Send your response to krhodes@richmond.edu.
Equality Riders demonstrate intolerance
I am disappointed that the magazine would use print space to highlight Haven Herrin in the article “Leading the Equality Riders” on page 43 of the winter 2007 issue. We’ve both heard both sides of the gay and lesbian argument, I’m sure, but where I stand on the issue itself has little to do with my thoughts and feelings about this article. Had the article been about a young woman who was fighting for this cause in an honorable way, I would not have taken issue with it. But I am left to wonder why a publication from a university with a strict honor code would choose to affirm a young woman whose actions have led to her being arrested at least three times. I agree that Herrin has the legal right to publicly and peacefully demonstrate for her cause. However, defiantly stepping over police boundaries shows a pure lack of respect for authority. At the same time, targeting private institutions that have a legal right to establish and enforce their own codes of conduct, shows a lack of tolerance on Herrin’s part. I would hope that UR has not changed so much since my time on the Honor Council that defiance toward authority and intolerance are now considered positive qualities that should be highlighted in a publication.
—Rebecca Musser Nissly, '99
Mrs. Arnold’s food was fine
I enjoyed reading the article, “Time Passages” in the winter 2007 issue. All parts of the article were interesting, but I want to comment on the portion of the article subtitled “The food got better.” I was a student at Westhampton College from 1967–71, and a lady named “Mrs. Arnold” was the dietician for our two dining halls (Main and Court). While the food in the women’s dining halls was not as good as home cooking, it certainly was not “every bit as bad,” to quote the author, as the food in the Refectory, the men’s dining hall across the lake. I ate dinner in the Refectory once (once was enough), and after that I appreciated Mrs. Arnold’s food all the more. We sometimes had the dreaded “mystery meat,” but we also had a number of good dishes. I thought that Mrs. Arnold did a fine job, and maybe that’s one of the reasons we didn’t have food fights.
—Frances Fowler Whitener, W’71
The Pier was the Dry Dock until the 1990s
I enjoyed the article on how times have changed at UR—and, importantly, how they have not (“Time Passages,” winter issue). One correction, though. Even though there was a new food facility in Tyler Haynes Commons when it opened in 1976, that facility was still known as The Dry Dock. It was not re-named The Pier until the early ’90s. I point this out not to be critical—Ms. Fitzgerald did a great job—but the history major in me tells me that the author would want to know and would appreciate this detail.
—Christopher B. McKenna Sr., R’88, L’93 and GB’93
Student from the 1940s was Carroll Alley
The caption on page 17 of the winter 2007 issue (“Time Passages”) says, “Dr. Charles Albright, associate professor of physics, helped a student find the composition of a piece of metal in the 1940s.” The student is not identified, but he is not an ordinary run-of-the-mill student. This young man became Dr. Carroll Alley, R’48 and H’78, probably the most outstanding physics major who ever graduated from U of R. He did his graduate work at Princeton and became a professor at the University of Maryland. Among other accomplishments, he collaborated with scientists in the space program to put retro-reflectors on the moon as part of a study using lasers to test part of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.
I wonder what Dr. Albright was thinking as he helped that student?
—Dr. George P. “Jack” Williams, R’47
Easter Island story strikes common chord
I enjoyed the story on Chile and Easter Island (“Exploring Easter Island,” winter issue). It is so much more personal when you get the impressions of the student on their first real overseas education experience. It pointed out a problem that I had traveling in the Navy and for my company—the language barrier. Like Laura Sullivan, I studied French in school and went to many countries where Spanish was spoken, or close relatives of Spanish like Italian.
Overseas education may be an important part of a college education today, and the University of Richmond is ahead of the pack in providing it.
—Norman B. Tweed Jr., GB’74
Magazine gives insight to study abroad
I was recently accepted to the University of Richmond for the Class of 2011, and a friend of mine gave me her alumni magazine for the winter of 2007. I read “Exploring Easter Island” and loved it!
Not only was it well written and entertaining, but it also gave me some insight into study abroad at Richmond. I plan to continue my study of languages—currently Spanish and German—and I think it’s great that a student who has no experience in a particular language can have the opportunity to study abroad in that country. Thanks!
—Catherine Matthews
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