeks of 2017. At first, I wasn’t very keen about him. Actually, I was terrified of him. But the more we talked, the more I realized that he was an alright kid just hankering for leftovers in the bushes outside of Fox’s first floor window. I thought about how that used to be me, and I thought, ‘why not?’ And here we are now!”
Winston, I learned, is a Didelphis Virginiana Opossum, or North American Opossum. “I’m not embarrassed by our family photos.” Olson glanced up at a series of Jack Hanna inspired portraits command stripped to the cinder block. “And I’m not ashamed to turn down a party to spend time with him. When I’m not in class, I like to toss the baseball and talk about girls with him. This Family Weekend was especially exciting for us, as this was our first year as a family.”
As complex as his new paternal role may be, Olson gracefully pulls off the “cool dad” persona. His bleached tips and “WillieC” lip tattoo will attest to that. Olson locked eyes with Winston, and before walking me out of his room, gave him a kiss on the nose. Their bond truly is remarkable.
