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Chorus girls

The presence of chorus girls at a 1921 fraternity party revealed scandalous behavior by students and administrators alike.

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Bill Martin's legacy

As he approaches retirement, the athletic director will go down as one of U-M's most influential figures.

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Talking about science »

A world without ice

Geophysics professor Henry Pollack explains how scientists know that CO₂ is at its highest level in 800,000 years, and what it means for the planet.

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Veterans Radio

U-M alumni and Vietnam veterans Dale Throneberry and Bob Gould found their calling in the stories of fellow vets.

Talking about movies »

Tarantino's film history

The director's latest film is brutally violent at the same time it joyfully recalls movies of the past.

Talking about words »

Canadian, eh

Native speakers are increasingly proud of the "fizzy Canadian cocktail" that is their language.

An online magazine for alumni and friends of U-M.

Letters to the editor

(November 19th, 2009)

Mr. Martin's legacy as the University of Michigan athletic director is marred by his decision to name Rich Rodriguez as head coach of the football team prior to the end of West Virginia's playoff season. There was no reason given for making the announcement before the Mountaineers' season ended; it was apparently done entirely for the sake of expediency.

This isn't the way that college athletics should function, and the University of Michigan should neither participate in nor sanction this behavior - and they didn't used to. Way back in 1989, UM Men's Basketball coach Bill Frieder announced - immediately prior to the start of the NCAA tournament - that he would take the head coaching job at Arizona State University. The entire UM community were uniformly outraged that a coach would do that to his team of student athletes. Many were equally outraged that another University would need to announce their new head coaching choice at that instant, rather than waiting until the playoff season had ended. There was pretty much unanimous agreement that it was not a good situation for anyone - the team, UM, coach Frieder, or ASU. The team and UM were deprived of a coach at a critical time, Frieder looked like a mercenary, and ASU looked desperate.

I guess that times have changed, and not for the better. Martin's decision to announce Rodriguez as coach showed the same hallmarks as ASU's decision to name Frieder. We, as a University, appear not to have learned from a famous and painful episode - and that's a pretty damning criticism of the entire University of Michigan administration.

Mark Gabriele
BSE
1985
EECS
Silver Spring,

(November 19th, 2009)

Just want to say how much I enjoy receiving this. A nice doorway to many memories.

Myra Joseph Feit
A.B.
1957
LSA
Columbia,

(November 13th, 2009)

I very much enjoyed Mr. Glenn's 40th anniversary celebration of the Paul McCartney death rumor ("Paul is Dead" said Fred, November 2009), and the University's prominent place in its history. For those who would like delve further into the story, may I suggest they take a look at my book on the event, TURN ME ON, DEAD MAN.

Andru J. Reeve

Martinez,

(November 12th, 2009)

While I have no problem with the data presented, the jump to causal correlation of increased CO2 concentration to temperature increase seems unjustified. Perhaps there is evidence out there that demonstrates that increasing CO2 concentration does result in increased global temperatures, but much more in the way of evidence needs to be provided. While increasing the concentration of CO2 to 400 ppm plus sounds impressive, these concentrations still represent an increadibly small fraction of our atmosphere. I question CO2's ability to effect temperature change at these concentrations. Where is the discussion of other more likely and reasonable causes of temperature change. Is the change in atmospheric chemistry really the most important driver of contemporary global warming?

David Brackney
EdD, MS, BA
2008, 1995, 1989

Attica,

(November 12th, 2009)

The thing I remember most about the "Paul is Dead" rumor, strangely enough, was a letter to editor by Fargo Bermann (I don't know him personally and am surprised that I remember his name after 40 years). Fargo claimed that Paul McCartney was not dead, but rather it had been Bob Dylan who had died and McCarthy was impersonating the dead Dylan. That explained the non-Dylanesque nature of Nashville Skyline, Dylan's latest album at the time. Fargo also had information, he said, that President Nixon had also died, but that no one was impersonating him. I'm sure you could find this letter to the editor in the microfilm copies of the Daily.

Paul Bick
B.A.
1972
Res.College - LSA
Santa Fe,

(November 12th, 2009)

I thought your article on Canadian English (November 2009) was very interesting. In particular your sound comparisons link was very fascinating. I've always been a very proud speaker of Canadian English, but as a Toronto native I must admit I would be clueless if I saw "fish and brewis" on a menu as well. I believe that dish is mostly confined to the Maritime area of Canada.

Steven Wallace

Atlanta,

(November 12th, 2009)

I am tried of hearing "it takes time." The fact is that a coach taking over one of the legacy football programs—Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Southern Cal—does not require time to produce a winning program if they are competent. Fielding Yost, Fritz Crisler, and Bo did not need a couple of seasons to get on the winning track. Nebraska has yet (10 years later) to recover from a bad coaching hire. (the AD wanted someone who would do things differently and win a national championship-so the new coach changed the offense and changed recruiting targets (sound familiar) and ended Nebraska's string of winning records).

The one who wears a sweater vest commented that the offense and defense schemes must be designed to maximize the talents of the players on the field. Bo decided that he did not have the personnel to run an option-oriented offense in 1969 and 1970 and went with Don Morehead as his quarterback (those teams did pretty well).

A college coach can only succeed if he recruits the players he needs to win. Fielding Yost brought in William Heston, Knute Rockne got George Gipp out of a bar in the UP. Yet, Michigan's recent recruits are (with a few exceptions such as William Campbell) not considered top 100 material. Michigan's defense is the worst in school history in 2008. So Coach R brings in as defensive coordinator a man who lost his job at Syracuse because he was not able to recruit quality athletes. Michigan's supposedly great conditioning programs have not prevented two years of second half collapses in October and November. Usually long (over 20 yards) plays occur when the offense has more speed than the defense. Michigan routinely gives up big plays and has players caught from behind. Small and slow is not a good combination.

Coach R did not run the table at West Virginia, even though he had some great players who were ideally suited for his offense. Michigan football was bad from 1958 to 1963 but this current run just might end up as being even worse. Oh well.

Donald Treadwell, Jr.
AB, MBA
1970, 1972
LSA, Business Administration
Grosse Ile ,

(November 12th, 2009)

In Dr. Pollack's article (A world without ice, November 2009), he failed to provide information on the tons of CO2 increase in the atmosphere and the tons produced by the use of fossil fuels. While I am sure the data appears elsewhere in his work I was hoping that it could be made available without further digging.

Donald Treadwell, Jr.
B.A., MBA
1970, 1972
LSA, Business administration
Grosse Ile,

(November 12th, 2009)

Re: A world without ice (November 2009): This piece neglects a large number key facts. Just to mention a couple: Roger Revelle, the famed Scripps ecologist who was one of the first distinguished scientists to become concerned about the potential for greenhouse gas warming and (we are told) teacher of Al Gore, became very skeptical about the magnitude of it in his later life. Another neglected factoid is that ice core CO2 changes lag temperature by several hundred years at the onset of ice ages and interglacials. An honest rendition would have blown up the scale so that all could see that. The correlation shows only that the earth responds to temperature changes by ocean up take or outgassing of CO2, just like a seltzer water.

Meanwhile the earth continues to neglect the dire predictions of the Nobel-winning climate models and advocates, pacing off its recalcitrant decade-long temperature flatline.

Your science reporting needs some balance.

Roger Cohen
B.S.,M.S.,Ph.D.
1966
MIT, Rutgers
Durango,

(November 11th, 2009)

The story about Dean Bates and his reaction to a fraternity associating with chorus girls (Chorus girls, November 2009) reminded me of a story my father, Griffith Herold, (Law 1929) told of his experience with the Dean. Dad told of winning a pool tournament at the Union and when his name was published, the Dean called him in and "reminded" him he was on campus to study law and and not to shoot pool. Seems the Law Dean was very concerned about the image of the school and its students.

John Herold
BS, MS,MA
1963,196,1967
LSA, Rackham
Ann Arbor,

(November 11th, 2009)

In the "Paul is Dead" article the author claims that the F. Lee Bailey trial TV show was only shown once and it was on a local NYC TV station. I remember seeing this broadcast on a Detroit TV station as well.

Bernie Kent
J.D.
1974
Law
Franklin,

(November 11th, 2009)

Re: Tarantino's film history (November 2009): This review was disgusting as was the movie. The analogy to past films was a stretch way beyond any credibility. The story line of the movie was totally incredible and the violence was obscene. Pitt's accent was laughable.

Stephen Kale
BSME
1958
Engineering
San Antonio,

(November 11th, 2009)

Re: Veterans Radio (November 2009): Nice to see that Michigan is now tolerant of military folks. In my time they weren't so friendly. Despite that, I'm still a "Go Blue" fan—unless they're playing Navy.

George P Beamer
MBA
1975
Ross
Fernandina Beach,

(November 11th, 2009)

It's November. It says so on the Michigan Today. But I knew it wasn't "40 years ago this month" that the "Paul is Dead" rumor arose, because I knew that event occurred BEFORE I came back to Michigan from the East Coast my Freshman year in college. The visit was for Homecoming and occurred the weekend of October 25. I can remember more about those months than I can about the last 25 years. And the internet confirmed: the article appeared on October 14. I think that's 40 years ago LAST month...

Rod Fonda
J.D.
1975
Law
Seattle,

(October 31st, 2009)

Re: Built to last (October 2009): Michigan has had some great coaches. Rich Rodriguez will obviously not be one of them. Get rid of him before he does any more damage to the great name of Michigan. We need another BO.

Eleanor Leary
B.S.
1960
LSA
Springfield,

(October 16th, 2009)

I feel the great University of Michigan is losing it's predominance as one the the world's leading Universities. I believe this is largely due to the ineffectiveness of the current president who lacks the strength and decisiveness needed.

Susan Campbell
BA
1954
LSA
Midland,

(October 16th, 2009)

About Jane Doyle....The lead-in graf said she received the Congressional Medal of Honor. The story was accurate; the lead-in was not. She -- and the other dedicated, courageous WASPs -- were awarded a civilian honor, The Congressional Gold Medal. The CMH is reserved for a level of valor above and beyond the call of duty in combat (or words to that effect). I offer this in the spirit of editorial accuracy, imprinted on my soul by the superb faculty at the U-M Journalism Department (now no longer in existence). Ms. Doyle is among the thousands of Americans who served selflessly in noncombat roles during WW2.

Meanwhile, Go, Blue!

Wally (Wallace) Eberhard, Ph.D.
AB, Journalism
1955
LSA
Athens,

(October 15th, 2009)

Re: Built to last (October 2009): It would be far more interesting to read about the percentage of student-athletes who have graduated under each of these coaches. It would also help to explain why The University of Michigan saw the need to spend $7M for a football coach who lacked the ethics to honor his contract with West Virginia.

Gene Thompson

1965

,

(October 15th, 2009)

I was delighted to read Frank Beaver's essay on the year 1909 in films (100 years ago, October 2009). I had a couple of classes with Frank back in the mid-1970s. He was engaging and eager to share with us his ideas and views. I can remember his lecture on "The Real vs. The Epic" in films, ie., "The Bicycle Thief" vs. "The Godfather." He was insightful and enthusiastic. Thank you, Frank!

steve suskin
LSA
1973
MA 1973
cincinnati,

(October 14th, 2009)

In Shakespeare's words (October 2009), Richard Bailey writes, "Shakespeare was not in the business of enriching the English language; he was in the business of selling tickets."

I doubt that Wm. Shaksper could invent any words. Edw. deVere, 17th Earl of Oxford, (Wm. Shakespeare) was employed by Elizabeth I to write and make the English language such that it would succeed French, the then predominant scholarly language. I encourage scholars to Google deVere to see the overwhelming evidence of deVere's erudition and authorship.

Albert V. Witham
B.A., LLD
1948, 1951
LSA, Law
Littleton,

(October 2nd, 2009)

I am so sorry to see that Fritz is leaving the U-M Cardiovascular Center this year. I had several occasions to speak on the phone long distance with him a few years ago when I made a donation to the new Cardiovascular Center in memory of my dear departed Uncle who was a physician. I thought this would be a fitting tribute to donate to this center in his name, as both he and his wife had heart conditions that required medical interventions and surgery, and that my donation would help others facing similar situations.

Fritz was an outstanding, kind, helpful and informative person to me during those calls,and with his letters to me, and I thought very highly of him, though I never met him in person. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Frances Walts
B.S.in NURSING
1963
NURSING
BALDWINSVILLE,

(October 1st, 2009)

Dear Editor:

I cannot imagine anyone who can compare to the loyalty, dedication and personal fund-raising success at the University of Michigan than Fritz Seyferth.

A standout running back at Michigan (1969-71) as an undergraduate, Fritz later spent 21 years employed with the U-M athletic department.

During his final seven years he was the executive associate athletic director and was responsible for the department’s $47 million budget, strategic planning and operation.

He carries himself with dignity and poise and I admire his ability to politely disagree—helped by his disarming smile—with campus administrators, coaches and student-athletes.

Fritz has announced he is leaving his position in the UMHS Cardiovascular Center (CVC) development office, December 1, 2009.

Through the years, he has applied his U-M education of degrees in Industrial/Operations Engineering and an MBA in the private sector setting in place the foundation of five departments and three companies.

Fritz’s least publicized legacy is in fundraising and development at Michigan, where he designed a new annual giving program and raised gifts and pledges by $45 million in eight years, as well as modestly raising $27.8 million in facility improvements in five separate campaigns.

And Fritz Seyferth has been an active member of the Ann Arbor community, serving on the board of directors for the Ann Arbor Commerce Bank as well as a board member of the Ann Arbor Convention & Visitors Bureau and Ann Arbor Rotary Club.

Best of luck, #32 to you and Lynn. From this fellow alumnus, "You are the man!"

Dale R. Leslie

,

(September 29th, 2009)

In reading your article on the student view of living together as a way of preventing divorce later (Living Together: The best way to divorce-proof marriage? (Sept. 2009), I wonder if cohabitation is a way of not making a long term commitment to the other party in the cohabitation. A commitment is required if you expect to have a long term marriage with its "For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health..." covenant agreement. The fallout of a divorce is children who, having suffered through the process of divorce with their parents, do not want to be hurt again as their parents hurt them.

Kenneth Poling
BBA
1968
School of Management Dearborn
Crystal Lake,

(September 24th, 2009)

I loved your slide show of The Cube (September 2009) on the UM home page, but I fear you left out the, ahem, best one of my then five-year-old daughter Erin Lichtenstein (LSA 2008) taken in 1992 by a Michiganensian photographer and published that same year. I believe that at the time, she loved showing everyone how strong she was by pushing this large metal cube with her head. She later graduated from U-M and now attends grad school at Stanford.

photo of 5 year old girl at the Cube at University of Michigan

Gail Ryan

,

(September 15th, 2009)

Re: The Big House after hours (Sept. 2009): I am curious why you did not mention that the "300 people" who converge on the stadium after the football games are Father Gabriel Richard High School students, parents and families? They (we) do this after every home game. It is a pretty remarkable feat, given that the parents have to get these high schoolers up and out of bed on a Sunday morning to go clean up other people's trash...not a simple feat. I was just wondering if there was a reason why they were not given credit for this in your article? Also, just to help them, you might have suggested people pick up after themselves! :)

Mary Grambeau Gass

,

(September 15th, 2009)

Re: New aesthetic form in "Public Enemies" (Sept. 2009): Prof. Beaver has made a terrible boo-boo, in chemical terms. Film is no longer made of celluloid, which is cellulose nitrate and has been a serious danger to projectionists and moviegoers. It is extremely flammable and subject to decay. Many years ago movie film was switched to cellulose acetate, a pretty stable material that is safe to use.

Frank Beaver replies:

Mr. Radin is correct, to a point: Celluloid, the name given to cellulose-nitrate, was eventually replaced by cellulose-acetate. Film buffs are well aware of this fact. Yet over the course of motion picture history, "celluloid" has been used by writers and critics as a generic term for the emulsion-derived medium of film. Vito Russo's book about gays in film, "The Celluloid Closet," and Jacquelyn Kilpatrick's study of the portrayal of Native Americans on the screen, "Celluloid Indians," are examples.

Norm Radin
Professor Emeritus

Neurochemistry
,

(September 14th, 2009)

I am writing in response to the article Living together: The best way to divorce-proof a marriage? by Diane Swanbrow, dated September 1, 2009.

I don't believe that Ms. Swanbrow's story is correctly titled, and I am somewhat puzzled as to why U of M researchers are spending money on this topic. Researchers at the University of Denver have already done a study, published in the July Journal of Family Psychology, which shows that couples who live together before marriage actually have a higher rate of divorce. Furthermore, this study showed that these couples also report lower marriage satisfaction than their non-cohabitating peers.

In light of these facts, it seems that the U of M researchers have only demonstrated that young people don't have their facts straight and are making poor decisions about their choices to cohabitate.

Maybe a better title would have been "U of M Researchers Confirm Widespread Ignorance and Poor Decisions Among Young Couples."

I suppose I am getting old, but I am pretty sure I could have told you that without a study. I know my mom could have twenty years ago....

James Izen
B.A.
1989
LSA
Atlanta,

(September 14th, 2009)

Re: Living together: The best way to divorce-proof a marriage? (Sept. 2009): The real test, in my opinion, would be to interview couples that have been married for, let's say, 25+ years to see if they lived together before marriage. Otherwise, it would just be wishful thinking of those who have yet to pass the test of time.

Mr. Jaime Isaza
B.S., M.P.H.
1978, 1982
SNRE, SPH
Eugene,

(September 13th, 2009)

Your article Professor White's trees (April 2008) incorrectly stated he came from Western NY. In fact he grew up in Central NY just south of Syracuse, where he returned to in 1863. He did attend Geneva College which is near Rochester, but that is on the edge of western NY.

FRANCES WALTS
BS IN NURSING
1963
BSN 1963
BALDWINSVILLE,

(September 12th, 2009)

Re: Living together: The best way to divorce-proof a marriage? (Sept. 2009): Interesting study on why people co-habitate; the reason for which is no surprise. I wonder if a more academic study would analyze the long-term results of their efforts. It's my understanding that extant statistics (sorry I don't have sources readily available) demonstrate co-habitation before marriage ironically seems to increase the odds of divorce for the couple. I find it curious that the article/survey fails to even mention the success rate of the couples' attempts to avoid actual divorce situations.

Joe Cox
LSA
1996
BGS
,

(September 12th, 2009)

Re: Marginal words (Sept. 2009): My Kindle lets me make marginal notes.

Lin Hanson
BA, JD
1959, 1961
LSA, LAW
Green Oaks,

(September 12th, 2009)

Re: Exactly how much housework does a husband create? (April 2008): I find it rather arbitrary to for the writer to exclude from "core" housework hours, tasks like gardening, home repairs, or washing the car. These are all part of maintaining a home and their exclusion only serves to invalidate the contribution.

Mark Jewett
Engineering
1979
BSEE
Plymouth,

(September 11th, 2009)

Re: The Big House after hours (September 2009): I have a question: can you tell me why our Michigan Stadium is referred to as The Big House? I can understand the size reference but beyond that? The phrase refers to a prison. Will new dictionaries now add Michigan Stadium as a 2nd meaning for the phrase, Big House? The phrase bothers me a great deal. I attended many games in Michigan Stadium and have fond memories of doing so. When we went to a game, we always went to the stadium and not to the big house. It just sounds very odd. Whoever thought of this and why do university publications continue to use this designation? In planning to attend another game, I expect to be in Michigan Stadium…

Karen Warren
B.S.N.
1958
Nursing
Zionsville,

(September 11th, 2009)

As a marginaliast, I loved your delightful essay Marginal words (Sept. 2009). Marginal notes help me find a specific thought or phrase when rereading or searching. And I love seeing how others reacted to a concept when they have left their marks.

When you refer to whimsical birds, I wonder if you are thinking of the Book of Kells and other such manuscripts. If so, do you know that those cute birds and animals often serve a purpose? Often, one of those tails, or a long nose or arm, points to a place in the text where an error was made, and the letters in the margins are the correction or addition for the error or omission. An editing solution with a sense of humor.

Elaine Pliskow Adler
B.S., M.S.
1960, 1963
LSA, ED, Rackham
Lexington,

(September 11th, 2009)

Thank you for your excellent article involving cohabitation & divorce (Living together: The best way to divorce-proof a marriage?, Sept. 2009). I hope your future research will focus on the outcome as opposed to the opinions of those engaged in cohabitation.

The ultimate results are mixed among my siblings who cohabitated and those who did not.

I hope to marry soon and prefer not to cohabitate.

Best wishes

MC WILLIAMSON
BBA
1984
ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
VANCOUVER,

(September 11th, 2009)

The research mentioned in Diane Swanbrow's article Living together: The best way to divorce-proof a marriage? (September 2009) merely mentions the reasons why young adults cohabit. In my opinion, a more intriguing research would be to determine what effect - positive or negative - that cohabitation has on the divorce rate for couples who ultimately do choose to marry or, for that matter, how many cohabitating couples fail to enter into the institution of marriage altogether. As a trained pre-marriage mentor, I am always more concerned with the documented negative effect cohabitation has on marriage's chance of success rather than the reasons why couples choose to cohabit rather than marry.

Michael H. "Reggie" VanderVeen, DDS 1976
DDS
1976
DDS 1976
Grand Rapids,

(September 11th, 2009)

The research news article Living together: The best way to divorce-proof a marriage? from September 1, 2009 contains a possible error and a certain gross omission. I couldn't track down the full article by Smock and Manning, but Swanbrow says "According to Smock and Manning, cohabitation serves to weed out marriages least likely to succeed," but elsewhere, it appears more likely that Smock and Manning instead indicate that cohabiting couples _believe_ that cohabitation will weed out marriages unlikely to succeed.

This brings up the omission, which is that strong and consistently reported evidence (for example, Cohan, C., & Kleinbaum, S. (2002). Toward a greater understanding of the cohabitation effect: Premarital cohabitation and marital communication. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 180–192.) shows that cohabitation actually substantially increases the chances of divorce. The article does finish by saying that it's the young adults who believe that "living together is the best way to keep divorce at bay," but completely neglects the fact that the best available evidence points in exactly the opposite direction.

Sean T.
M. S.
2009
Aerospace Engineering
Ann Arbor,

(September 11th, 2009)

What young people think as stated (Living together: The best way to divorce-proof a marriage? (September 2009): "young adults .... many of whom are convinced that living together is the best way to keep divorce at bay" and what the research shows, turn out to be very difference things. www.citizenlink.org

Dale Rosema
MSME
1988
College of Engineering
Holland,

(September 10th, 2009)

I went to Detroit in the fall of 1969 and wound up spending two years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era. I think I should have gone to Baghdad. Would there have been any difference?

R Gregory Stutz
J.D.
1972
Law
Denver,

(August 11th, 2009)

Finally got around to reading the articles in the July MT. I'm a bit (just a little bit) disappointed in Jim Tobin's article A question of culture (July 2009), as he does not touch on the serious disruptions related to minority affairs that repeated in the 1990s. To me, the article implies all was settled by creation of the residence hall lounges.

In the early 1990s, we basically had BAM II, and I believe it was called that. Events included students disrupting and nearly shutting down a Regents' meeting (it was moved to a conference room in Fleming) and staging a long sit-in at the Fleming Building with a lengthy list of demands. The result was the establishment of the Office of Minority Affairs and the appointment of a minority affairs vice provost, Charles Moody. John Matlock (now an associate vice provost and cited at the end of the article re the study) was the first head of OMA (now the Office of Academic Multicultural Activities, I believe).

I was part of an all-night work session at the Record the day things finally settled and negotiations ended, and came up with the title to what the next day was unveiled as "The Four-Point Plan." A quickly organized, overflow-crowd meeting was held that day at Hill Auditorium to unveil the plan. The Record went into twice-a-week publication for a month to explain in-place programs and outline those to be put into place. I had just hired a new editor at the Record and she got thrown into an evening telephone interview (after a very short time in her new job) with Dr. Moody. It was quite a whirlwind time. And, as I continue to think back, I do believe John (Matlock) once told me he was one of the 1970s activists! Life does sometimes take strange turns.

I guess I'm being picky. But I simply feel that Jim's article implies all was well once the issues of the '70s were resolved. I know Jim and he always has been an excellent writer, with careful attention to his research. I don't mean to indicate that he did not research carefully. But, by focusing solely on the '70s, the article implied to me all the issues were resolved forever. Not so!

Jane R. Elgass
former executive editor
University Record

,

(July 24th, 2009)

Fall 1965...find your ideal date...twenty questions on a campus-wide computer mixer...(I was his ideal date, he wasn't mine)...we've been married 40 years :)

Christel Fox
B.S.Chem
1968
LSA
Ann Arbor,

(June 19th, 2009)

That's a terrific piece on alumnus Frank Viviano by Natalie White ("A Life on the Edge," June 10, 2009). Your readers might enjoy Frank's current reporting on world affairs, which appears regularly on our website: www.cbs5.com/worldview. Sincerely, Dan Rosenheim, VP News, KPIX-TV, San Francisco

Dan Rosenheim

San Francisco,

(June 12th, 2009)

In your recent article on selecting a shoe for working out (June 2009), you cited Mr. Agbabian saying that one needs to know one's arch height to properly select a shoe. In a recent study by the US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine found that selecting a running shoe based on foot arch height does not reduce the risk of injury for soldiers entering basic training versus being assigned a standard shoe for "normal" arch height. (Article citation: Knapik et al, Journal of Strength Conditioning and Research, vol 23, no. 3, p685, May 2009.)) Furthermore, these results have been replicated for Air Force and Marine Corps basic training (in press). So although Mr. Agbabian is correct in recommending that shoes be replaced frequently for injury prevention, there is no indication that shoe prescription based on arch height reduces injury risk.

David Swedler
SPH
2006
MPH
Baltimore,

(June 12th, 2009)

I just read Mr. Tobin's article The Great Raid (June 2009) with interest and enjoyed the pictures. My fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, is mentioned prominently. Obviously, things happening in 1931 are pretty old news. The contemporary fraternity at U-M, like ours, is doing great philanthropic work. We would certainly welcome Mr. Tobin writing a story about the Box Car Derby Phi Delts co-chaired this spring, which created wonderful neighborhood involvement, to raise funds for ALS research. For more information go to http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/03/28/box-cars-zoom-down-south-university/. That is today's news.

JT (Tom) Buck, President, Phi Delta Theta Alumni Association

JT Buck
AB
1977
LSA
Farmington,

(June 12th, 2009)

Re: Victors valiant (June 2009): Good Article - way to shout out the unsung heroes of Michigan athletics. They rarely ever make the media but they excel all the same - makes me proud to be a wolverine, go blue!

Freda Yawson

,

(June 12th, 2009)

Re: Climate change driving Michigan mammals north (June 2009): This is certainly interesting. It is also consistent with patterns observed worldwide over many thousands of years. The Earth's climate is always changing. There is a significant amount of variation over both small and large scales of both time and space. There is, however, neither scientific analysis not scientific data that suggests that the earth's climate is doing anything other that what it has done for a very long time. The global warming/climate change story that the media has bought hook, line, and sinker is simply not true. There is not space here for details. However, I will refer you to an excellent, very readable book - The Deniers by Lawrence Solomon - and an excellent web site by Dr. Roy Spencer, a former NASA scientist now at the University of Alabama-Huntsville - http://www.drroyspencer.com/.

Robert s Scullen
PhD
1967
Engineering
Eatonton,

(June 12th, 2009)

I enjoyed the video/slide show of Spring on the Diag (some things never change!) and the always changing Medical Center. Brought back many fond memories!

Judith Huntington Litherland
B.Mus.Ed.,
1958
Music
Rock Island,

(June 12th, 2009)

Re: The great raid (June 2009): I have also heard stories that the Alpha Chi Sigma, ACS, American Chemical Society fraternity had a three story still on campus during prohibition. Is there any truth to that story? What is the rest of the story?

Readers...? What do you know? --Editor

John R. Adams
BS
1970
Education, Rackham
Jacksonville,

(June 12th, 2009)

Re: Climate change driving Michigan mammals north (June 2009): I hope the chipmunks headed North avoid the feet of the deer headed south to my back yard in Howell.

William P. Lindhout,
BArch
1950
Architecture and Design
Howell,

(June 12th, 2009)

Re: Choosing the correct running shoes (June 2009): Before anyone runs out and buys an expensive pair of running shoes, or any at all, I would recommend reading the following article from the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html

Everything you think you know about shoes, feet and running may be wrong.

August Danowski
JD
1998
Law School
Oxford, England

(June 12th, 2009)

Re: Climate change driving Michigan mammals north (June 2009): mamels moving north do to global warming?!! for real, Prove it! That's what I thought. You call this science and then gave it credence by printing This BS. So, question. Explain, while on average the global temp has been falling sence 1998 and fell more than a half a degree last year alone, that this is still accuring, assuming global warming even exists. Oh, yes I challenge you on that as well.

Gregg

PS don't print crap science!

Readers looking for complete data on the study can see the article abstract here and access the article from that site. —Editor

Gregg Schwab
Act. Math
1986
LSA
Royal Oak,

(June 11th, 2009)

Thanks for bringing back some good memories.

Judy Partain
MSW
1989
Social Work
West Mamphis,

(June 11th, 2009)

Just a comment on reduplication (Woo-woo words, June 2009) in Polynesian languages. I lived on Maui for 10 years. Iʻm familiar enough with the Hawaiian language to know that reduplication has a purpose: to convey action, I think like our suffix -ing.

Oh, and I, too think the "re-" in reduplication is redundant.

Nancy Meeker
B.S.Pharm.
1981
Pharm
Great Barrington,

(June 11th, 2009)

One fine day in the late '60's the student consciousness of the drawbacks of technology was demonstrated in a junkyard auto being towed to the center of the Diag...

As dozens rocked the car back and forth, the open doors threatened to cut off a foot or worse--but what did I do?--I unscrewed a spindle bearing nut, depositing a front wheel on the ground! Thankfully, no one was hurt,and the heap was towed back to its junkyard!

Rich Fairbrother
BSME
1970
BSME1970
Portsmouth,

(June 11th, 2009)

Thank you so much for the interesting article on the glass blowers (Future tech, ancient art, June 2009) at the University. Having retired from managing hospitals, I embarked on a career in glass blowing. Not the industrial type, but glass art! What a wonderful medium. What a wonderful way to meet new and interesting artists. And what a wonderful way to express one's creative side.

Thank you for publishing the article and giving these valued members of the University family their proper recognition.

David Kolasky
M.H.A.
1968
Public Health
Toledo,

(June 11th, 2009)

Hi! I read Corrie Feldkamp's article on choosing running shoes, but was surprised at its message. There was no mention of going barefoot or using a minimal shoe like the vibram fivefinger. For runners, this can be much healthier than using squishy padded shoes. In fact, Marti et. al., (AJSM 1988) showed that running injuries were correlated with higher shoe prices. As a barefoot running enthusiast, I'd be interested to hear the UM expert's opinions on *no* shoes as the appropriate choice of shoes.

Eric Jankowski
B.S.E, M.S., PhD
2005, 2006, 2010
ChemE
Ann Arbor, MI

(June 11th, 2009)

Re: The great raid (June 2009): Gargoyle 1930-31 Editor Paul Showers devoted the March issue to The Raid. Here's what he had to say about it in his chapter in "Gargoyle Laughs at the 20th Century":

"Our March issue was devoted to this raid. We had short pieces, cartoons, all on the subject. For the cover we had to have an artist who could really draw. He turned up in the School of Architecture and made us a fine drawing of a very raunchy figure of blindfolded justice holding her scales, one side piled high with fraternity houses, the other balanced with a handful of liquor bottles. Another sell-out. We had requests for copies from alumni as far away as Arizona."

Showers was a journalist. After World War Two & service on the newspaper "Yank" he joined the NY Times & retired from his post there on the Sunday magazine. His March 1931 Gargoyle can be viewed at the Bentley Historical Library, North Campus.

John Dobbertin, Jr. President, Gargoyle Alumni Society

John Dobbertin, Jr.
B.A.
1964

Chaseburg,

(June 11th, 2009)

Very interesting article about the challenges our football coach has overcome (No honeymoon, Nov. 2008), but the troubles with the program are not losses, rather disrespect for the history of the program. Also the lack of decorum the coaching staff has demonstrated in public, witness the embarrassment we suffered at the MHSAA meetings in Mt. Pleasant a year ago. I can accept losing in a good effort, but Don Canham said "You may not embarrass the university!" Gary Moeller, a good man and fine coach, was pushed out for this shortcoming. Whether or not we continue to suffer the worst football teams in the history of the University, I hope we will not continue to suffer the public embarrassment.

Thomas C. Goodsell
BS, DDS
1978, 1982
LSA, Dent
Battle Creek,

(May 21st, 2009)

Alison Aiello's article about Stopping Flu (May 2009) reminded me of my father, who graduated from Michigan with a Civil Engineering Degree in 1922. He told about the 1918 Spanish Influenza and its effect in Ann Arbor in his Memoir. He said that it was a terrible disease and many students became ill and died. There was a great shortage of help in the Ann Arbor hospitals. Since he was in the Student's Army Training Corp at the time, he was ordered to work as an orderly in the Saint Joseph Hospital. He wore a gauze mask. One day as he was talking to a sick student, the student asked for something to read. He went to the desk, and when he came back, the student was dead. I recall my father telling me that so many died each day that they could not make wooden caskets fast enough, and he could remember the caskets lined up at end of the street.(Do not rcall which street.) Obviously, he never got sick, but for those who survived, it was something they could never forget.

John Larson
B.S.M.E
1959
Engineering
Hertford,

(May 16th, 2009)

As a frequent viewer of WFUM, and a former broadcaster, I am saddened but not surprised the University has decided to discontinue operating Michigan Television based in Flint.

According to University figures, at the close of the last fiscal year, WFUM had a net operating loss of $1.48 million on a total operating expense of $4.2 million.

Consequently, the 2008 financial statement, dated February 2009, came with with a cautionary "going concern" note by the station's independent accountants (PriceWaterhouseCoopers).

There are 173 public TV licensees in the United States. WFUM is among eight university public television licensees across the country currently assessed to be in "fragile" financial condition, and they are one of a total of 30 public television licensees in this category.

The search for the reason(s) for WFUM's disappointing, evolving, financial condition is not due to Michigan's soft economy. There are other factors:

Michigan Television never grasped "The Michigan Difference" in its programming and did not complement the broad reputation of excellence of the University of Michigan with the powerful medium at their direction- television;
Thus WFUM failed to build a station identity, embracing one of the renown giants of academia (U-M) who are also the owners of the station, on behalf of the citizens of Michigan.
Instead, viewers saw a steady diet of station break announcements over visual scenes from the U-M Flint campus or northern Michigan tourist areas. This is in stark contrast to a background of the recently built, modern U-M classroom buildings and the state-of-the-art laboratories in Ann Arbor.

I voiced my concern to WFUM station manager Jennifer B. White, and to her credit, she answered me immediately in defense of the station's programming and projects in production.

She pointed to a developing special WFUM program, as an example of the station's vitality, in conjunction with a management program at the U-M Flint.

I thought to myself, "No, Jennifer, no! The world's top minds in business theory and practice are available on the U-M Ann Arbor campu—not Flint—and represent the prestige of the Ross Business School!"

But the whole WFUM scene reminds me of these familiar words: "No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."

(To their credit, the University furnished some blunt answers to some self-imposed questions.

Dale R. Leslie
LSA
1971
Rackham
Ann Arbor,

(May 14th, 2009)

I just read the piece about Arthur Thurnau (For love of teaching, May 2009), which noted "His two years in Ann Arbor, over a century ago, were so formative that he repaid his alma mater with a tremendous gift to the University some 75 years after he left." It's not hard to understand. I went to a performance by the Women's Glee Club here in Traverse City last week, and when it came time to sing "The Yellow and Blue," the eyes were dripping and the throat was choked and I barely managed to croak out some words. If you have an effective institution, it generates loyalty.

Chris Campbell
M.A., J.D.
1972, 1975
Rackham, Law
,

(May 14th, 2009)

On a recent trip to Jamaica (April 24, 2009), a group from Ohio was preparing to participate on a zip-line tour through the trees in Ocho Rios. I spotted a young man with a Michigan t-shirt and as a Ohio State Buckeye fan, I joked with him that I had paid our guides to make his gear uncomfortable. As it was obvious I was joking, the four people in his group and seven in ours laughed. It was a nervous laugh as none of us had experienced zip-lining before and had no idea what lie ahead. That was an understatement. Near the end of the zip-line tour my wife fell while walking on a swinging bridge between two zip lines and cut her arm very deeply.

The UM foursome immediately informed us they were medically trained and one indicated he is an emergency room doctor. They offered any assistance we needed and the doctor offered to go to the local medical facilities and perform any surgical repair if we weren't comfortable with the local physician. Fortunately the local surgeon was available immediately, and after about an hour and several internal and external stitches, our group was able to return to our hotel. The stitches are now out and everything is fine, but I want to acknowledge the fine examples set by those UM graduates that day in Jamaica. In all the excitement I didn't get their names but I want to share their heroics with you and say I am one Buckeye fan that is grateful to have known these Wolverines.

Jack E. Hoffman

Boerne,

(May 14th, 2009)

Is the Hollywood crapola (Actor Montalbán's grandson pays tribute to grandfather, May 2009) such an established part of our culture that it deserves such recognition, such standing from a legitimate institution of higher learning? Or am I expecting today's "university" to have standards that are "outdated" now?

If I wanted to read this type of drivel, I'd get into the longest checkout lines at Ralph's [SoCal's Kroger].

And the thing on plasma (Quick classroom: What is plasma? May 2009)—this is science? For whom, third-graders?

You know, the nice thing about the old print media was the satisfaction you got from taking such as this and lining your birdcage with it, or, as we did in the UP, ripping into useable sizes for the outhouse at deer camp.

Dr. Barnxfield TMS, CPA

,

(May 13th, 2009)

Richard W. Bailey's article on Obsolete words (May 2009) was very enlightening. I found a strange one too. You will not find the word "tralatitious" in the typical dictionary, nor even in some untypical volumes on word origins. Three cheers, therefore, for Roget's International Thesaurus and the likes of some more sophisticated literary magazines like the New Yorker, where I came across it and put it in my diary/notebook. Do we need such a word? Ninety-eight percent of the population of the English speaking world has never heard of this word. In case you might think it could come in handy abroad somewhere, forget it. It is not among the English words to be translated in Cassell's French or German dictionaries, for example. Who knew? My surmise is that when Cassell put together his foreign language dictionaries, he didn't gather up from each country the words most likely to be used in everyday French speech, or even in the literature in their own country. What he did was identify a long list of words common to English and then ask scholars in France and Germany to provide translations of these same words in French and German!

Check it out. The lists of English words to be translated into French in his French dictionary is roughly the same as the list of English words to be translated into German in his German dictionary. This suggests that the French people go through their daily routines talking about roughly the same things that the German people talk about during their daily lives. Can this be true? I doubt it, seriously.

The word "tralatitious" is not to be found in neither of these dictionaries. Personally, I like the word; it rolls off the tongue nicely. It purports to mean something meaningful. Roget has chosen to include this wonderful word in his Thesaurus, along with synonyms for tralatitious such as symbolical, typical, ironical, satirical, antithetical, tropical, flowery and a couple of weirdos like catachrestical and metonymical.

All of above sort of leaves each of us on our own as to which of these words you choose to substitute tralatitious for. Personally, I think I will reserve its use for some effort at poetry, where you can get away with using exotic words few know the meaning of, so long as they fit the meter, rhythm or free verse format. People will look up the meaning of words they don't know in poetry, but won't do it while racing through a novel or biography.

My advice, in sum, is that you forget I even raised the subject of the non-use and mysteriously illusive but real nice word tralatitious.

submitted by Richard J. Ward, author of "Grampas Are For All Seasons."

Richard J. Ward
M.A., Ph.D.
1948; 1958
Rackham Grad School
Dartmouth,

(May 4th, 2009)

Sad as I was to read the article Toward the end of paper (Apr 2009), it described in vivid and compelling terms the changes and challenges that face the written word today. The newspaper became a part of my world when I delivered them as a kid in suburban Cleveland, OH, worked in the business after graduation from Michigan and read them my entire adult life. It is still a comfort to be able to hold a morning newspaper in my hand—not on my lap!

Courtland C Smith
BA—journalism
1956
LSA
Pottstown,

(April 27th, 2009)

Re: Toward the end of paper (Apr 2009): I am not sure that putting a newspaper online is adequate in many ways. First of all, the computer has to be able to access it. If the computer or ISP is not functional when you go to read it, you may miss out on a lot of timely information. Also, there is the loss of the hands-on feel of a newspaper and the ability to put it down and read just parts at a time. Also, the ability to save out some articles for future reference without having to print them out. Our local Syracuse area paper is affiliated with the Ann Arbor paper—the publisher's daughter has run it. Our paper is superb and has achieved the highest Sunday readership in the nation. We have a school of newspaper and other journalism here at Syracuse University, so I am sure that accounts for the very high daily readership of our paper, The Post Standard.

I have noted even our paper has cut back and done some things online. But it is quite inconvenient and has less and more-difficult-to-access information overall. This does not bode well for using it as a replacement for our print paper in the least, so we will keep it and savor its content and read it at our leisure without having to resort to the computer to get news. It is a more complete version by far.

I think that this will occur with other papers, indeed, and there will be an eventual resurgence of the print papers as people compare the many advantages of a print paper.

Frances Walts
B.S., Nursing
1963
Nursing
Baldwinsville,

(April 21st, 2009)

Re: M-ollywood (Apr 2009): Please don't forget Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour starred in "Somewhere in Time," filmed in 1979 on Mackinac Island. The studio, stars and crew spent most of the summer on the Island. As a result of the movie, a cult group is in existence, which meets each October at the Grand Hotel on the Island. All participants dress in period costumes, the era being late 19th century.

Mary Dennany Plunkett
BA
1955
LSA
Chicago,

(April 20th, 2009)

Re: A venomous tail (Apr 2009): I have to chuckle, these researchers only needed to go as far as California to perform this study, to our yard. We have hundreds of lizards running around with missing tails!! The Predator—Our Dog!

Kimberly Gustafson
MA
2001
MBA 2001
Calabasas,

(April 20th, 2009)

Re: M-ollywood (Apr 2009): Unfortunately, the writer completely neglected the most obvious and most successful Michigan filmmaker in the past several decades. Sam Raimi got his start in Michigan and I believe the progeny of the "Dead" series was filmed here. He grew up in Birmingham and he and his classmate Bruce Campbell went to Hollywood together and both have been very successful. I guess I would have to say that, as the director of all the Spiderman films, Sam has been very, very successful.

Rolfe Tessem
B.A. Political Science
1974
LSA
North Egremont, MA

(April 18th, 2009)

Frank, UM is a bit south of the straits, but you should know that while Mackinaw City is the tip of the Lower Peninsula, Michigan's most famous island is Mackinac.

Sarah Stegath Sterkel
BA
1971
Education
,

(April 17th, 2009)

Re: The battle at home (Apr 2009): Good for Michigan, facilitating these vets' entry or return to school. This after hearing of UNC's production of a video to alert staff of possible "hostility problems" from these heroes! This is exactly the kind of diversity we should welcome onto campus.

Fredric Leutheuser
M.S.
1979
AAOS
,

(April 17th, 2009)

Re: M-ollywood (Apr 2009): There was a film made in Ann Arbor in the late 1970's that was about the "Michigan Murders." It was a film about the murders committed by John Norman Collins in the late 1960s and early 1970s of Michigan and Eastern Michigan co-eds. I have not been able to find out if the film was ever released. Does anyone have any additional information about this Michigan film?

Don Ritter

Ann Arbor,

(April 17th, 2009)

Re: Toward the End of Paper (Apr 2009): Much of what is now stored electronically will be lost in the future because of incompatible formats and the time and expense of conversion.

This is already happening now.

If you want to be read 100 years from now, you need to be on paper.

Dave Moorhead
MBA
1984
Business
Rockville,

(April 17th, 2009)

This is a comment on the nice piece by James Tobin (Hard times (Apr 2009). When I arrived at South Quad in the Fall of 1972, economic times were good and drug use was everywhere in the dorm. By the fall of 1974, however, the '73-'74 recession had hit hard and drug use had dropped by more than half. How could I tell? I could clearly see the end of the dorm hallway; during 1972-73, the dense smog of burning cannabis made that a rare event.

Greg Higby
B.S. Pharmacy
1977
Pharmacy
Madison,

(April 17th, 2009)

Re: Mollywood (Apr 2009): One of my favorite Michigan movies is the hilarious John Cusack, Dan Aykroyd, Minnie Driver film, "Grosse Pointe Blank", about hitmen trying to form a union set in Grosse Point. Great scenes of the town and hilarious work by Alan Arkin and Joan Cusack.

Charles White
BS ChemE
1975
Engineering
,

(April 17th, 2009)

It was great to read this article (The battle at home, Apr 2009), especially being a parent of a US Marine. My son who has been out of USMC 3 years now has been battling the same issues and more. It is difficult alone to transition into civilian life after serving combat. And filling out job applications after this. Great job!

Marian DeTone-Laroche

Ann Arbor,

(April 17th, 2009)

Thank you or your wonderful publication. You don't miss covering all interesting and valued aspects of U of M. I was particularly pleased with the Dhani Jones section (Carpe Diem, Apr 2009). We certainly know of his football success, but I had not heard of his life off the gridiron. He is an outstanding representative of the USA and makes us proud of our country. Having traveled and worked the world (86 countries) I know the importance of the conduct of our citizens abroad. Ambassador Jones, thank you.

JACK E. HARBAUGH
B.A.
1949
LSA
CHARLOTTE,

(April 17th, 2009)

How refreshing to see an article about a football player who isn't in trouble with the law or otherwise misdirected in life! (Carpe Diem, Apr 2009).

I was the Head Librarian at the Benzinger Library in East Quad, where Dhani Jones was a resident. He always struck me as a polite young man and very solid in his ideals. He even hung out in the library!

I wish him all the best in his world travels and sports career. I have the feeling we'll be seeing more of him!

Donna (Wilson) Sokol
MSI
1999
School of Information
Washington,

(April 17th, 2009)

Although I never had the pleasure of seeing Jim Abbott play in person (Lucky man, Apr 2009), I was able to follow his career via TV and the Wolverine. He was always a man to look up to and admire. You have no idea how many young physically challenged kids made him their hero. Working one time at Lakeville Hospital which housed many youngsters that had many challenges I knew how much it meant for them to have someone who was "like them."

When Jim Abbott played he put his heart into every pitch. His gentleness to the sport of baseball was to be admired and treasured. How I wish I could be at the game tomorrow to see his number retired and see him in person. good luck Jim!

P.S. Our family named our Black Lab "Abbott" after Jim!

Judy J. Roberts

Lakeville,

(April 17th, 2009)

Re: Toward the end of paper (Apr 2009): What a wonderful article! Almost makes the newspapers' demise less painful. I especially appreciated the phrase about it being like having to put your beloved dog down. I don't care for staring at the screen for my recreation as well as my work, so it's an uphill struggle for me, but I'll give it a go.

And funny enough, no article anywhere has mentioned the world of magazines yet, and how THEY are faring. I live part of the year in Paris -- lived there for 30 straight years and raised my children there. Over there new magazines are still being created, and newspapers - as far as the public knows - are still doing well. That's an interesting geographic dichotomy.

Sandy Schopbach
B.A., M.A.
1967, 1970
LSA, LSA
Ann Arbor,

(April 17th, 2009)

Re: Toward the end of paper (Apr 2009): It's really tough to see these things go...and Amazon's Kindle is also helping to make the death knell of print books.

On the other hand it is helping to offer writers a more easy access to the market...even if nobody can find their work online.

In addition, TV stations are setting up themselves to fail too, as they ask us more and more to turn to their web sites to get the "full story." Why am I going to watch their show if I'm trained to understand I won't get their full story without going to the web page?

Paul T. Jackson
M.L.S.
1965
SI
Enumclaw,

(April 17th, 2009)

Re: M-ollywood (Apr 2009): If I'm not mistaken there is a scene in Forest Gump where he is in and then on the porch of the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Is.

What threw me was that he drove a t-bird up to the place. But having been there it was unmistakably the Grand.

Paul Jackson
SI

1965
Enumclaw,

(April 16th, 2009)

Re: Hard times (Apr 2009): I find your article a bit insulting. The students of the 1920s were, supposedly, that bad according to this study. And what study justifies that today's college students haven't changed that much? When I was on the Ann Arbor campus, I saw lots of partying and having fun, but also LOTS of extracurriculuar reading and seriousness among students.

Lauren Meyerowitz
MA
2007
LSA
West Orange,

(April 16th, 2009)

Thank you for the article on the demise of the printed word (Toward the end of paper, Apr 2009). I especially connected with the paragraph where you talked about putting down an old dog or signing divorce papers. If books on the shelves are ever impossible to obtain during my lifetime, my heart will break.

Sally Brooks

,

(April 16th, 2009)

Re: Toward the end of paper (Apr 2009): We are getting closer and closer to an Orwellian society where everything is digital and technical (digitech) and individual creativity is dwindling at a rapid rate, while new technology by groups grows. From music, to movies, to books, to television, the digital blob is taking over. From digitech music, to digitech movies, now digitech media. There are very few original ideas being developed. The crap that passes for entertainment is staggering, especially in the media. Our communications are being reduced to acronyms. Corporations and industries are being wiped out wholesale by the digital blob. At least holding something in your hand and reading it, regardless of the quality, is sometimes more interesting that having it read to you through the television or looking at it on a computer or cell phone. The internet is killing industries one by one. Libraries and bookstores are drying up.

Even as the Malthusian theory (can the planet sustain and fee the ever growing population or do we need birth control) of overpopulation begins to creep up on us, and automation and computerization have been replacing human beings in the workplace at a record pace, the digitech blob is growing while jobs for human beings are declining. This conversion for the sake of technology and profit, will reach a head within 10 years. At some point in time we must make a decision. Are we on this planet for the sake of human growth or technological growth and profit?. The two are clearly becoming mutually exclusive And more importantly, can this planet sustain this digitech evolution.

The elimination of paper is but a nail in the coffin we are building for ourselves. Despite all the technology in so many industries that we have created in the last 100 years, we are moving backwards as a human race.

Paul D. Clark
B.S.
1974
Wayne State University
Detroit,

(April 16th, 2009)

Re: Hard times (Apr 2009): As current undergraduate instructors at Indiana University, my wife and I hope this past impact of hard economic times will repeat itself. While we would never wish for a depression, the responsibility, attitudes, and focus of the current class of students could be much improved in the exact ways found in 1933. We have yet to see any change, but we are always hopeful that improvements may come.

Ryan & Laurel Stevenson
Ryan - BS, PhD(c); Laurel -BA, MPH, PhD(c)
2003, 2007, 2010
LSA
Bloomington,

(April 16th, 2009)

Call me a Luddite, but I dread the day I no longer get a daily newspaper or magazines in the mail printed on honest-to-goodness real paper (Toward the end of paper, Apr 2009). Technology is supposed to make our lives better, but the increased digitization of the world's information just makes us slaves to computers. When I come home from a long day's work in front of a computer, I want to sit at the dinner table and read the newspaper or relax on the couch with a magazine or book. I do not want to interact with a computer sixteen or seventeen hours a day. Also, what will we do in 100 years when we want to look back and relive memories? Printed pictures of my elders are perfectly clear, yet we have enough trouble opening a document more than five years old on most computers. Will people even know what a JPEG is in 100 years?

Brian Poi
Ph.D.
2002
Rackham
College Station, 77845

(April 16th, 2009)

As far as the end of newspapers and many periodicals which are only part of the "press" (Toward the end of paper, Apr 2009) it is only fitting that a source of knowledge and information which became almost totally entertainment and political advocacy should vanish! They no longer met a need.

Robert Goedjen
BBA
1955
1951 1955
Saratoga,

(April 16th, 2009)

As luck would have it, I was in Atlanta and had the opportunity to see the Michigan baseball team play in the early rounds of the NCAA tournament.

I did not know who Jim Abbott was (Lucky man, Apr 2009), but he was pitching in the game I attended. I was not aware of his "unique" pitching style and it took me three innings to realize he had only one hand.

From that point, I followed his career reach the pinnacle of his no-hit game.

Congrats, Jim.

Lee W. Waldrep, Ph.D.
BS
1980
ARCH
University Park,

(March 16th, 2009)

I am retired from the U of M's Office of Financial Aid, after 30 years of service. The idea of simplifying the financial aid application process (March 2009) was continuous during those 30 years, including using a check-off box on federal income tax forms. I am dismayed that apparently neither Prof. Dynarski nor Michigan Today apparently bothered to contact the financial aid professionals on our own campus to review the history of efforts to make applying for student aid more accessible to students and families. (Frankly, the application process was easier 25 years ago, BEFORE the "simplification" efforts got started.)

Lynn Borset
BGS
1977
LS&A
Ann Arbor,

(March 15th, 2009)

Re: Good words (March 2009). A Quote from Updike: "When you stand up on the first tee it is there, it comes back from wherever it lives during the rest of your life, endless possibility, the possibility of a flawless round, a round without a speck of dirt on it, without a missed two-footer or a flighing right elbow, without a pushed wood or pulled iron; the first fairway is in front you, palm trees on the left and water on the right, flat as a picture. All you have to do is take a simple pure swing and puncture the picture in the middle with a ball that shrinks in a second to the size of a needle-prick, a tiny tunnel into the absolute."

Roger R. Calam, Ph.D.
BS, MS, MS
1964, 1965, 1967
LSA, Rackham
Clinton Twp,

(March 15th, 2009)

Thank you for the retrospective on the old Waterman/Barbour complex (March 2009). As a dance major in the 1970s when Liz Bergman was building the department and Gay DeLange was a young force shaping us, all our classes were in the beautiful buildings. It was inspiring to walk up the huge steps each day, to dance under the high ceilings with sunlight streaming in the tall windows. I remember fondly walking through the men shooting hoops in Waterman to get upstairs to my ballet studio. And that long room had an old wood floor with bumps in the center, so I learned exactly where they were in order to avoid them and make the best pirouettes I could. All I have to do today is close my eyes and I can feel all the rhythms of African dance taught by Vera Embree, running and leaping line by line while Gay hollered encouragement, and Liz directing our auditions in that huge upstairs room in Barbour. Thank you!

Barbara Lynn Swanson (McGraw)
BFA
Dec. 1976
Music
Silver Spring, USA

(March 14th, 2009)

Re: What's so funny? (March 2009): A man sitting at a bar hears a voice saying "that's a very handsome tie you're wearing," but doesn't see anyone. A few moments later he hears the same voice saying "that's a beautiful sport jacket." Again no one in sight. He calls the bartender over and relates this experience.

The bartender explains; "the peanuts are complimentary."

Bob Ruskin
B.A., M.D.
1953,1955
LSA,MED,LSA
Bloomfield Hills,

(March 14th, 2009)

Re: Cold snap (March 2009): The reason I do not contribute to Michigan is because of wackos like Prof. Poulsen. If he really wants to make a positive contribution, have him work on making rain upon demand.

Dave Cole
BA
1968
LSA
,

(March 14th, 2009)

Re: 20 years later (March 2009): I had moved to Seattle after law school graduation, and was at the game, sitting (actually, mostly standing) on the floor right behind the basket, when the basketball team won the NCAA Championship. I had called Al Renfrew at the U-M Ticket Office in Ann Arbor to get tickets for our local alumni club. It was very cool to win the National Championship in my new hometown of Seattle. The Seattle U-M alumni club had quite the party that night!

Al Van Kampen
BA, JD
1979, 1983
LSA & Law
Seattle,

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: 20 years later (March 2009): Can't believe it's been 20 years! Remember it well. Had Art History class with Mark Hughes—a great guy. My husband and I started dating the week before the tournament. Will never forget the happy mob after the game at South U and Church streets, and the guy riding the flashing red light like a mechanical bull. What a game, and what a night!

Shelley Brown Komrska
B.F.A.
1991
School of Art
Cincinnati,

(March 13th, 2009)

Your slideshow on Waterman/Barbour gyms (March 2009) brought back pleasant memories—I spent many hours as a young faculty member on the Waterman indoor track. The caption mentions that it was 14 laps to the mile; my memory is that it was longer than that, perhaps 10 laps/mile. Was the track perhaps lengthened at the time that additions were made to the gym?

Peter Hinman

Ann Arbor,

(March 13th, 2009)

Fascinating article (What's so funny? (March 2009). I'd love to keep up on progress toward a Humor Studies program. I was reminded on a German man I met at a restaurant in Bavaria in the mid-1980s. He said that he taught himself English by reading New Yorker cartoons: "When I knew why it was funny, I knew I understood English!"

Walter Bilderback
A. B.
1983
Resdential College
Philadelphia,

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: 20 years later (March 2009): I was a Social Work intern at the U-M C.A.P.H. at the time, loving the Hoop program as I always had. (I grew up in Pontiac and worshiped Cazzie as a kid.) When tournament time came, I had a feeling that the team was ready to make a run so I picked them to win in the pool that the program director, Mary Kemme, let us set up. I followed every step the team made and got ridiculed a bit for my "unlikely scenario" by the rest of the students and staff. I particularly liked Loy Vaught, who was around our program a lot. When they won it, I won $130 on the pool, which I sorely needed. Dr. Kemme rolled her eyes at me and said, "Somehow you students always seem to have the inside track on these things." It was a thrill I will never forget. By the way, my supervisors, Sharon Jordan and Doug Davies, inspired me like no one else did before or since.

Pete Reed
B.A, MSW
1980,1989
LSA, Social Work
Beverly,

(March 13th, 2009)

Worldwide independent scientists, claiming no governmental, business or ideological affiliations, find that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is not a climate change threat; disputing information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Findings include:

Atmospheric CO2 levels vary due to many reasons while tending to follow, not lead, global temperature changes.
Global temperature changes are primarily due to the sun’s output variations and earth’s orbital eccentricities.
The IPCC operates as an advocacy organization and not a purely scientific group.
Most scientists conclude that atmospheric CO2 is not a climate change threat or harmful to humans.

Sources include:

The Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) report Nature, Not Human Activity, Rules the Climate,
The International Climate and Environmental Change Assessment Project (ICECAP) portal icecap.us containing various reports, a question and answer list and quizzes,
and the Petition Project Global Warming Report including over 31,000 American scientists' signatures.

Considering this information, coupled with national economic and security interests, it appears appropriate and desirable to encourage free market energy solutions from all available sources, including oil, natural gas, oil shale, coal, wind, solar, geothermal, wave action, fuel cells, biofuels and nuclear power, coupled with prudent harmful emission controls while eliminating CO2 and carbon cap and credit restrictions.

Thomas J. Buckley
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Master of Business Administration
1965, 1970
General Motors Institute, University of Michigan
Clawson,

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: Cell phones as classroom computers (March 2009): How do I obtain this software? Most of our children (3), their spouses, and grandchildren (10) have smart phones—Treo, Blackberry etc.

At the moment, the software described in this story is not commercially available. It's part of a test being performed in two Texas schools, though researchers hope to expand the project in the future. If readers have suggestions for finding currently available educational software for mobile devices, Drop us a line. --Editor

Cal Reed
BSinChE
1958
BSinChE, 1958
Katy,

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: 20 years later (March 2009): 1988-89 was my freshman year and I lived on fifth floor Williams in West Quad. A group of us drew a gigantic bracket across the entire back wall of the lounge in Williams House, having no idea obviously how far we'd go. The Sweet Sixteen came around and maybe 6 or 7 of us drove down to Lexington to watch Sean Higgins put on a show against UVA (during that game, some woman in the bathroom made some comment about how great that Higgins player was and all I could do was smile).

So the Final Four comes around, we beat Illinois and face Seton Hall. I remember watching that championship game back in the Williams House lounge with everyone and then pouring out on to State St. and then South University down by China Gate and Charlie's—people hanging from telephone wires, turning cabs over. Wall to wall people, from sidewalk to sidewalk. It was unbelievable. After that, t-shirts were made: on the front, "1989 Rose Bowl Champions," on the back, "as if that weren't enough" with a basketball going through a net and "1989 national champions." It was a great freshman year!

Barbara Cossman
BA
1992
LSA
Ann Arbor,

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: 20 years later (March 2009): Enthused greatly by Shawn Higgins' putback and the Michigan men's basketball team's improbable win against Illinois in the semis late Saturday night, I spur of the moment flew to Seattle on Monday without a ticket but determined to see the championship game. After 30 minutes of buying and selling several tickets outside the Kingdome to get the best seat I could, I was detained by the Seattle police. They accused me of scalping and threatened to arrest me. I thought I was going to miss the game in some lockup!

Fortunately, I had just purchased a great seat in the courtside bleachers and as soon as they released me I ran into the game, eating one other ticket that I didn't dare sell. The thrill of the overtime victory was augmented by flying on the red-eye to Chicago a few seats away from Bo, who had to get back to spring football practice. He autographed my ticket stub, and we enjoyed a few words. I am very glad that this very special M basketball team is getting attention again. They were an inspiration to all who follow Michigan sports.

Mike Julien
BBA
1973
Business
Grand Rapids,

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: 20 years later (March 2009): Michigan beats Illinois in the Final Four semifinal to advance to the championship game, and students congregate in the intersection of East U and South U. During the ensuing melee, I approach a young lady from one of my classes in the throngs of people and introduce myself. Our first date is a week later. We graduate a few weeks later. We married in 1992 and remain happily married, with two great kids. GO BLUE!

Adam Cohen
B.A., English
1989
LSA
Englewood,

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: The student body (March 2009): I registered for my classes in Waterman Gymnasium in 1958 and in subsequent years. Your article on Waterman & Barbour is terrific, thanks. It brought back many old, dusty memories.

Your gym photos reminded me of playing in the blue and white basketball game in Yost Fieldhouse in 1959. The varsity once again beat the truly gifted freshman team. As an architect, my firm has been retained for many campus building projects including the Visitor Center, Michigan Union, Michigan League, and the Sindecuse Museum at the Michigan Dental School.

Thanks for bringing back some old memories.

Richard E. Fry
Bachelor of Architecture
1965
Architecture & Design
Ann Arbor, USA

(March 13th, 2009)

Your random display of Alumni Notes, many unidentified by graduation year, is ridiculous. Why should anyone have to scroll through all the notes to find a familiar name? Why not group notes by graduation decade? And insist that alumni include their degrees and graduation dates in their entries? I stopped looking at the notes long ago because it was so frustrating!

Meredith Tigel Saltzman
B.A.
1956
Education
New York,

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: 20 years later (March 2009): I remember the entire month March 1989 vividly. My first memory is of walking across the Quad and watching reporters asking random students what they thought of Frieder being fired. I had not heard the news so I was stunned. My head dropped with disappointment.I figured we would be lucky to get through the first round.

After that first tournament game you could feel the confidence build in the team and in the fan support. By the time we reached the Final Four it was unbelievable, a true cinderella story.

March Madness of 1989 was one the most exciting times of my life on campus.

Aaron King
B.F.A
1990
School of Art
Los Angeles, CA

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: 20 years later (March 2009): In 1989, I was in Seattle on business and happened to land the same afternoon the men's basketball team landed at Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle to come to the Final Four. So I stayed to watch them deplane. It was truly a "Meechigan" moment. Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson, Terry Mills, and all the rest of that great team, and of course, Interim Coach Steve Fisher coming off that plane to the sounds of the Victors from the pep band. I remember it so well. Everyone was so pumped!

That afternoon, I happened to strike up a conversation with a member of the Alumni Club in Seattle, and lo and behold he called my hotel the next night when Michigan beat the Fighting Illini in the National Semi Finals. My God, Michigan was going for it all! To make a long story short, he had an extra ticket he could get me if I wanted to attend the final game. Boy, did I want to go, but I had to get back home to California from my business trip. In truth, I could have and should have called in sick. I wimped out and missed a great game and a chance of a lifetime. I continue to beat myself up for giving up that great opportunity and missing that thrilling game, but that's the way the ball bounces (Ouch, what a bad pun!).

GO BLUE!

Randy Grossman
BA, MPH, PhD
1971,1975, 1984
LS&A, Public Health, Racham
San Leandro,

(March 13th, 2009)

Re: Talking about movies: Children vs. the world (March 2009): Few people have noticed the politically correct subtext in Slumdog, namely, that Muslims in India are victims of the Hindus. Jamal is not only an orphan boy from the slums. He is a Muslim made an orphan by Hindu pogrom against Muslims in the slums. His triumph is not just the triumph of a poor orphan but the triumph of a Muslim over Hindus. This portrayal of Muslims as victims and a persecuted minority totally distorts the real history of Islam in India where, over the centuries, Muslims murdered many millions of Hindus. The same movie could easily have been made, and should have been made, without this subtext.

Carl Goldberg
BA, MA, PhD
1974
LSA
Tempe,

(March 12th, 2009)

Re: Cold snap (March 2009): I can report that a flock of robins has wintered in Birmingham, Michigan this year!

Richard Stiennon, BS AeroEng, 1982
BS
1982
AeroSpace Eng
Birmingham,

(March 8th, 2009)

Re: Talking about movies: '60s activism (Feb. 2009): Though I didn't enroll as a full-time student until 1970-71, I first arrived in Michigan as a student wife in 1967. Being plunged into the 1960s in full blossom was quite a shock to me. I was fresh from 14 life-changing months on a remote army base in Germany. My then-husband had been drafted; we actually lived "on the economy" in a German neighborhood, handy because German had been my college language. Before that I had been tucked away at a New England women's college (Smith) for 4 years.

As patchouli and pot drifted through the streets of Ann Arbor, I was teaching high school in Dundee. As students protested (some with chants about "fascist militarist pigs"), I remembered the terrific kids and top teachers at the DoD's Wurzburg American High School, where I had done my student teaching.

It must have been 1968 when the fiance of a sweet high school girl in my junior English class at Dundee was killed in Vietnam. She dissolved in tears week after week. I myself still tear up when I remember her.

It was a stressful time for me to be in Ann Arbor, remembering the people who had become swept up in the war masterminded by that super-smart former Ann Arborite, Robert McNamara. We passed his Tudor house on Highland Road on our Sunday walks to pick up the New York Times at the Blue Front. I always think of him first when I think of that useful British phrase, "too smart by half."

Bomb threats at the UGLI... that was the worst for me. And I didn't really groove on the Hill Street scene at John Sinclair's White Panther headquarters, either.

Let's not forget that those stimulating, idealistic, self-important activist years cut out a big part of the Democratic Party coalition and gave it to the Reagan Republicans.

As for me, not a boomer, I was always looking for the middle…the missing middle, as in Yeats' "Second Coming": "Things fall apart, the center cannot hold."

In 1975, Ernie Harburg (Del Rio owner and partner in the Earle renovation project) took me under his wing and advised me to produce a newsletter for our "West Side Neighborhood Group" of downtown renovators, a publication that would foster communication and even respect among the new hippie merchants, "the suits" at banks and City Hall, and "the folks"… the old school Germans on the Old West Side, a lot like my own grandparents in rural Missouri.

The next year, when Don and I started the Ann Arbor Observer, that was my goal: to listen and report on everybody: town, gown, and the theatrical "hipoisie," in the words of Julian Moody, the hip owner of Applerose Natural Foods.

I was never in a protest. The only one I ever wanted to be in was the 1963 March on Washington, but my parents wouldn't let me go.

30 years later, I'd call myself an activist of the middle. Last fall, I started an experimental Democratic outpost office here in downtown Calumet, on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the U.P.

And because of that exposure to things German as an army wife, my son Sam studied German, then Slavic linguistics in Germany, and is now a translator (from German, Czech, and Slovak to English).

Preparing for a trip to Germany, I found out about the first documentary about growing up in the military: "Brats: Our Journey Home," narrated by Kris Kristofferson (an Air Force general's son). "Brats" is not derogatory. Military kids didn't choose to serve, but they do. In a big way. Often the move 10 times in school and live in different countries. In later life, they tend to be world travelers or nesters.

I recommend "Brats," as do the brats I've loaned it to. Many are artists. Norman Schwartzkopf was surprisingly charming and sophisticated; HIS dad was in Iraq right after WWII, so the future general had to go to boarding school in Switzerland.

Academe talks about diversity… but there was nothing like the U.S. Army for diversity and mixing of social classes, especially back in the day of the hated draft.

An estimated 5% of the U.S. population are brats.

Mary Hoffmann Hunt
LSA

MA 1971
Calumet,

(February 26th, 2009)

I enjoyed Frank Beaver's article on '60s activism-themed films (Feb. 2009). I would like to mention also "The Big Fix" from 1978 starring Richard Dreyfuss, concerning former activists dealing with how their lives and commitments have changed over time.

Steve Worden

Ann Arbor,

(February 23rd, 2009)

Your article on Ann Arbor Abolitionists (Feb. 2009) was excellent. Although I have not had an opportunity to read all the articles, I found the alumna comment about Stockwell Hall poignant.

Although I have expressed some of my memories of that experience in a book which I hope to be published soon, I found her suggestion of the possibility of Stockwell becoming a co-ed dormitory somewhat disturbing.

I was one of two 16 year old girls admitted to the University of Michigan in 1948. I believe the other was Sylvia Herrera. Both of us lived at Stockwell which was maintained with very high standards, both physically and behaviorally. It was the site of a memorable formal reception for the Shah of Iran and his second bride. Above all, the standards which may seem archaic now maintained that quality of being not girls, but "ladies."

Although I am sure that each of the residents of Stockwell Hall and other dormitories are brilliant intellectually, it is that special bonding which took place at Stockwell that still causes me to miss two "friends," who were as close as sisters, Carol Shaw Hamill and Barbara Hoefeld Schimberg. Though they are both now deceased, it is that friendship, as close as sisters, which remained throughout our lives, that special reliance or interdependence which was maintained into our maturity that may be lost if it becomes a coeducational dormitory.

Although the rules were strict, even for parents returning you to dormitory, there was the inner discipline which we learned in our homes, the ability to relax, studying in the Library together in robe and pajamas, that may be lost in the recreation/"restoration" of Stockwell. I certainly hope not, for in carefully reading your article about President Little from Harvard, Stockwell was built in 1940, one year before our entry into WWII, when I was eight years of age! There are traditions (quality) worth retaining.

Among those traditions maintained with minimal adaptation, fortunately, are Burton Tower, Hill Auditorium and the Women's League, now called the Michigan League. Even though I was one privileged to stay one summer in what was then called the "New Dorm," Alice Lloyd Hall, it was not the same. I deeply appreciated the tour on my last visit to Ann Arbor and will look forward to returning when it is reopened.

America E. Nelson, M.D, M.P.H.
A. B., M.S.
1952, 1954

,

(February 20th, 2009)

Re: Ann Arbor Abolitionists (Feb. 2009): Do you know about the event commemorating the meeting of John Brown and Frederick Douglass in Detroit? Check out the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History website (pdf).

Sarah Kittle
B.A.
2006
UM Dearborn
Detroit,

(February 19th, 2009)

I was a level 2 distributor in the agricultural trade. The title of "Dope Capital of the Midwest" was entirely accurate. This will be well documented in the film "Illegal Smile" coming to a theater near you in approximately 8 years.

Tom Bayer
BS in CCS
1971
LS&A
Ann Arbor,

(February 19th, 2009)

Re: Ann Arbor Abolitionists (Feb. 2009): My hometown of Princeton, IL, gave the world Owen Lovejoy, a noted Abolitionist preacher, Congressman, friend (and sometimes millstone) to Lincoln, and keeper of a stop on the Underground Railroad. His brother Elijah was murdered by a mob in Alton, IL when he refused to stop publishing his abolitionist paper. Many of Owen's papers are housed at U-M's Clements Library on South University.

Steve Gunning
A.B.
1966
LSA
Princeton,

(February 18th, 2009)

Re: Ann Arbor Abolitionists (Feb. 2009): I'd like to point out that Laura Smith Haviland moved to Lenawee County in 1829 and in 1830 established the first Underground Railroad station in Michigan.

In 1837, Haviland and her husband founded a "manual labor school" designed for indigent children, which was later known as the Raisin Institute. Haviland instructed the girls in household choirs, while her husband and one of her brothers, Harvey Smith, taught the boys to perform farm work. The school was open to all children. It was the first racially integrated school in Michigan. Laura wrote that once the students were together in the classroom their prejudices melted away.

There is a statue of her in Lansing honoring her work. After her husband died, she put herself in jeopardy many a time by tirelessly working to help fugitive slaves and also going south to free the children of fugitive slaves. [She was also my husband's ancestor.]

Nancy
A.S., B.S.
1987
Communications
Ann Arbor,

(February 18th, 2009)

Thanks for the article (Talking about movies: '60s activism, Feb. 2009). It brought back memories of those days. In 1965 there were four people at the Diag protesting the war at noon. One was a guy I went to UCLA with, who understood long before most people the lunacy of Viet Nam. At the time it was hard to understand how a smart guy like him could be so misinformed. I realized later that I was the one who had needed educating. By the time I left Ann Arbor in '67 the anti-war line stretched the length of the Diag and beyond.

On a related note I enjoyed both "Return of the Secaucus Seven" and "Big Chill" and must rent the other two. Maybe I will see myself at the Democratic Convention watching the MC5 perform on the back of a flat bed truck.

Don Surath
BBA
1967
Business Administratioin
San Francisco,

(February 18th, 2009)

Re: Ann Arbor Abolitionists (Feb. 2009): I am reading a book titled, "Slavery by Another Name" dealing with the atrocities to African Americans by plantation owners and companies in the South after the Civil War. The story makes your skin crawl. It is good to read a positive spin about those heroes who were fighting for civil rights at the same time.

Tom Walbridge
BS IOE, MBA
1978, 2003
Engineering, Business
Bloomfield Hills,

(February 18th, 2009)

Thanks for the recent article on our women's gymnastics program (A drive for perfection, Feb. 2009). Having been a member of U-M's cheerleading squads from 1986-89, I spent countless hours sharing facilities with both gymnastics programs. I never saw a harder working, more dedicated bunch of young people in my life. It was a shame to witness how little recognition and support they seemed to receive for their efforts.

Occasionally they would kid us cheerleaders, claiming they were doing all the HARD WORK and we were taking all the bows. In retrospect, that was probably a true statement. I'm glad to see the women's gymnastics program finally getting what they deserve: a little limelight! So, take a bow, Bev et al. You've waited long enough for this moment! Go Blue!

Kevin Palmateer
Communication
1989
LSA 1989
Port Huron,

(February 18th, 2009)

Interesting article on sleep apnea (Risks of heavy snoring (Feb. 2009). However, the final paragraph only promotes CPAP as a viable preventative. CPAP is extremely uncomfortable to use, and therefore rate of actual use is low.

I have found that a simple and cheap (~$70) bite guard made by Pure Sleep works just as well, and solves my bruxism issue as well. It is easy to pack the bite guard for trips. Recently my sister stopped by on her way to Sweden for a 2 week visit. She was stressing out because shc was unable to pack her CPAP for the trip. I had a spare (new) Pure Sleep bite guard, and she had absolutely no problems during her trip. In this day and age of trying to reduce cost of medical insurance, it would be wise to look at alternative devices as well.

Jim VanWyk
MS
1984
ME
West Bloomfield,

(February 18th, 2009)

Re: Ann Arbor Abolitionists (Feb. 2009): An excellent article bringing to life the major issue of that time and one that has stayed with us until today. Keep them coming.

Dennis Crouch
B.S.E.
1962
College of Engineering
Beavercreek, Ohio

(February 18th, 2009)

Many patients, as well as other people, even me as a charge nurse, get offended by being addressed as honey, etc. (Elderspeak, Jan. 2009.) If I do not remember a person's name. I usually say, "Hi, it is good to see you again. Forgive me if I forgot your name." I have never had a problem with that approach with the many former patients and visitors I have encountered over the years.

A student nurse once called me honey, just weeks before she was to graduate, and I could not let her continue in that habit, and after telling her she could call me Fran or Mrs. Walts, or even nurse—as was clearly in big letters on my hospital badge on my uniform right in front of her eyes!—I reprimanded her and said if she ever did that to a physician I am sure the fireworks would fly and she would be called to task for it!!

She said she had had that bad habit from working in nursing homes and had been reprimanded before. I just told her that it would not fly in the real work world at all and I wanted to spare her the grief she would definitely encounter if she continued on that path. I related the incident to her instructor so he would be aware also.

I do not see anything wrong with calling someone Sir,Miss,or Madam or, even "mate," like the Brits do, but I would guess a lot of Americans these days would have no idea what mate meant.

If you knew their profession you could call them by that address—such as Doctor, Nurse, Your Honor, etc.

Frances Walts
B.S.Nursing
1963
Nursing
Baldwinsville,

(February 17th, 2009)

Re: North Quad and Nellie's books (Oct. 2007): As an undergrad I spent many hours taking French and Spanish classes in the Frieze Building. In all those years I never knew the history of what I thought was an undistinguished and quite frankly, pretty shabby place. (Not being from Ann Arbor originally I didn't even know it was the old high school.)

Thanks for a quick history lesson and look at the new complex.

Carolyn Chartier Bloom
B.A.
1970
LSA
Auburn,

(February 6th, 2009)

Re: Elderspeak (Jan. 2009): For those of us who have difficulty remembering names, what do we call men, Sir is a bit formal, and women, Hate sweetie, honey. How do we respectfully address someone? Herr, Panni?

kay
BA MBA
1967 1973
LSA Business
Troy,

(January 29th, 2009)

What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday. And our present thoughts build our life or tomorrow. Our life is a creation of our mind.

The Dhammapada (attributed to the Buddha).

We have been frozen stiff by the ideology of the past government. In fact, we have experienced a small Ice Age. Our minds and institutions have become frozen as the result of the big freeze through which the past government was freezing all-important and original thought.

But now the Ice Age is over. Yet, our minds are still petrified and half-frozen. Where else is a better place to unfreeze the minds and hearts of people than at the University of Michigan? In the past ? in the 60?s, 70?s and 80?s ? this campus was a forum, which allowed the most important debates of the time to be carried out with rigor and conviction. And what a lively place it was! And how scintillating were the minds of students!

How do we reconstruct our society? How do we reconstruct our inner lives so that they are attuned to the imperatives of dignity and freedom? How do we live normal and inspired life outside the freeze?

These are some of the problems. And there are many others. The University of Michigan is a great civic institution. It is proud of its civic traditions and its civic debates. Will the University of Michigan and its students not rise again to the great challenges of our times? To the students I say: your energy, imagination and courage are needed. Don't you have any?

Henryk Skolimowski

Professor Emeritus of Humanities
,

(January 25th, 2009)

Re: Turnaround? (Jan. 2009): The City of San Francisco had an RFI for electric/0emissions vehicle infrastructure deployment a few months back. I responded when I realized infrastructure's importance.

Media focuses on the latest in motors, fuel systems, etc. Granted the subject of infrastructure is not glamorous. Yet, this does not diminish the critical role it plays in having a viable market for such cars.

Perhaps we should find creative means for glamorizing it. As a musician and video producer, I can think of a few ways this might be done.

Mike Lee
B.S.E. Engineering Physics
1991
ENG, LSA
san francisco,

(January 24th, 2009)

Re: Elderspeak (Jan. 2009): Professor Emeritus Richard Bailey scores a proverbial touchdown in describing the emotional and physical degradation associated with "elderspeak." When workers in any discipline use terms such as "dearie, sweetie, honey, or sugar," when addressing consumers, it is a sad affirmation of how education or lack of it affects customer service. It is a fairly quick study in demographics to determine the socioeconomic background of those who rely on this terminology. Elders, you are not alone. Such terms can be heard in the check-out lanes at the grocery stores, at the receptionist desk in many offices, and among colleagues in numerous working class venues. Such is the result of a changing society where respectful communication has dissolved, right along with the ability to demonstrate language competence. Thanks, for a great article, Dr. Bailey.

Audrey L. Jackson
B.A., MSW
1978, 1983
LSA, Social Work
Ann Arbor,

(January 24th, 2009)

Re: Elderspeak (Jan. 2009): Not only did Richard Bailey point out a pervasive problem, but he did it in such a polite and sympathetic way! Of course, most of those who use elderspeak don't mean to be patronizing or demeaning, but the fact remains…that's exactly how they're perceived. U-M Hospital administrators: is there any way you can obtain reprints of the article and stuff a copy into everyone's paycheck envelope?

Judy Steeh

Tokyo, Japan

(January 23rd, 2009)

Re: U-M scientists probe limits of cancer stem-cell model (Jan. 2009): I was diagnosed with melanoma on the side of my face during the spring of my senior year. A "prophylactic" operation was performed two days after graduation to determine whether it had spread. A radical neck dissection "in the New York style" removed lymph nodes, muscles and part of the jugular vein. All was clear, so I was cured by surgery without radiation or chemotherapy. There has been no recurrence. At the time I was told that if it had spread, it could have killed me in six months.

John F. Sprague
B.S.
1956
SNR
Allendale,

(January 23rd, 2009)

The "Michigan Today" which I received today was excellent. All of the stories were very interesting and informative. It made very proud to be a U-M Alum.

Eugene Dybdahl
D.M.A.
1970
music
Perrysburg,

(January 23rd, 2009)

Dear Prof. Bailey,

Right on! I have been retired for 18 yrs and very few hospital workers remember me anymore. (those who do are very warm and respectful). Besides the talking down of Elderspeak (Jan. 2009), I am not comfortable either with the first name approach which is almost universal today.

Very nice article, most apropos.

Harvey J Bratt
MD
1952
1952
grand rapids,

(January 23rd, 2009)

Re: Harder than brain surgery (Jan. 2009): Dr Muraszko, the video was so inspiring. As the mother of the dying child said, we pray that you keep on going and doing the same every day. I am glad to see that all your work has been topped with the blessing of your own family.

Raquel Arévalo
mba

, Argentina

(January 23rd, 2009)

Dear Dr. Michael Bernitsas,

Your design for a low current energy conversion device ('Fish technology draws renewable energy from slow water currents Jan. 2009) is just the sort of thing we need for the small- and low-energy locations all around us.

Around Long Island, NY, we are being forced to consider large wind turbines in the ocean for our power needs. Though wind turbines may make sense in many areas of the world, doing so over ocean currents and waves, which continually fight to bring the structures down, seems silly. Such wind devices are being promoted by large vendors, who can only make such wind devices (when your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail...). Economically, based on the proposal utility rate payers here are being forced to consider, such wind turbines make no practical sense, and I think they are underestimating the costs of fighting ocean currents and waves.

I would love to see your devices tested and used in our area. There are hundreds of locations around Long Island that are potential sites, which includes many tidal streams, bays, harbors, and channels. We also have large markets (New York City and the outlying suburbs) for both media exposure and potential use.

We have the additional challenges of salt water and its use in open water of varying direction. Both of these, I think, are easy to overcome and could be tested here.

Many local areas here also have much higher water speed. In New York City's East River, underwater turbine prototypes (similar to wind turbines) are being tested now.

I would love to see your technology developed and refined here. I would offer to put you in contact with people in this area who are interested in, or who need to consider such technology. In that way, people can learn that there are other energy alternatives that can work in so many more locations.

Ray Wallman
BSE
1975
Eng
Lake Ronkonkoma,

(January 23rd, 2009)

i was really enjoying this story when, just as Dr. Muraszko was getting to the crux of her story about a child who died of a brain tumor, the video ended! It would not play past that point. Can you look into why the video would not play until the end?

jon maass

,

(January 22nd, 2009)

Re: Black holes are the rhythm at the heart of galaxies (Jan. 2009): My question is: if even light cannot escape from a black hole, how can periodic emissions of heat energy escape?

Professor Mateusz Ruszkowski replies: "The 'burst of energy' that that the article describes refers to the matter that got accelerated very close to the black hole and then formed a 'jet.' These jets eventually form the bubbles that we discussed in the paper. Another possibility is that the jets were initially dominated by the flux of electromagnetic energy. In either case, the black hole itself does not emit these jets."

George Porretta
BS, MD
1950, 1954
LSA, MED
Huntley,

(January 22nd, 2009)

Frank Beaver's film reviews are great. I am glad to read them after hearing them decades ago on WUOM.

Douglas Ostrom
PhD
1984
Rackham
Tokyo, Japan

(January 22nd, 2009)

Re: Elderspeak (Jan. 2009): Common courtesy, which should not be abandoned in doctors' offices, hospitals, nursing homes, demands that anyone old enough to vote, say, be addressed as Mr., Miss, etc. unless they specifically asked to be addressed differently. "Honey," "sweetheart," "dearie," "fella," "buster" and so forth are just odious and lazy.

Everyone working in a health care facility is trained. Why doesn't that training include how to address patients?

Colleen Clark
MPH
1969
SPH
Cambridge,

(December 28th, 2008)

Re: Gun shows do not increase homicides or suicides (Oct., 2008): People are dying cause someone is lying. http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/08/16/close_the_gun_show_loophole/

Deryl Westrate

Montague,

(December 21st, 2008)

Re: Film Theory Applied: Junebug and The Passenger (Nov., 2005): I just watched Junebug for the umpteenth time. had my own ideas why it struck (and stuck with) me so. a quick search for an abstract took me here.

i understand your assessment of "slice of life" images to open interpretation. further, in Junebug's case i think the many stills of the rooms, these folks' universe, with no sound, are even more significant. as i viewed them tonight, the sounds of my home—wind chimes, dog barks, cars, voices—all local, all familiar, all mine—meshed, really placing me there. for example: i do not and never will know why johnny hits george with the wrench. and moreover why george seems to accept it as almost appropriate. but i feel, or see it, as probably appropriate. not as "being viewed" but actually near real-life experienced.

i look forward to viewing the passenger and visiting this site in the future.

kip zimmerman
assc. engineering, english
82, 84
the citadel, piedmont virginia c.c., trident tech.(charleston, sc)
mount pleasant,

(December 12th, 2008)

I saw The great plate (March, 2008) in my recent Family Circle. I found it on your site, but nowhere to purchase it. Can you tell me where I can go to purchase one of these plates?

Brenda

Locust,

(December 11th, 2008)

Re: At the magical age of eight, belief synchs with behavior (Nov., 2008):I have just completed four books on dimensions of being physically active for 5-8 year olds. It is my theory that if children of that age are approached not only through reasoning, but also through visual, emotional, imitation, and dialogue that it could influence their belief and behavior. I am interest in collaborating in a research project focused on using theses books and multiple stimuli to effect the belief and behavior within these age groups.

Wasentha Young
M.A.
2008
Institute of Transpersonal Psychology
Ann Arbor,

(December 4th, 2008)

Re: "Soar toward goodness": Desmond Tutu's Wallenberg Lecture, (Nov., 2008): What an amazing, moving, eloquent speech. Thank you for publishing that!

John Tebeau

,

(December 3rd, 2008)

Re: No honeymoon (Nov., 2008): I am very dissatisfied with U of M for hiring Rich Rodriguez and paying him as much as they are with a long term contract. When he backed out of his contract at West Virginia, and refused to pay the early out penalty didn't U of M care about his integrity? The fact that he has a similar early out clause in his U of M contract is very ironic. Why would anyone expect him to honor that? I am done cheering for U of M football, and done contributing anything to U of M. Maybe when academics is first and athletics is done with integrity, I might reconsider, but for the Rich Rodriquez era I'm done.

PS I don't care if he went 11-0 or 0-11 in his first season.

Tom Demmon

,

(December 3rd, 2008)

Re: No honeymoon (Nov., 2008): Don't take it personally but maybe Michigan would be better off getting out of the football business and getting its students to work harder and to get into better physical shape. being a spectator in life rather than a participant is not exactly the right message. Best of luck.

Daniel Israel

,

(December 3rd, 2008)

Re: No honeymoon (Nov., 2008): Rich Rod should be very careful with the team he has, as an additional season like he has just had WILL NOT be tolerated long by the U of M faithful. Were we too quick to broom out Carr for a pseudo Spread option coach for 4 1/2 M? Perhaps further reflection on what he really brought to U of M is in order. Sitting in the stands as we have done for many, many years it is very painful to watch this wonder coach run the inside hand-off to the half back on almost every first down play. Any reasonable coach can defense this play easily and the results are usually second down and 9.

Robert J. Miller

,

(December 2nd, 2008)

Re: No honeymoon (Nov., 2008): It has been a tough season for us season ticket holders too. We are not used to mediocrity at the U-M. Many will let their tickets go this year with tough economy and a coaching staff that has no idea about the tradition of Michigan football. It all goes back to the HUGE mistake Mr. Martin made in fumbling the offer to a real Michigan man, Les Miles. We did lose a lot of offensive players and even more left after working under Rich Rod for a short time. But the defense had decent experience and it has been terrible. I have horrible nightmares that U-M will be the next Nebraska who was a power house for years and with a coaching change became a nobody real fast. Hoping for the best but no longer expecting greatness.

David Figg, MD

,

(December 1st, 2008)

Re: No honeymoon (Nov., 2008): I went to my first UM football game in 1952 with my Dad and have been going ever since. I've seen the Maize and Blue in the lofty heights and in the lows, but we've always come back! It's hard to believe when I hear "fans" saying that this will be their (fans) last season. Summer soldiers and sunshine patriots all! Where have they been for the last century and a quarter? Those young men on the field earned their "wings" long ago.

Go Blue now! Go Blue forever!

Peter G Zahner

,

(November 26th, 2008)

Editor Note: Readers responded strongly to our article about Rich Rodriguez (No honeymoon, Nov., 2008), as the letters below demonstrate. Some readers caught a couple of factual errors, which we have corrected. Others suggested that we had made more egregious mistakes. We have re-checked our facts extensively and stand by the story as reported.

In this note, writer John U. Bacon responds to reader questions:

Some readers correctly noted that Glenville State did not win the national final game, but the national semi-final, and West Virginia University is not called the University of West Virginia. I regret the errors.

It is also true that, at the time, Glenville State was still in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) not the NCAA's Division II, which it joined two years later (not one year, as a reader writes). However, in a story written for an audience that includes many non-sports fans, I made the decision to simplify this relatively minor distinction rather than take a paragraph to explain how the NAIA is on a par with NCAA Division II. (You can see what enthralling reading it makes.)

However, other readers' suggested corrections are false.

No matter how many sources list Grant Town as Rich Rodriguez's place of birth, he was born in Chicago, and raised there until the middle of second grade. (I'll take his mom's word on that.) His family did leave their home late at night, and suddenly, and, as the article says, Rodriguez had not heard of West Virginia until they were leaving for the state that night.

Further, the article was accurate in stating that Rodriguez did not visit the campus of West Virginia University until he first arrived there as a freshmen. In fact, Rodriguez had never seen a Division I football game in person until he was a player on the sidelines for his first game at West Virginia.

Whether readers choose to believe Coach Rodriguez is, of course, entirely up to them, but I can see no reasonable grounds for doubting him on these points. All have come from extensive interviews with Coach Rodriguez, and have been confirmed by other sources, including his parents.

In this article I sought to give an unvarnished summation of this historically bad season and some factors that might explain why it happened, at least partially, while providing the larger context of who the new coach is and what his coaching history might suggest about the future of Michigan's program. Of course, what happens next is anyone's guess—but that's why they play the games.

John U. Bacon

,

(November 25th, 2008)

Michigan was great before Rodriquez's parents were born, let alone Rodriquez (No honeymoon, Nov., 2008). We don't need a coach to take us down the tubes then build up the team to make himself look great.

What is his motto for the team? Bo's was "Those who stay will be [champions]!" It must be "Those who stay will be losers." Coach Rodriquez owes Michigan, the alumni and the fans a huge apology. We had the longest streak of playing in bowl games of any team; no other school was close. He blew it and even if he stays a long time, we will not be back near that mark. He brought his entire coaching stall from WV. Why? They have no discernible abilities. Which one did he put in charge of fumbles and turnovers? He must have set a record in that department for a Michigan record. All he had to do to beat Toledo was score two touchdowns and he couldn't get it done. He starts two freshman quarterbacks and the other teams had no trouble stopping them. He plays Purdue who starts a freshman quarterback with only three starts and he couldn't stop him. All he had to do is watch the Michigan game films to learn how to do it. He is an innovator. Sure didn't demonstrate it in 12 games.

Jack Owens
B.S.
1965
SNR
Chelsea,