
The Review welcomes letters from readers and will print as many of them as space permits. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity. Unsigned letters cannot be used, but names of the writers may be withheld on request.
'Hobart Game' Goes into Overtime
My wife and I also attended that 1947 Hobart game ["Letters to the Editor,"
Winter-Spring 2001], but we sat with our Hobart friend and his wife in the Hobart
section.
My friend's father was John K. Walker, chairman of the board of trustees of
Hobart College. The day after the game I received a telephone call from Mr.
Walker saying that he had discussed with three other Hobart trustees their desire
to keep good relations with Rochester and apologizing for the conduct of the
Hobart participants.
I told Mr. Walker that I was very ashamed of and embarrassed by the conduct
of President Alan Valentine in scheduling the overly long halftime ceremony
and that the only derogatory call I heard from the Hobart stands during the
long and very cold intermission was a cry from one-"What about Hobart?"
This was from a young World War II veteran close to where we were sitting.
Robert E. Witherspoon '35
Fort Myers, Florida
Regarding "That Hobart Game," I was present also. I remember the overlong
halftime awards ceremony. But I also remember a member of the Rochester football
team, fullback Howard Hoesterey, our own "Man in the Iron Mask." Because
he had been badly burned in a fighter plane, Howie wore an unusual leather mask
attached to his helmet to protect sensitive scar tissue on his face.
While I, too, cannot recall who won that game, I do recall Howie emerging after
one play with blood streaming from under his mask-and a chorus of Rochester
boos being directed at the Hobart team.
There also was something said, or printed in the local papers at the time,
about "Al Val" being verbally accosted by Hobartians in the men's
room of the stadium after the game. And that it was these folks that he referred
to as "hoodlums," and he used this incident, together with the injury
to Hoesterey, as the pretext for canceling the series with Hobart.
Chuck Lockett '50
Trinity, Florida
How Far Indeed?
We received the Winter-Spring 2001 issue containing the piece by [Anthony Center
for Women's Leadership Director] Nora Bredes ["We Haven't Come Such a Long
way, Baby"], in whose opinion women's "ambitions continue to be realized
through their husbands."
Ironically, as usual our copy was addressed to "Mr. and Ms. David M. Hecht."
I have repeatedly requested that this address be changed, since it is insulting
and implies that I am somehow subordinate to my husband. My request has never
been honored. It's time for you to do as Ms. Bredes suggests and take a small
step to reduce gender bias by making this change for the many married alums.
Susan Karnes Hecht '79
Poughkeepsie, New York
We certainly intended no slight and are more than happy to accommodate requests
for mailing Review on an individual basis. Unfortunately, making such a seemingly
small change for all addresses becomes quite complicated in a database of 80,000
or so alumni names. Revamping the computer programs we rely on to sort names
is, for now, too cost prohibitive to undertake. Someday, perhaps . . . -Editor.
Indiana's Finest
I wish to comment on the article "Rochester's 'Brand' of Hoosier"
in the Winter- Spring 2001 issue. I must take to task your statement "[Myles
Brand '67 (PhD)] was selected to lead the Hoosier State's flagship public university
in 1995. . . ."
Perhaps you are not aware that another of the Hoosier State's public universities
is Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. I contend that the worldwide
reputation of Purdue University surpasses that of Indiana University except
perhaps in the areas of the antics of its previous men's basketball coach and
IU being the headquarters for the Kinsey Institute.
From the fields of engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture, among many other
areas, and including an outstanding school of business, I believe Purdue's reputation
is more than a match for that of Indiana University from an academic point-of-view.
From an athletic point-of-view, the same conclusions can be drawn.
I might also point out that there are numerous other major state universities
within Indiana, such as Ball State University and Indiana State University.
It might be well to note that there are many well-known and well-respected private
colleges and universities also within this state's borders. I refer to DePauw
University, Notre Dame University, Butler University, Valparaiso University,
Wabash College, Hanover College, Earlham College, Franklin College, and St.
Mary's College just to name a few.
William A. Anderson '57
Columbus, Indiana
Susan B.'s Legacy
I would like to offer a correction to an article in the fall issue. In the
sidebar entitled "Scholarship in the Name of Susan B.," the following
statement appears:
"Demonstrating the breadth of the institute's program, faculty associates
attached to it represent five of the University's six major academic divisions:
the College, Eastman School of Music, Margaret Warner School of Education and
Human Development, School of Nursing, and School of Medicine and Dentistry."
The William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, however, is
not listed, even though I have been a faculty associate of the Susan B. Anthony
Institute for several years.
By the way, I very much enjoyed the issue. The article on Martha Matilda Harper
was especially well done.
Melinda Knight
Rochester
Knight is area coordinator of management communication at the William E.
Simon Graduate School of Business Administration.
Thanks for setting the record straight-Editor.
A Death Notice
Shame on you. In the Winter-Spring 2001 issue you failed to list the July 2000
death of Svend Eldrup-Jorgensen '58M (Res) in the "Faculty" section.
He was a very respected full-time member of the faculty of the Department of
Anesthesiology for over 30 years and deserved a biographical listing.
His name did appear in the "In Memoriam" section.
Barney Labe
Our apologies for the oversight. Eldrup-Jorgensen retired from the Department
of Anesthesiology in 1990, the culmination of a career at the University that
began in 1959 -Editor.
Take a Bow
Thank you for mentioning my recent CD I Am Prospero in the "Books and
Recordings" section of the Spring-Summer 2000 issue. As you indicated,
many Eastman alumni participated in the recording.
In addition to those mentioned, John McKay '78E (DMA), professor of piano at
Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, is featured as the pianist
on the 23-minute Variation Sonata: Journey Through Prisms.
His flawless performance and dedication to the music are a composer's dream!
Paul Goldstaub '77E (DMA)
Binghamton, New York
Calling All History Fans
The Department of History wants to establish close ties with all University
alumni who enjoyed history courses, whether or not they were majors. We are
forming a "History List," i.e., a group of alumni friends who would
like to be informed of departmental activities, especially those planned for
the new Meliora Weekends at Rochester. We hope to send out an alumni newsletter.
Please pass the word on to your friends and let us know if you would like your
name placed on this list. We would appreciate hearing from you!
R. W. Kaeuper
Rochester
Kaeuper is a professor of history at the University.
Interested alumni may write to the Department of History, University of
Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627; or send e-mail to rkpr@mail.rochester.edu,
or to rahz@ mail.rochester.edu-Editor.
Remembering Wilson Commons
In response to the "Happy 25th" [Wilson Commons anniversary] on page
6 of the Winter-Spring 2001 issue, I am sending some recollections:
When I started my freshman year in the fall of 1973, the area around the Wilson
Commons site was already fenced off. At that time it was just a mammoth hole
in the ground. The fenced-off area was fairly large, stretching from the side
of the library, around the dining hall, and along the back of Morey.
This resulted in lots of extra "commuting time" between many locations
on campus. Thus the well-known graffiti that was written on the "cattle
shoot walkway" next to the library-THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS
IS WHERE WILSON COMMONS IS-was so appropriate.
Obviously the construction of the Commons took a long time, and my recollection
is that the completion date was moved back several times. There were frequent
articles in the CT explaining the layout and features of the Commons. However,
they always seemed a world away, sort of like seeing a rainbow but never being
able to get to it.
I recall the excitement building in the winter of 1976 when much of the fencing
came down and a "firm" opening date was set for Sunday, April 4, 1976.
It seemed that the entire student body surrounded the building, waiting to enter
on that nice spring day after the ribbon cutting and speeches. I recall walking
through the building for the first time like many others, going from room to
room in amazement.
Were we still at Rochester? Despite all the articles, the building was better
than we could have imagined. The nonconventional layout was phenomenal. I also
recall the noise level, particularly in the open area, was almost deafening.
As time went on, people found their favorite spots in the building and modified
their daily routine to enjoy the building. How could we have existed without
the Commons?
Rick Shorin '77
Ambler, Pennsylvania
It seems hard to believe that 25 years have passed since the opening of Wilson
Commons. I feel like I know the place inside and out, yet I only had the chance
to use it for about a month. That is because I am a member of the Class of 1976
and graduated shortly after Wilson Commons was dedicated.
Our class had the "special" privilege of seeing the building go up
during our four years at the University. We saw the slow progress and we made
our share of detours around the construction site-remember, THE SHORTEST DISTANCE
BETWEEN TWO POINTS IS WHERE WILSON COMMONS IS?
I was there for the ground-breaking in the winter of our freshman year, and
I was there for the dedication and opening in April of 1976.
What I remember most about that opening month was the great feeling that this
would be the new focus of activity at Rochester, filling a void that was apparent
throughout my four years at Rochester. For a campus so close to a vital urban
area it always felt very isolated. There was no great, fun place nearby to hang
out and socialize, aside from the Bungalow, Todd, and the library-and they weren't
so great.
But here was this I. M. Pei-designed Wilson Commons, a fresh, modern multipurpose
building that promised a much more exciting campus life. How jealous I was of
all the underclassmen behind me!
I recall a real sense of connection in this bold piece of architectural design.
I was the only person in my class (that I know of) to go on and get my master's
in architecture, and I was doubly excited at the dedication because I had just
been accepted to the architecture school of my choice.
I remember looking down from one of the stair balconies during the ceremony
at Pei-the famous master architect himself. How could I have possibly imagined
that one day, a mere eight years later, I would begin a two-year stint as an
architect working at I. M. Pei and Partners in New York?
Richard L. Kadin '76
Scarsdale, New York
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