Bryan is a force to be reckoned with when he plays defensive tackle for
Stony Brook Seawolves football.
Student portraits by David Roberts
“Everyone says teachers don’t have time for you; I don’t think that’s at all true here. They’ve brought me into their office and we’ve sat down and had tea and cookies.”
—Junior, Social Sciences Interdisciplinary major, Women’s Studies minor
When Bryan Karp is not tackling opponents on the football field, you might find him tackling new ideas in his women’s studies classes. One of the few men taking Women in U.S. History last semester, Bryan enjoys the debates and camaraderie that are typical of small classes at Stony Brook.
On the football field, Bryan’s presence also counts in a big way. Bryan plays defensive tackle for the Stony Brook Seawolves, a position for which he was recruited by Stony Brook football coach Sam Kornhauser. “The stadium is gorgeous,” he says, “and I was also looking for a great academic program.”
Bryan, who is dyslexic, uses many of the University’s resources to keep up his high grades. In his remaining free time, Bryan speaks before audiences of dyslexic students. “I get the kids to understand that they are just as smart as everyone else and that they shouldn’t set boundaries for themselves,” he says. “They can look at me as an example. I play football, I’m in college, I have a 3.0 GPA, and I’m dyslexic.”
It is not surprising that Bryan plans to teach physical education to kids in grades K-6. “Gym was my favorite class when I was little,” he says. “It was my chance to spread my wings.”