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Fall 2002 Departments
Exchange
Around the Pond
Great Sport
Arts
Branches of Learning
Extended Family
Contributors
Features
What's The Big Idea
A Wise Way to Learn
Love & War
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Exchange: To and from the editors
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ALL THE LETTERS ALL THE TIME
From our readers, most recently:
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BULGER FOR GOVERNOR
Dear UMass President Bulger, I was horrified listening to this morning's news. There is only one thing for you to do if the Governor of Massachusetts takes your job away; TAKE HIS AWAY, RUN for Governor of Massachusetts. Do it!
Christine M. Ericson '76
Burlington, VT
(currently a candidate for Governor of Vermont)
IMPRESSED WITH MAGAZINE
I work in the Office of Public Affairs at a Los Angeles university, and a colleague recently suggested I take a look at the UMASSMAG web site to see how your university is rallying its alums to take action in the face of severe budget cuts. I was not only impressed with the article about this topic, but also with the humorous, well written article about your school mascot, and the general quality of your on-line publication. I'll definitely look to your mag for future inspiration. Keep it up!
Laura Ferreiro
Los Angeles, CA
TRUTH ABOUT PCB’S
I am a UMass graduate and leader of the citizens group (The Housatonic River Initiative) that brought the PCB issue to light in Pittsfield. I must take exception to this false article. I am disgusted with the sloppy reporting and mistruth’s presented in your article about Bobbi Orsi and the Nurses. While Bobbi became involved in 1997, we were the first citizen group to ask the question PCBs: Can we live with them. This was back in 1992. WE worked for many years to expose the PCB pollution. We attended every government meeting. We held several forums on PCBs and public health attended by many Pittsfield residents. Miss Orsi was not to be seen until later. We have uncovered barrel fields, huge pollution in the Housatonic River, polluted ponds , and we were responsible for bringing the contaminated fill property issue to the public in 1996. This resulted in the discovery of Bobbi Orsi's house being one of the contaminated properties. As I scan the early neighborhood meeting lists that my group organized with Vinnie Curro of Ravin Autobody, Miss Orsi's name does not surface. She became involved when the property across the street from her was found to be contaminated by work that our group did. She had no interest until then. We are the Housatonic River Initiative. Its amazing that she refers to us as rebellious when all we were trying to do is make GE clean up!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Rennie states that "They're so concentrated on getting their yards cleaned up, so worried about their property values and the economic future of the city," says Eileen Rennie '00, a school nurse. "Their concern is, ‘Can we fish in the rivers?’ not ‘Is my pregnant daughter at risk? or ‘Is there a chance my kid’s hyperactivity was caused by PCBs?'" This statement is so far off the track it is laughable. Miss Rennie obviously never attended any of the HRI forums with the worlds leading experts on PCB and health. We focused on these issues and many more. Our first was in 1994. I suspect that her interest in PCBs came about when she had to do her project for her nursing degree (1999). I do remember Miss Orsi attending our 1997 health forum getting educated.
The forum they site was a recreation of numerous forums HRI held previously with many of the same people!!! Yes they presented it to the medical community. But the medical community has been totally absent in helping the community answer the health concerns that have long plagued the neighborhood and GE workers. HRI is just now completing an EPA funded neighborhood health survey. WE organized blood sampling in 1996-1997. Miss Orsi must forget that she was one of the participants. It has taken five years of my life to do a study that our Department of Public Health and the medical community should be doing. But you see in a company town a lot of money trickles down everywhere. Even to the hospital. The HRI community health survey has so far shown both skin rashes and thyroid problems above the national average. Both of these ailments are connected to PCBs in the scientific literature.
Before the emergence of our citizen group (HRI) many other individuals had long asked this question. We do not take credit for being the first. The GE workers who did PCB blood studies in the 1980's. Mayor Remo Del Gallo who helped organize the blood studies and was a pioneer in uncovering PCB pollution in the mid - eighties. Ed Bates, a GE engineer who forced the questionable GE worker Wegman study back in 1983. The GE workers who filed lawsuits in 1995. Gige Darey Chairman of the Board of Fisheries and Wildlife and State Representative Chris Hodgkins who were ahead of their times in focusing on this PCB tragedy. Chris is also a UMass graduate.. There is a very long history of people asking this question that the nurses now imagine is their own.
We had done much work in the neighborhood organizing the contaminated property owners since 1994. We brought in an Amherst lawyer to help. He is a hero. Three major lawsuits resulted from his work with our group. Miss Orsi refers to the "rebellious" groups. This is an outrage! Her home would never had been cleaned up if it were not for this "rebellious" group.
HRI's work in the neighborhood had resulted in the formation of "Citizens for PCB Removal". This was the first group started at my suggestion. I felt the neighborhood needed a voice. Almost two years later Jan Schlichtmann ’71 came into town and divided the folks who were suing GE right in half. He promise them he could get GE to negotiate ! This was two years into the legal work that was already taking place. WE urged him to work with the already existing litigation. Bobbi Orsi and a few other residents urged people to sign on with Jan as he would be their savior. Jan Schlichtmann called up our group and used his foul language to try to intimidate us into working with him and abandoning Mr. Bonifaz. We told him GE would never negotiate and he was fooling the citizens. The folks that followed him were now not covered by the class action already in place. He never got GE to negotiate but was successful in splitting the neighborhood group in two. GE was laughing all the way to the bank. Now five years later the people who followed Mr. Jan Schlichtmann are abandoned with nothing to show for it. Mr. Bonifaz has successfully represented his clients. So much for Mr. Jan Schlichtmann .
Bobbi Orsi's group Get Real refused to publicly participate in the fight to clean up Allendale Elementary school and the Hill 78 dump. She now sits on a Dept. of Public Health Panel in Pittsfield with myself. She has been successful in getting one doctor on the panel. The long time General Electric doctor! At our recent meeting the DPH informed us that it would be almost impossible for a worker study to be performed as GE had destroyed or "lost" most of the records. The GE doctor left early!!!
I was nominated by the Alumni Association for my environmental work but lost out in the vote. It never surprised us at HRI as Mr. JackWelch was being featured in your magazine. Here in Pittsfield we can't say he "Bring Good Things to Life". This coming Saturday a documentary will be shown in Berkshire County on the work of HRI.
Sadly to say your article attempts to rewrite history with false information. If you want to learn the real story check out our Website at http://housatonic-river.com
Tim Gray ’77, Housatonic Riverkeeper
Director-Housatonic River Initiative
Lee
The article Mr. Gray is referring to in his letter can be found at:
http://www.umassmag.com/Fall_2001/BERKSHIRE_NIGHTINGALES_78.html
SARAH HAMILTON - SADNESS AND PRAISE
I was saddened to read about the passing of Sarah Hamilton last week. I enjoyed my three summers working for Sarah and the New Students Program. Working for her was one of the best experiences I had while attending the university. Her dedication and hard work was an inspiration to me.
I still remember my first interview in 1996 for the NSP counselor position. The first thing Sarah said to me was “I don’t shake hands" and then she asked why should I hire a sophomore when there are many other students who have much more campus knowledge than me. I told her to take a chance on me. Sarah then replied, “I don’t like surprises!”
While at UMass and after graduation, Sarah was a second mother to me. Her door was always open for me to talk. She always listened to me talk about school or my personal life. I remember we had a rare day-off during the summer and Sarah asked if I wanted to play a round of golf with her. At that time I had just picked up the game which Sarah had been perfecting for years. We woke up early and played 18 holes at Cherry Hill, along with getting lesson from the Sarah Hamilton Golf School. I came back to campus and the rest of NSP staff was shocked I spent the morning with Sarah.
Sarah had such pride for the university. She expected all of her staff to be hard working. If it were not for working for Sarah and NSP, I would never have found that I enjoyed working in student affairs.
The university is known for their high quality of education, in my mind Sarah was the best educator I ever met while at UMass. The lessons I learned from Sarah Hamilton will last a lifetime.
The university will miss Sarah and her dedication, but the roughly 120,000 students that passed through the New Students Program should be grateful for the services she provided to them.
Sarah had such passion for the university.
Sarah thanks for all your love and support, The university and I will miss you.
David Follick ’98, ’01G
Westbury, New York
NOTEWORTHY ARTICLE BUT WANTS MORE
Writer Patricia Wright's article "Love & War" (Fall 2002) is noteworthy on several accounts. She's not only a talented scribe who clearly did extensive research before compiling her story, but she tackles contemporary politics while highlighting one of the school's more illutsrious graduates, journalist Charles Sennott '84, now European bureau chief of the Boston Globe.
Alas though, I must admit feeling sorely disappointed that the story failed to delve further into current conditions in Afghanistan, particularly after the evocative photos of Sennott on the ground there. Unfortunately this stark ommission tends to relegate that country's suffering masses as invisible - or worse, the mere means for Sennott's professional advancement.
Maybe Ms. Wright (or the Thought Police, viz., publishers) flinched from a fuller Afghan story because of the Bush Administration's avoidance of real nation-building in that despoiled land. But isn't the most compelling journalism willing to take sides - to say when a powerful nation, the U.S., fails to provide desperately needed irrigation and food and construction help to a country it liberated, then it's guilty of colossal neglect?
With ongoing sabre-rattling - and worse, continuing against Iraq, it is critical someone take the side of the common folk.
R. Jay Allain '73
Hyannis
GOOD VS. EVIL
Congratulations to Professor Ervin Staub on his recent appointment to Director of the Psychology of Peace and Violence Prevention program.I was a student in Professor Staub's Psychology of Good vs. Evil course almost twenty years ago. His class and shared experiences left a lasting impact on me that actually helped me to cope following the tragedy of Sept 11th. The inception of this new program could not have come at a better time with all of the horrors taking place in the world today. I wish him and the University much success with this endeavor!
Andrea Millstein Sohnen ’84
Marlboro, New Jersey
STUDENT RECOGNITION
I think your article on Kyle Rawlins is disgraceful. It is an egregious error on your part to trumpet the accomplishments of a near-failure when there are plenty of students who accomplish so much more than he did. What about all of the students who complete double majors in the standard four years? What about students who complete triple majors in four years? What about students who graduate early? What about all the other highly decorated students here who were never on academic probation and have near-perfect GPA's? I think it is inappropriate for you to hold Mr. Rawlins up as an example of what one should aspire to. I for one hope that I would never follow in his path. How can you laud someone for getting his act together and doing what all the other students in college do – their work! Following in that vein, why don't you applaud all students who were on academic probation and now aren't. Next time you should think twice before publishing such an absurd article that puts such an unadmirable person on such a high pedestal.
Jennifer Carlson ’06
Amherst
THE POWER OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY
We were impressed with the letter from Frederick Gralenski '59 in the Fall 2002 issue — so much so that our check is on its way for his
Pembroke Library Association. We understand the need to support large organizations such as the University (and the University we work for, and our undergraduate colleges, and the many charities from our neighborhood to the world that we think are worthwhile). But it feels especially good to share our modest resources with something very concrete and specific, and we understand the need to offer the mind-opening potential of a library to people in small, poor towns. (One of us is where she is today, professionally, because of the power of a public library in a small, poor town.) In the world's rush to put every child in front of a computer screen
all the time, we must not lose sight of the different but essential power of words and pictures you can hold in your hand, take wherever you like for contemplation, go back to again and again over the years when you need another drink of inspiration.
Andrew Carnegie's imaginative gift of public libraries changed America
in profound ways early in this century. We guess that small donations could
make a surprisingly large difference in Pembroke, Maine. So we challenge
readers of the magazine to join us in helping with a worthy project
especially suitable to the heritage we share as alumni of the endangered
public educational system.
Patricia ’72G, ’77G and Robert Tracy
Blacksburg, Virginia
Frederick Gralenski's letter, referred to above, follows.
JULIUS LESTER IMAGINES SUCCESS
Professor Lester’s essay, "Carved Runes in a Clearing", (UMass, Spring, 2002) certainly attracted my attention. Here’s why: I live in Down East Maine. Get out your map of New England. From the Amherst campus sneak down to the Mass Pike and head east. At Rt. 495 head north to Rt. 95 and drone along there for a few hours to Bangor. At Bangor take the ‘Airline’ Rt. 9 east dodging the big yellow SUNBURY tractor trailers speeding their commerce to and from New Brunswick, Canada. After a couple of hours you will come to Calais (pronounced ‘callus’), and here is my region. Actually, I live in Pembroke (Pop. 879), about 20 miles away, on the shores of Cobscook Bay. Pembroke was once noted as the home of Dr. Charles Best, the co-discoverer of insulin. Prior to that, in the 1800’s, Pembroke had a sizable Iron Works, and Pembroke iron was well known and respected throughout eastern United States. We are not far (about 7 miles, as the crow flies) from Campobello Island, the summer home of Franklin D. Roosevelt. His ‘cottage’ is a major tourist attraction. Franklin usually got to Eastport by train and took a boat to his ‘Beloved Island’.
We moved here about 14 years ago. We were probably attracted to the region for similar reasons as FDR.
But what does this have to do with Professor Lester’s essay? Well, the town that we live in is economically one of the poorer towns in one of the poorer counties in America. I have often wondered why. Maybe some of the answer is in Professor Lester’s essay, where he proposes, ‘The failure of modern living is the failure of imagination’. I like that idea. I felt that when we evolved the ability to imagine is when we became human. Some people in our region say that we are poor because the fish stocks are depleted; some say the lumber and wood industries are depressed; some say that claming is poor because of invasive alien species like the green crab. Almost no one says we are poor because we lack imagination. Our achievements are measured in the lengths of tire marks on the roads; our role models for our youth are the yahoos that make them. Not much imagination here. There must be a better way.
About two years ago I bought an old building and last year we formed a non-profit organization (Pembroke Library Association), got some grant money and are in the process of renovating the building. We intend to have the first public library in the town’s 170 year history. Not everyone in town shares our vision. Most folk have a little curiosity about the goings on, but very few participate. I’m pretty sure that they would rather have a demolition derby track. There was no mention of a public library in the Pembroke Comprehensive plan published in 1995.
This does raise some questions: Am I foisting my ideas of a library on a population that neither wants a library nor will participate? It’s a hard judgment call to gauge how much this is true, but at least it illustrates that the project consists of not only ‘bricks and mortar’ but, probably more difficult, a major selling job. Another question is me. Did UMass (BSEE ’59) prepare me for this? I was at best a mediocre student, and books were something I was obliged to read. I would have much rather been slaying dragons, bringing ne’er-do-wells to justice or any other heroic deeds. Have I at last grown up to recognize the importance of books and reading
Also, why am I writing this? Julius Lester shares some of the blame. Do I need help? I sure do. Any encouragement in words, deeds or financial aid would be appreciated. And why do I ask UMass? Well, UMass bears some responsibility for my actions. And Maine itself had been a territory (problem child?) of Massachusetts for almost as long as Maine has been a state, so maybe we Massachusetts natives owe a debt to our former colony.
Finally, are the ancient spirits looking favorably on our efforts? I think so. Our beech trees Fagus grandifolia are under attack by the beech bark disease. This malevolence not only eventually kills the tree but also roughens the bark so that it is unfit for initials or messages. This saddens me, but I take this as a sign that the old ways are passed and vulnerable, and the new way is books. Carved runes in a clearing, at least in Pembroke, Maine, are going to be replaced by a library.
Whatever the cars or tea leaves hold, it’s an interesting project. It just takes a little imagination, and I must thank Professor Lester for the refreshing tonic of his essay for my renewed vigor.
Frederick Gralenski ’59
Pembroke, Maine
INTERDISCIPLINARY MINOR
This is a short note regarding a short piece which appeared on page 12
(Around the Pond) of the last edition of the magazine regarding the new
information technology minor. In the piece you state that this program
is the first campuswide, interdisciplinary minor. As the associate
director of the Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies,
I wanted to let you know that a campuswide interdisciplinary minor in
Latin American Studies has been in effect here since the end of the 80s.
I can not assure you that we were the first of that kind, but, given
what you say in your piece, we very well may have been. In addition, we
were the first to institute a campuswide interdisciplinary graduate
Certificate in Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies in the mid 90s.
Gloria I. Bernabe-Ramos ’81G
Associate Director
Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies
Amherst
LOVED JEFF TAYLOR
Thanks for a terrific article on Jeff Taylor. We had the pleasure of hearing him speak last night in Needham (he was awesome!). I was fortunate enough to have received my magazine the day before and brought it with me to share. A number of my colleagues would love a copy of the magazine. Would it be possible to send me about 15 copies? Please let me know. It would be greatly appreciated.
Lynne Maimon `86
Needham
MINUTEMAN STATUE
Concerning the Class of '50 Minuteman statue gift, it's an extraordinarily
myopic - if not self-aggrandizing way of supporting the University given the need
for financial support - especially financial aid. With the effort expended to raise the
$100,000, think of how many more could directly benefit were this gift more
thoughtfully directed. What possible purpose will be served!
Rob Brooks, retired UMass staff member
Amherst
TEACHING DWIGHT ALLEN STYLE
The Spring 2002 letters about the School of Ed under Dwight Allen captured the polarization of that era. As an undergraduate School of Ed major, I saw a lot of peers bewildered by the choices and seeming chaos.
For me, the lessons I learned from Dwight Allen and the School of Ed have stood me in good stead through subsequent careers in journalism, government, and health care.
The School of Ed was all about diversity, competition of ideas (why not have 22 competing teacher-training programs?), change management, and academic exploration. I spent my senior year auditing all sorts of classes keeping a journal and using modular credit. I interned in an inner-city school in Kentucky, helped run a tutoring program at a county jail, spent a summer working in an adult education program in Bedford Stuyvesant. I took a course from Susan of Sesame Street, learned to challenge popular defeatist assumptions about dyslexia, and tore down my intellectual defenses about doing things the "right" way.
"A little change hurts a lot. A lot of change doesn't hurt that much more," said Dwight. (No one ever called him ‘Dean Allen.’)
Schools across the nation still reek of mediocrity. We've blown too many opportunities by failing to spawn more Dwight-style teacher-training schools.
Don Glickstein ’73
Seattle, Washington
TRIBUTE TO PATRICIA WRIGHT
I was very sorry to read that Patricia Wright had resigned as Editor of UMass Magazine. When Patricia assumed this position, it was a defining moment for this publication. Previous University budgets had crippled the magazine's predecessor and, at least as harmful, had been a loss of focus and sense of mission among the people staffing UMass.
Patricia made it all very simple. She reported those wonderful things about UMass and UMass people that made us all proud and that added value to our shared experience and to our degrees. There is much that is magnificent about UMass and I am most grateful that we had a Patricia Wright to communicate and record that greatness.
Patricia, good luck and Godspeed.
Michael W. Morris '63
Andover
JULIUS LESTER IMAGINES SUCCESS
Professor Lester’s essay, "Carved Runes in a Clearing", (UMass, Spring, 2002) certainly attracted my attention. Here’s why: I live in Down East Maine. Get out your map of New England. From the Amherst campus sneak down to the Mass Pike and head east. At Rt. 495 head north to Rt. 95 and drone along there for a few hours to Bangor. At Bangor take the ‘Airline’ Rt. 9 east dodging the big yellow SUNBURY tractor trailers speeding their commerce to and from New Brunswick, Canada. After a couple of hours you will come to Calais (pronounced ‘callus’), and here is my region. Actually, I live in Pembroke (Pop. 879), about 20 miles away, on the shores of Cobscook Bay. Pembroke was once noted as the home of Dr. Charles Best, the co-discoverer of insulin. Prior to that, in the 1800’s, Pembroke had a sizable Iron Works, and Pembroke iron was well known and respected throughout eastern United States. We are not far (about 7 miles, as the crow flies) from Campobello Island, the summer home of Franklin D. Roosevelt. His ‘cottage’ is a major tourist attraction. Franklin usually got to Eastport by train and took a boat to his ‘Beloved Island’.
We moved here about 14 years ago. We were probably attracted to the region for similar reasons as FDR.
But what does this have to do with Professor Lester’s essay? Well, the town that we live in is economically one of the poorer towns in one of the poorer counties in America. I have often wondered why. Maybe some of the answer is in Professor Lester’s essay, where he proposes, ‘The failure of modern living is the failure of imagination’. I like that idea. I felt that when we evolved the ability to imagine is when we became human. Some people in our region say that we are poor because the fish stocks are depleted; some say the lumber and wood industries are depressed; some say that claming is poor because of invasive alien species like the green crab. Almost no one says we are poor because we lack imagination. Our achievements are measured in the lengths of tire marks on the roads; our role models for our youth are the yahoos that make them. Not much imagination here. There must be a better way.
About two years ago I bought an old building and last year we formed a non-profit organization (Pembroke Library Association), got some grant money and are in the process of renovating the building. We intend to have the first public library in the town’s 170 year history. Not everyone in town shares our vision. Most folk have a little curiosity about the goings on, but very few participate. I’m pretty sure that they would rather have a demolition derby track. There was no mention of a public library in the Pembroke Comprehensive plan published in 1995.
This does raise some questions: Am I foisting my ideas of a library on a population that neither wants a library nor will participate? It’s a hard judgment call to gauge how much this is true, but at least it illustrates that the project consists of not only ‘bricks and mortar’ but, probably more difficult, a major selling job. Another question is me. Did UMass (BSEE ’59) prepare me for this? I was at best a mediocre student, and books were something I was obliged to read. I would have much rather been slaying dragons, bringing ne’er-do-wells to justice or any other heroic deeds. Have I at last grown up to recognize the importance of books and reading
Also, why am I writing this? Julius Lester shares some of the blame. Do I need help? I sure do. Any encouragement in words, deeds or financial aid would be appreciated. And why do I ask UMass? Well, UMass bears some responsibility for my actions. And Maine itself had been a territory (problem child?) of Massachusetts for almost as long as Maine has been a state, so maybe we Massachusetts natives owe a debt to our former colony.
Finally, are the ancient spirits looking favorably on our efforts? I think so. Our beech trees Fagus grandifolia are under attack by the beech bark disease. This malevolence not only eventually kills the tree but also roughens the bark so that it is unfit for initials or messages. This saddens me, but I take this as a sign that the old ways are passed and vulnerable, and the new way is books. Carved runes in a clearing, at least in Pembroke, Maine, are going to be replaced by a library.
Whatever the cars or tea leaves hold, it’s an interesting project. It just takes a little imagination, and I must thank Professor Lester for the refreshing tonic of his essay for my renewed vigor.
Frederick Gralenski ’59
Pembroke, Maine
IMPACT OF A UMASS EDUCATION
Each time I receive our Alumni Magazine UMASS, I feel I am once again in Amherst with all the pleasant memories of my stay there.
On my return to Nigeria, I served in the state schools system of Imo State in the South Eastern part of Nigeria, as a high school principal. In 1998, I went private and set up a Secondary School as an institution where the youth, apart from attaining academic and moral excellence, can appreciate and uphold democratic values. The school is already making an impact among the rural populations around.
It is a joy to put into practice, the skill I acquired in Educational Management at UMass. Like a school in its teething period, there are obvious problems, including need for libary books, science equipment, computers and other teaching aids. Alumni wishing to assist African Children through this project should contact:
Dr. Ralpheal Njoku '79G, '81G
Imo State, Nigeria
REMEMBERING PROFESSOR DUFFY
I just read the latest issue of UMASS magazine, and with great sadness learned of the passing of psychology professor, Susan Duffy. As a May 1999 graduate of the psychology department, I remember Professor Duffy as one of the most interesting and helpful professors I had.
Throughout my psychology major, I kept putting off what I thought were going to be my two hardest core courses, Cognitive and Physiological Psychology. Finally my senior year I knew I had to take them, but I was so nervous I was positive I wouldn't do well. Well, I am happy to remember that I did well in both and actually got an A in Cognotive Psychology.
It was with a lot of hard work on my part but I also remember that Susan made the course! Her lectures were interesting and I rememeber feeling like she had a sincere interest in helping students learn and do well.
While now pursuing my Masters in Public Health at Boston University, I often think back on my UMASS days realizing how much I owe to my experiences there. Without Professors like Susan Duffy, I may not have realized that my ablities go far beyond my fears.
My heart goes out to Professor Duffy's family and the UMASS community, who have lost a wonderful teacher and friend.
Amy Chesal ’99
South Boston
MODERN DORMS NEEDED
While it is nice to recall our college life; it is also important to consider how students are going to live in the year 2002. Old buildings might be preserved because of historic value but students need the modern services and utilites required by our times. How about phone lines in every room, computer networks, enough power to supply all those new appliances.
I lived in Gorman from 1963 to 1967. It was new then and would probably be viewed as a prison by current students. We had no room phones, few laundry facilities, poor ventilation, a steam iron could blow a circuit to any room. I had great times there and got a good education but I am not sad to see it torn down.
Chris Read ’67
Webster, Texas
APPEAL TO ALUMNI - HELP SAVE UMASS
I’m a packrat and found myself flipping through Collegian newspaper clippings from my senior year at UMASS with headlines like "Consequences of this Budget Severe," and "Long List of Woes in UMASS Finances," the stories of which contained the ever so popular catch phrases "less than level funding" and " disturbing line item reductions".
A few years passed from my graduation and the financial clamor at UMASS became quiet, perhaps too quiet, while many departments recovered operating funds from the financial success of the Commonwealth in the late 1990’s.
Well wouldn’t [you] know it, the budget gremlin has attacked UMASS again, and this attack could find itself even more painful and of longer economic duration. Now my UMASS pride tells me the campus, to the credit of its administration and faculty, will fight its way through this crisis like it has in the past and survive it, but at what cost? In my opinion, while the academic departments might recover operating cash-flow in the growth years, the core campus becomes weaker between budget disturbances causing a personal consternation of unknown proportion.
Why do I feel this way?
- Capital spending at Amherst in the last 20 years has been nil (the Isenberg and Mullins buildings are great but it is not enough in comparison to other state schools of our size). Understand this; the lack of capital spending at UMASS will impair the long run academic concern of the University.
- Deferred maintenance is growing like a weed
- Library funding is erratic
- A comprehensive landscape redesign of the campus has been on hold for at least 10 years
- Athletics have not been allowed to grow to support a University of our size and caliber
The success of Campaign UMASS and the associated increase in alumni giving have been great accomplishments, but the UMASS endowments need to grow exponentially. The University must find ways to supplement funding from the Commonwealth in the form of reliable recurring revenues derived from the campus. I know in my heart UMASS has the brainpower to formulate and execute solutions to these problems, particularly for a school that was creative enough to mobilize a gigantic volunteer workforce to refurbish the Tower Library.
The budget axe will always impact UMASS, it is the nature of the beast. To my fellow alumni, find something you cared about at UMASS, we all had something, and give generously to it.
Tim Meldrum ’89
Dublin, Ohio
MINUTEMAN CONFUSION
The Up-to-the-Minuteman photo in the spring issue of UMass has me confused. Just what is that object that the Minuteman has slung over his shoulder? I’ll assume it is a firearm of some sort but I’ve never seen one with a barrel shaped like that. If American patriots had been armed with guns like that we’d never have won our independence.
Roy E. Landstrom ’60, ’65G
Cumberland, Ohio
CONCERN FOR COWS
Who chose this picture? The position of their ears sends up red flags in any dairyman's mind. Quick, where's the livestock fever thermometer? Healthy Holsteins don't droop their ears like that.
These guys aren't part Brahman, are they? That breed does have droopy ears.
Somebody should nix that photo for future use - it doesn't speak well for UMass.
Debby Sealey Baldwin '55S
Salt Point, New York
The picture referred to in this letter is of cloned calves, George, Charlie and Albert, that appear in the gazettenet.com advertisment on page 47.
THANKS TO JULIUS
Thank you so much for the articles by Julius Lester and Karen Kurt Teal.
We keep hearing that books and libraries will be supplanted by the Internet.
That will never happen, but we must keep on spreading the gospel or
good news of books! It was wonderful to read Mr. Lester's articulation of
what books have always done for me, and meant to me.
Judith Moore Adams ’60
Groton
MINUTEMAN SPIRIT
It is gratifying to see that John Townsend’s Minuteman will finally be cast and placed near the campus Pond. Not only does the statue commemorate the same spirit that Daniel Chester French conveys in his Concord piece, but it also continues French’s link to Massachusetts and the University. French’s father served as president of Mass Aggie in the nineteenth century, and young Daniel Chester French had his first studio behind Stockbridge Hall before his hometown of Concord commissioned his Minute Man that was cast from bronze from old cannons in a foundry in Chicopee. John’s contemporary version will serve to remind us of our ongoing American history.
Honoré S. David ’94G
Amherst
ERROR FREE TESTS?
After reading the article on "Only A Test" in the Winter edition, you can see the problem with providing an error free "test".
In the "Test Yourself" box on page three, question 3 starts "Two identical test tubes are inverted in a beaker of water." At the end of the answer section it states "There will be some evaporation of the water in both beakers." The question is, where did the second beaker come from? Again the test designer is looking for an incorrect answer.
Love the "UMASS" magazine!
Clifford C. Fifield, Jr. '58
Seneca Falls, New York
Note: See "F FOR EFFORT" letter further down the page for an explanation of the missing beaker.
DISTURBED BY BUDGET CUTS
It really disturbs me to hear that the new chancellor is going to be paid 250k while at the same time I'm hearing that because of budget cuts, UMass is going to lose professors and perhaps even some programs. I've received 3 phone calls from the Telefund this week--what is the point of sending in money when Mr. Lombardi is receiving a salary that, were it halved, could pay the salaries of 2 assistant professor? I just don't get it.
Marcy Tanter, '86, '96G
Stephenville, Texas
TEST CONTROVERSY
I think your "Test yourself: Samples from a "high-stakes" standardized test" article (Winter 2002, p. 26) provides a perfect example of the controversy surrounding these tests.
In Question 1, it states that "the minimum wage increased from $5.25 an hour to $5.75 per hour. Part C of Question 1 asks "Allan, who also works for the same employer, was promised a raise. If she had been making $7.40 per hour, what new hourly wage would reflect an increase comparable to that received by minimum wage earners?"
In your example, the answer given was $8.10. The reasoning behind the answer is that a 9.5% raise for Allana would be comparable to the 9.5% raise in the minimum wage.
When I first read the question, I gave what I would consider the real world answer: $7.90. In the real world, when a minimum wage earner is given a 50 cent increase per hour, then their co-worker is often offered a "comparable" increase of 50 cents per hour.
Todd Lever '89, '95
West Springfield
My question is this: would I have been given full credit for my 50 cent answer, or would I have been kept back to making only minimum wage?
TEST RESULTS
THE RECENT ARTICLE "ONLY A TEST" [Winter 2002] presents an opportunity to test oneself using sample questions from the MCAS. As described, this is a standardized test Massachusetts 10th graders must pass to graduate from high school.
I am typically intrigued by such challenges and did not expect to have difficulty with these questions. However, I find that I cannot answer Question 1a). Is it that I misunderstand the question, that the term "rate" has changed, that the questioners have omitted a key element of information, or that the questioners themselves have misunderstood the question?
On the surface it seems that the questioners have provided the information necessary to determine the percentage increase in the minimum wage. Most would probably proceed to do so and likely be marked correct. However, the question actually solicits the rate of the change which would, it seems to me, require knowledge of the period between the setting of the two different minimum wages. Rate has an element of time - in this case $0.50 divided by the time between the effective dates of the $5.25 per hour and $5.75 per hour.
If the testing is commensurate with the teaching or vice versa, it is little wonder why Johnny is struggling so much or maybe I just deserve those who-cares-it-is-close-enough looks.
James Vander Wyk
Powder Springs, ’72G
PLEASED BY DWIGHT ALLEN ARTICLE
AT LAST MY WINTER 2002 ISSUE of UMass has caught up with me here in the Pretoria area of South Africa. I'd like to thank you for publishing John Stifler's excellent article on the Allen years at the School of Education and last October's reunion in Amherst.
The deafening silence about this extraordinary period since 1978 on the part of the university (and, for that matter, the School of Education itself) has surprised and disappointed me for many years. Did those of us who enjoyed the privilege of being part of this adventure make mistakes? Absolutely! In fact, that was part of the point — to take the risks necessary to making a difference. But, as Mr. Stifler points out so well, the story has another side that I was afraid had disappeared into the mists of some strangely revisionist history. Under Dean Allen's leadership the School of Education created a model, a momentum and a meaning whose impact literally has been felt around the world. During more than 20 years of work in Africa I have regularly encountered other professionals — Africans and Americans — who still speak proudly of their time at the School.
Perhaps its time to consider more carefully what lessons, positive and negative, we can learn from Dwight Allen's revolution.
Phil Christensen '72G
Centurion, South Africa
SOBERING QUESTIONS ABOUT ATHLETICS
JOSEPH LARSON'S LETTER ["Grounds and buildings blues," Exchange, Winter 2002] was a sobering note about state funding and money from athletics. The letter prompts many questions which might be addressed in future magazines.
1. What are the six peer state universities being compared?
2. Do these state universities have private universities like Boston College keeping their university football and basketball programs second rate which are the two main money making sports? Do they also have several large universities like Harvard, MIT, Northeastern and Boston University with politic influence trying to keep our state university in Amherst subordinated?
3. Did UMass ever get the opportunity to join the Big East Conference in either football or basketball, which is a much more profitable conference than the Atlantic 10? We all know where UConn got the money to jump to Division I football. If UMass were in the Big East, imagine how BC's control of quality Massachusetts Division I football players would be harmed?
4. When UMass won the National Division IA Title, isn't it true we lost money on the program that year?
5. Did BC or UConn in the Big East ever dare to play any stellar basketball teams coached by John Calapari? Were they afraid to get embarrassed which would hurt their recruiting efforts?
6. How long did it take to get the commonwealth to finally support a quality sports complex like the Mullins Center? Why have we lost quality coaches like John Orr in basketball and Dick MacPherson in football in the past?
I also get frustrated visiting great land grant institutions here in the Midwest. They have a profitable conference and everyone from taxpayers to policticians backs their schools 100 percent. They realize athletic programs are the best strategy for generating money for the university. BC and UConn in the Big East have their priorities straight. How many times has the UMass athletic program been attacked by either students, faculty, politicians, or Boston newspaper-writers when we try to elevate the program? Maybe I'm a little paranoid about this subject but I think an expanded discussion would shed more light on the extent of the problem.
Bill MacLeod ’63
Naperville, Illinois
MISSED WORD ABOUT CUTS
I AM AMAZED THAT NOT ONE WORD was said in the latest issue of the alumni magazine about the deep cuts at UMass. The University of Minnesota, its staff, and its citizens wouldn’t stand for such a thing. If the alumni magazine doesn’t care, why should the alumni?
If I hadn’t moved back to Massachusetts in 1995, I wouldn’t know a lot of what goes on at the Amherst campus.
Noreen Roberts ’68
Goshen
Note: Perhaps the words we devoted to the subject were too inconspicuous, but the editorial in the issue mentioned ["College Try," Exchange, Winter 2002], addresses the subject of these deep cuts. The upcoming issue (Spring 2002) will include an interview with Chancellor Williams and articles on faculty, staff, student, and alumni response.
ADMIRED TESTING ARTICLE
I WANT TO COMMEND YOUR ARTICLE highlighting the benchmark research of Dr. Hambleton and his colleagues ["Only A Test," Winter 2002]. Standardized tests such as MCAS and the SAT continue to polarize student achievement rather than accurately assessing the student’s aptitude and propensity for learning. The academic discipline of psychometrics is instructive and provides an avenue towards instilling equity in the construction and analysis of testing instruments.
The debate over acute disparities of educational resources, especially amongst our public schools, has been clearly articulated by administrators, politicians, and faculty alike. However, strategies employed in narrowing this resource chasm have remained fragmented and ambiguous. Hindrance to progress exists not in the compilation of test scores but rather in the utilization of test results to improve teaching and empower students across various residential environments and degrees of socioeconomic status.
The School of Education at UMass has a long and rich tradition of being a trailblazer in educational reform. The Center for Educational Assessment and its faculty are continuing the mission. The institution of American education owes its youth high standards in classroom instruction and quality in testing methodology.
Indeed, the work of Dr. Hambleton and his colleagues is priceless to the university, the state, and the Department of Education. I am proud that the graduate programs at UMass continue to participate in both state and national public policy in order to promote quality and change.
Kofi A. Cash ’00
Southfield, Michigan
FAR-FLUNG FRIENDS
I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEP appreciation to you for the good job that you are doing by keeping in touch with all the UMass ex-students. I sincerely commend you for this.I was last a student there in 1978 and must say that you have really given me confidence and a sense of belonging. Because of your care I have done everything with the full knowledge that whatever I do I must represent UMass; and, therefore had to do my best.
In 1981 I completed my MPH with the University of California in Berkeley. In 2000 I attained a doctoral degree (Doctor of Nursing Science) from the University of South Africa. After graduating from the UMass until recently, I have all the time been working for the Government of Botswana's Ministry of Health's Primary Health Department, and I must say I contributed immensly to its development and growth. All these achievements I realised because of your keeping in touch.
I wish to one day visit my University, the UMass, that
has made me what I am both locally and abroad.
Winnie G. Manyeneng ’77
Gaborone, Botswana
I AM A GRADUATE OF UMASS (M.S 1986 in the Manufacturing Engineering Program, where I studied with Professor Dean Poli and Dr. Lawrence Murch). I have been regularly receiving copies of UMass, and I am writing to express my for the diligence with which you mail copies of the magazine. Every issue brings back a flood of nostalgia for the memorable days I spent in beautiful Amherst from 1984-1986. The diaspora of UMass alumni in India is quite considerable. We have a group of four alumni within two miles of each other in Pune, and we meet on an informal basis once in three months. Thank you, again, for your efforts to keep the alumni network vitalized.
Jiten Divgi ’86G
Pune, Maharashtra State, India
MOVED BY TODD HILL TRIBUTE
AS UMASS ALUMINI AND RESIDENTS of Battery Park City, three blocks south of the World Trade Center, we read with sadness and tears the stirring tribute to Todd Russell Hill ["T, Hill, Bo Tyson Hill, Sugar Hill, Rusty," Extended Family, Winter 2002] by Michael Petrocelli ’90.
It especially touched me since I walked through the Marriott Hotel on my way to the Path station in the basement of the World Trade Center at 8 a.m. that morning. Alan was home and saw everything from our living room window. We are lucky that we only had to evacuate for three weeks, though our lives will never be the same. Michael’s memoir brought fresh tears that we thought we were through shedding.
I walked to the Marriott site tonight and said a prayer for Todd. I also said a prayer for his family and friends to find the strength to get through all of this. We want them to know that they are not alone in his sorrow, and to thank Michael for overcoming his pain and grief to share that wonderfully moving tribute with all of us.
Mary (Bernard) and Alan Ralph '75
New York City
TOO NEW-AGE TO BE PRACTICAL
THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE SCHOOL of Education during the Dwight Allen years ["No fear or loathing in Amherst" [UMass Gatherings, Winter 2002] neglected to describe the effects of Dwight Allen’s changes on the undergraduates who were studying to be classroom teachers. In fact the list of alumni who attended the Ed School Marathon included mostly former graduate students.
I was an undergraduate elementary education major from 1966 to 1970. Although I enjoyed attending UMass, I was not satisfied with some of the changes in direction of the School of Education during my last two years.
The student teaching block, an eight-week program, was not well coordinated. In our methods courses my fellow students and I were learning about innovative methods of teaching. However, most of us were placed in very traditional classrooms in school systems outside of Amherst. The classroom teachers in those school systems did not want their student teachers to try anything new or different. As a result, we sometimes felt frustrated. The UMass supervisor of the student teachers could not help us at all. He was a graduate student who had little to no classroom teaching experience!
After my student teaching experience, I took more education courses to fulfill graduation requirements, but those courses were not practical. They were what one would call experimental, "touchy-feely," or "New Age." I learned more in my first year of teaching after graduation than I did during the education courses I took my senior year.
According to another article in the same issue [Branches of Learning sidebar, Winter 2002], there are currently more graduate students than undergraduates in the School of Education. I do hope that undergraduates who want to be classroom teachers are not being shortchanged. Otherwise, those students will feel just as frustrated as I did.
Julie (Berlow) Lindsay ’70
Rochester, New Hampshire
STILL AWAITING TRUTH ON ED SCHOOL
AS A SCIENCE MAJOR AND education minor from 1967 to 1971, the dictates of common sense steered me away from what the School of Education had to offer. For me, that was a good decision. The School of Education was more interested in promoting social justice and equity than establishing accountability for student learning. They diluted the degree program by reducing and eliminating requirements for education majors. In addition they encouraged unqualified candidates to their masters and doctorate programs and ultimately to the bureaucracy of higher education.
I saw the impact of this lunacy among my peers. Instead of striving for excellence, students saw a world which rewarded the declaration of politically correct ideals and minimal effort. It is tragic for kids, not to mention society, that it took until the 1990s for Massachusetts to realize that standards of accountability for educational curriculum, instruction, assessment, and teacher evaluation were long overdue.
What makes a good teacher has nothing to do with the nonsense promulgated during the Allen reign at UMass and glorified in the article entitled "No fear or loathing in Amherst" [UMass Gatherings, Winter 2002]. Good teaching starts with relating to kids, knowing your subject matter, and having a passion for teaching. A well educated teacher is equipped to learn from students, teachers, and administrators over time in real life situations.
Candid and accurate testimonials from the communities where the alumni marathon conference attendees have applied their educational expertise would illuminate "what really happened at the School of Ed back then" more sufficiently than a love — fest of self congratulatory intellectual ingrowns.
I’ve been waiting years to hear the truth about Dean Allen and the UMass department of ed in the ’70s. It sounds like it’s not coming any time soon.
Deborah Nadeau Carter ’71
Windsor
DEEP SADNESS AT BUTTERFIELD CHANGES
I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW to convey my deep sense of sadness in regards to the changes made to Butterfield Dormitory ["The Butterfield Edge," Exchange, Fall ’01]. I was a resident there from 1985 — 89 and worked in the kitchen from my first semester as a baker and ended up being the manager my senior year. My time spent in the kitchen and eating family — style dinners with fellow dorm members are my fondest memories of my college career!
I don't understand what goes through the minds of students who are violent to others and vandalize publice property of any kind, particulary the place they reside! I am saddened that these students have ruined a tradition and tremendous experience for future UMass students. They will never be able to experience the traditions and unique qualities of Butterfield! It was always known as the Hippie Dorm where peace and love were the predominant feelings, not violence and vandalism.
The one thing that saddens me most is that the actions of these students put a wonderful, caring person out of a job he loved! Phil Cavanaugh loved working with the students and made a tremendous impact on my college experience! Too many younger people today do not think about how their actions will affect others lives! Future Butterfielders will only know stories of why the dorm was "Reprogrammed" and not about the wonderful experience it once was.
I am also saddened because there will be no more dorm reunions like the one in 1996. It is a wonderful opportunity to go back and relive your college days with others of all ages who share their common experiences about a wonderful place to live!
With deep regrets,
Cris Siskin '89
St. Petersburg, Florida
AN IMPORTANT PREPOSITION
I APPRECIATE YOU NOTING in the Winter 2002 Exchange ["Greengrass Memories"] that I was a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award last year. It is important to note however that I am not the Commander OF the Navy Nurse Corps, but am a Commander IN the Navy Nurse Corps.
Mary Chaffee '83
Montgomery Village, Maryland
Note: Commander Chaffee has also recently been appointed special assistant for homeland defense in the Pentagon’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
F FOR EFFORT
NO WONDER THE KIDS ARE having trouble coming up with the answers the test designers require. Look at p 26, Question 3: "... in a beaker of water." Now, look at the answer: "...of the water in both beaker."
Also, the question asks what will happen chemically, and what will happen regarding appearance, not what change will occur volumetrically.
Not a very well crafted question from the experts.
Roger Hewett
Amherst
Note: Roger Hewett, a retired director of planned giving at UMass, was but one of a small spate of readers critiquing the MCAS sample questions taken by writer Marietta Pritchard from online sources. Regarding the beaker/beaker(s) anomaly, there is a somewhat mitigating detail: On the test form the question is accompanied by a drawing of two beakers. No such mitigation regarding the other instances of imprecise language; this lends credence to the suspicion of Paul Gilroy ’79 that "the person who wrote the questions is not going to graduate from high school this year."
F REDUX
IF TWO IDENTICAL TEST TUBES are inverted in a beaker of water how can part of the answer be "there will be some evaporation of the water in both beakers".
I'm sure this one will bring some interesting replies. Obviously the person who either wrote the question or wrote the answer is not going to graduate from high school this year.
Paul Gilroy ’79
Campus
Note: The writer is director of prospect management and research services in the development office on campus.
F CONTINUED
"ONLY A TEST" [Winter 2002] was quite revealing. I tried to test myself, as your article encourages, particularly by MCAS Question 3. It says " Two identical test tubes are inverted in a beaker of water." The correct answer given states " There will be some evaporation of the water in both beakers."
Um — What two beakers? Is this the correct answer? Can your experts in this article help explain this? Is this meant to be an example of good or bad?
Richard Lopatka '64
Sunderland
STILL MORE F
SAMPLE TEST QUESTION 1 ACCOMPANYING "Only a Test" (winter 2002) illustrates a failure to adhere to the second principle of test creation listed in the "Constructing a good test" sidebar to the article on standardized tests.
The principle is to "be sure there is only ONE correct answer ..."
Question 1 presents information about a 50 — cents hourly minimum wage increase from $5.25 to $5.75, and in subquestions a) and b), asks for answers based on the rate of increase. Subquestion c) asks what new hourly wage for a person currently receiving $7.40 "would reflect an increase comparable to that received by the minimum wage earners?"
The answer presented as correct, $8.10, calculates a new wage that has the same rate of increase (percentage increase) as for the minimum wage earners, 9.5%. But the question didn't say "reflect a rate of increase comparable..." It said "an increase comparable." Thus, an increase of 50 cents to $7.90 should also be a correct answer, because 50 cents for one employee clearly is comparable to 50 cents for another employe. In fact, an increase of anywhere between 50 cents and 70 cents would be comparable based on varying mixes of the actual increase and the rate of increase. If the question writer wanted the answer based on rate of increase, that's what he should have specifically requested.
No doubt the question writer had rate of increase in his mind. But don't expect the test — taker to be able to read the writer's mind. In legislative drafting, for example, if the terminology is changed from the first usage to the second, that must mean something different is intended. My reaction was that clearly subquestion c) wanted something different from a rate of increase answer because, unlike a) and b), it didn't specify "rate of increase," it just said "increase." So I got it wrong. I just hope I don't have to repeat high school.
Richard L. Barnes
Bethesda, Maryland
Note: The writer is the parent of UMass student Devlin J. Barnes.
REMEMBERING WILLIAM BOSWORTH
IT SADDENS ME THAT UMass Magazine has failed to mention the passing of my father, William Bosworth, in the Class Notes section, other than his name in the In Memoriam section, after I sent in materials about him to your Munson Hall office.
My dad was graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education in 1931 from Mass. State College, and also received a Master's Degree in Psychology in 1935 from the college. He had a lot of good memories of his days there, where he was the head cheerleader both as an undergraduate and a graduate student. He lived at the Dean of Women's house on Fearing Street during his freshman year, and as a senior lived in and did chores at President Thatcher's house.
He loved the horses in the calvary ROTC of the day (participating in the group's ride/camping trip from Amherst to northern Vermont after his sophomore year), until flunking an ear exam ended his ROTC days. Under the tutelage of "Kid" Gore he began his lengthy summer camp career while still an undergraduate. He was fond of English professors Frank Prentice Rand, "Pat" Patterson and "Bull" Prince and a Psychology professor, Dr. Glick. He took the Horticultural Manufacturing course from Prof. Chenowith and learned to make jams and jellies, which he continued to do throughout his life.
My dad was also the last to pass away of his generation of the Bosworth family who attended UMass. His sisters Marguerite Rose and Maude Elinor both were graduated in 1926 from MAC and his sister Clare Elizabeth in the mid — 1930s from Mass. State. He went to a number of his class's reunions over the years, including into the 90's, and helped to correspond with his living classmates and coordinate some of their reunion doings. He contributed monetarily as well, within his means as a school teacher and retiree, including to the Campaign for the University of Massachusetts in 1999.
I think he would have liked some mention in your magazine. I'm not sure why you have chosen not to respect this.
Michael Bosworth ’93G
Montague
Note: We are glad to publish Michael Bosworth’s tribute as a letter, and to have the chance to go over the changes we made to our obituary policy in the mid — 90s. Until then, we tried to publish brief obituaries in the print magazine for all alumni, faculty, and student deaths. This brevity proved distressing to readers, as did the uneveness of coverage, since for some people we had no information at all. Our solution was to publish a simple list in the print magazine, and transcribe published obituaries of all those for whom we have them in our online edition. We also gladly accept memorial letters to the editor. While imperfect, this system represents our best effort at present to be equitable and to provide the most connections and information we can in both the print and online editions of the magazine.
HOW CHRIS PREPARED – THE MAXI-SERIES
ENCLOSED IS A TRUE ACCOUNT in reply to your request [Reader Reply Card, Winter 2002] of how I prepared for "The Big Test" way back then.
It is all true, I swear— although anyone who could personally verify my statements — well — they have all passed on to that Big Research Library in the Sky, as we used to say — George, Abe and I — why we were like the three musketeers — and John Lederle — why he’d tag along if we let him — but he was too young to go to the Drake — so we had to tie him to a tree outside or he’d wander off and get himself scalped over and over — slow learner, that one.
Donna and I have hundreds of slides, photos, and our beanies and cheat sheets and other paraphernalia which contributed to our unwavering success at Umee and if you’re interested and if the "Old Dean of Them All Upstairs" doesn’t make me bite the Big One — I’d be interested in publishing (I assume you’re going to publish my account) more stories — perhaps on a regular basis — with photographs of wooden buildings — no building over four stories on campus, "an endless extrusion from my protrusion" (Pilgrims etc.) of life-enhancing colorful docudramas of Pioneering Tales in the Pioneer Valley before the White Man settled the Campus.
Examples of which are my hair raising "Escaping from the Campol on a three speed," or the ever-popular "The Night I Saw More Than I Wanted To Passing Campus President John Leaderless’ House On the Hill."
I have an endless supply, as you can sense. But I must go — they’re warming up my bi-plane for my last mission over Bannananistan.
(By the way, I am a little ticked at you – my new School Song "UMass Forever" has of yet not been officially accepted!! Printed on the website electronically — what’s that! I spent years of my short life writing that — I demand printed exposure. I want a survey — a poll — I think everyone will like it once they see it in print — us Old Grads we don’t have computers and New UnderGrads don’t even know its there — the only accouchement was in the Alumnus Magazine — your rag — and who reads that anyway?!!!
I want notices sent to all the dorms and a vote taken — sample ballot available.)
Composition:
"How Did I Prepare for a Big Test Back in My UMass Days"
by Little Chris Schill — aged 60
Yes! I prepared for a Big Test back in my UMass days — between fighting Indians and with my wife Donna ’64 we settled the frontier just beyond Dwight House where on January 26, 1963 we built our first log cabin in what was then ye Olde Appel Orchard. The well I dug is still there. No! We did not live together in the eary — excuse me — Early Days at Universitada de Massachusittensi (as we affectionately used to call it way way back then) because it was not allowed — can you believe it? Besides, George and Martha were always spying on us with monoculars (we didn’t use binoculars back then).
I [will] never forget when our boat the four-masted clipper "Learning is a Trip" sailed from Poland in the winter of ’59 and sailed up the Connecticut River (which back then we called "The Big One") and we landed on the shore of Lake Quabbin (only one shore back then — now I’m told they have four!). Armed with only a blunder — bags and bags of M&M peanuts we fought and bribed our way to the U of M campus where we were separated (after four years on a boat together does that make sense? But things were strange back then — not like now where everything makes perfect logic!)
Things were different then — the War was raging and my parents said to me, "Boy — when you leave — don’t even think about coming back — we are advertising your room for rent and we have calls coming in already." (Wait till they see my folks in person I thought to myself — we could do that even back then! Think to ourselves without a modem or online carrier can you imagine — but it was free and you get what you pay for.)
Where was I? I could use a few more — how do you say it? — "gigs of memory" these days and my "hard drive" — that’s a joke — but you wanted to know how I studied for the Big One way back then — yes I remember.
Motivated by no home to return to and with the Draft hovering over my head — waiting always waiting for me to fail — to conscript me into the R???? — we actually went (I’m ashamed to admit this) to every class — even when we were sick — we haven’t cut a single class in our four years there (Actually I did it in 3 1/2 with two full time jobs and weaving pot holders and stuffing envelopes in my sleep for additional income) we were tough back then.
Tuition was $50 back then — I’m not lying — look it up if you don’t believe me! But back then money was worth more! [M]uch more! You could buy a house for $12 — a new covered wagon for $5 so see relatively — values have remained the same — what? — tuition now is about $8000 (in state) which would make a house about a million five and a car about an even $500,000 yeah that’s about right. Prices have progressed "even Steven" yeah we used to say cool things like that.
So that’s it! We went to every class — sucked up to any professor who had a leg up on anything!
We actually learned stuff! We read our texts leatherbound as they were and printed by Ben Franklin himself — on the moveable type — from cover to cover — every word!
We didn’t have Highliters back then — we used blood which was scarce so we only accentuated the really important stuff. The other day I bought a used text from Umee and it looked like it was printed on yellow paper.
So having "done our homework" as you say in New Speak we didn’t have to study! We were always ready — "Semper Fi" baby!
The night before — we the original Minutemen — would put on our snowshoes, our raccoon Eyes, and load our muskets and trudge, the 2.307 miles to the Drake and get bombed! We’d pull an "all-niter" — it means something else today I’m told.
And the women had to stay back in the stockaded Fort Hamlin where Ward Bond, John Wayne, and Housemother Mrs. Svengali would guard them till we got back. Since we had first brothers who somehow got all the copies of the tests and could be bought for a keg or two — we didn’t have anything to sweat anyway. And that’s how we did it — That’s how the West was Won!
Waiting with baited breath, I remain and always will be (same difference)
Chris B. Schill ’64
Brookfield
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ALL THE LETTERS ALL THE TIME
LETTERS IN PRINT, FALL 2002
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