Fall 2005

Departments

Exchange

Prerequisite

Extended Family

Foundation News

Alumni Connections

Class Notes

Zip 01003

Books Received

Alumni Photos

Features

Raising His Game

Never Mind the Weather?

If You Can Make it There

Peg Riley Wants a New Drug

A Capitol Guy

What They've Learned

Exchange: To and from the editors

All the letters all the time

UMass—helping to reduce greenhouse gases We enjoyed many articles in the fall issue of the UMass Amherst magazine, most notably “Never Mind the Weather? By Eric Goldscheider. The excellent scientific research by scientist Ray Bradley, Steve Burns, and Francisco Da Cruz is a significant contribution to the international consensus that global warming is occurring and its relationship to our overuse of fossil fuels. Global warming threatens the ability of the planet to support life and this important work is a credit to UMass, the Commonwealth and our country. We feel that UMass has a great opportunity to do something locally to combat these increased greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. Recently the UMass Amherst magazine ran an article on the new state-of-the-art power plant, which is a gas/oil fired plant replacing the present coal plant. Gas supplies however are declining and this year alone gas prices have doubled (Boston Globe 10/4/05). While switching the campus from coal to natural gas provides a significant reduction in greenhouse gasses, the campus can do better. Purchasing oil and gas means we send serious money outside the Commonwealth. We understand also that to address this economic issue and also the concerns with the use of fossil fuels, the UMass physical plant conducted a feasibility study looking at firing one of four boilers with biomass, a locally abundant and renewable fuel that generates no net greenhouse gases. We applaud this decision to look at biomass as an energy source, and feel it is a good choice both environmentally and economically for the campus and the western Massachusetts economy. We wonder about the status of the biomass feasibility study and whether UMass will lead the Commonwealth on a sustainable future. Bruce A. Spencer ’64, ’67G, New Salem Gordon Boyce ’82, Belchertown Dwayne Breger ’94G, Amherst Hot topic Shame on you for your story, “Never Mind the Weather?” (Fall, 2005). Recently, UMass Magazine has come under fire by some for accepting money from Coca Cola. I submit that while there is no shame in that, there IS shame in publishing this puff piece from Greenpeace and The Sierra Club under the sub-header, “At the Climate System Research Center, the question isn’t if the globe is warming, but how much and to what end?” That’s just great. Of COURSE the question is whether, in the long run, the Earth is warming, and the argument is hardly one between avuncular, Prius-driving, well-meaning professors out to save the world on one side, and ignorant, red-necked NASCAR fans who probably all belong to the NRA and own 472 cubic inch V-8 Ford pickups (with Confederate flags in the back window) on the other. The university is supposed to be a place where orthodoxy is challenged, not a warm lap of comfortable, politically correct groupthink. UMass magazine might as well have included with each copy a DVD of cheesy scifi flick, “The Day After Tomorrow.” Why not? Al Gore called it “the most important movie of his lifetime,” and after all, Al Gore invented the Internet. And meteorology. And electricity. In 1975, Newsweek Magazine ran a cover story called, “Global Cooling,” in which it shrieked that we would all soon find ourselves caught mid-step inside a glacier like spiders in amber unless we immediately did something to stop it. Sadly, Global Warming is simply the latest campus fad by which The Enlightened may lead the poor, stupid masses to the politically correct Green Path. Sadder still is that UMass would be home for such an uncritical acceptance of the latest fad from the professional tree kissers and other similarly uncritical thinkers. Ken Sherman ’68, ‘75G North Grafton, Massachusetts Kudos to magazine I am writing to say that I am finding the Fall '05 issue of UMass Amherst magazine to be a pleasure. The selection of alumni stories is compelling, and some of the photography and writing is especially good. I found myself next to Faye Wolf at a meeting, telling her that whoever is making changes in this publication is doing a good job, before I discovered that she was a contributor. In fact I had just scanned –and dog-eared for a careful read–the Wye's World article that Faye wrote. This is an issue that I will return to again and again before it hits the recycling bin, and that has not been my experience in the past. I will actually look forward to my next issue. Thank you. Sue Wiggin '83 Northampton, MA Funky UMass is Right On I want to compliment Kirin Makker, author of the article "In Praise of Concrete," (Zip 01003 Fall 2005). I entered UMASS in '76 as a nontraditional student (28 yrs old). I took advantage of the Five College Program, and thoroughly enjoyed my experiences at Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Smith Colleges. However, I totally agree with Kirin that if UMASS is "not funky and on the edge of what's possible, then what are we?" The Fine Arts Center was just completed when I began, and I totally loved being in and about its cool and commanding architecture. It inspired me to join the chorus and take music theory, while studying journalism. The new-age cubes in front of the Campus Hotel conjured futuristic possibilities for many of us. Mostly, it was the contrast between some of our "ivy halls," and the modern designs that made the campus exciting. UMASS has a wonderful history, but also continues to be a vanguard into the future. Thanks, Kirin, for your delightful take on the "state of the art." C. Veronica Guerra-Varno '80 Stonington, Conn. Faithful Reader Writes This is my first letter to the UMass alumni magazine but I’m all excited about the fall 2005 issue. I’ve been a faithful reader ever since I graduated in 1957 but this issue tops them all. I was delighted by the wealth of material about so many UMass grads. All of the articles you highlighted from page 21 through page 57 were especially informative. I even enjoyed the letters to the editor articles. Keep up the good work. I, incidentally, was a public relations writer myself for companies like IBM, The Prudential Insurance company and others. I retired six years ago. p.s. I hope that some of my Theta Chi fraternity brothers will see this letter and take the time to write to me at 24 Astor Way, So. Yarmouth, 02664. Dick Sexton, ’57 So. Yarmouth, Mass. Correction Your article, “A very grey matter,” contains a minor error: Brian Burrell is a lecturer in the department of math and statistics. Joseph Horowitz Professor Emeritus Math and Statistics UMass Amherst Four Score I finally got to sit down and read the printed UMass Amherst article about the “Fab Four.” What a great story of four wonderful alumni. Thank you for making this type of story available to other employees, alumni, and friends of the University. Greg Brown, Director UMass Amherst Multicultural Engineering Progra Department of Corrections Alive and Well I would like to address an error on page 79 in the spring 2005 issue of UMass Amherst magazine. I would like to let my UMass friends know that the reporting of my death was in fact premature. Robert E. Radowicz of Sunderland was my father so the reporting error can be easily understood. Dad died at the Leahey Clinic in Burlington after a courageous battle with a rare and deadly form of blood cancer. If there are any folks out there who remember me from my Industrial Engineering/ Operations Research classes, the Ski Club, or my time in Van Meter, I want you to know I’m still alive and well and living in Maine. Feel free to drop me a line to catch up. Bob Radowicz ’81 Gray, ME Too Far West I think your magazine is a professional production. I just started reading my brother’s copy; he is James Taseos ’75. In your winter issue there was a photo of a man wearing a UMass jersey at a New England Patriot’s game. The caption said he had gone to San Diego to follow the Patriots. Actually, the stadium in your magazine photo was the Arizona State University stadium in Tempe, which the Arizona Cardinals use. The Patriots were at the Tempe site on September 19, 2004. George Taseos Phoenix, AZ Senatorial Flip Flop Once again, you folks have produced a truly fine magazine with a good assortment of features, well written and edited, nicely laid out and accompanied by fine photos. Believe me, it’s appreciated. I don’t like to be the one to find errors (especially in my own work), but I am obliged to point out one I happened to notice in the photo caption on page 37. You’ve reversed the identifications of former Sen. Sam Nunn and Sen. Richard Lugar. This is nothing compared to the screw-up I made in my early days as a reporter in 1961 on the Middletown Times Herald Record, in New York, where I nailed the difficult last name of the deceased in an obituary, but managed to get the wrong first name, thereby killing the man’s brother in print. Soldier on, folks. Alan Lupo, Class of ’59 Winthrop, MA The Zeal Thing Our mailbag overflowed with reaction to Coca-Cola ads appearing in the last two issues, and also to letters written in protest of the ads, and our editor’s response. Here is a mere sampling. A Horrible Choice I graduated from the College of Engineering in 1991, and enjoyed my last two years at UMass living in Butterfield. Just as a comment, I’m equally disturbed, as many others seem to be, by not one but two full-page ads for Coca-Cola!! I mean really, the product itself is pure enamel-rotting garbage and the company’s policies and practices are quite suspect!! For the only commercial advertising in the magazine Coca-Cola is surely a horrible choice. Chris Moran ’91 Jackson Hole, WY Work on Your Conscience I was very much disappointed in your editorial in the spring issue of UMass Amherst magazine. I feel compelled to point out what I believe you already know—but I’ll say it anyway. The editorial about Coke was very disingenuous. Just because what a huge global corporation does is LEGAL does not make it ethical, moral, or right. After four years of Bush Administration’s “disassembling” (sic) (that means “to lie” to use his own words), you can’t really believe that what you said had any ring of truth to it. You sidestepped the issues. Paige Bridgen’s letter was good, but Mary McClintock’s was the last word on the subject, as far as I’m concerned. I do give you credit for at least printing them. If you need coke’s money to send out UMass Amherst magazine, then please, cancel sending my copy. I do not say “my subscription” because as you know, nobody actually subscribes. And work on your conscience—if you really believed what you wrote, your UMass education was sorely lacking critical thinking skill development. Raymond Paquette ’80 Greenfield, MA A Matter of Choice Hear-hear to you for your reply in “A Question of Ethics” in the spring issue. I read this article with interest—then I found the comments “Can Coca-Cola...” I’m often in a seat of criticism about having a consumer relationship with Coke. As a public school administrator, I researched the advantages and disadvantages of offering Coke and other carbonated beverages and their non-carbonated beverages to middle and high school students. After reviewing the benefits and disadvantages (bad press Coke and school have) to administration, we concluded that the relationship with our local Coca-Cola vendor in Greenfield, Mass., offered more for our school and students than not offering them. We researched what the company could offer us and most importantly we concluded that it offered the students choices—choices about selecting products. The vending machines located in the cafeteria offer only non-carbonated beverages—Dasani water, Powerade and juices—during academic hours. In fact, water is the biggest seller. The carbonated vending machines are activated once the academic day concludes, offering the students/customers options—choices they must make. What was not available on campus the students drove uptown to purchase. We preferred the convenience for students, and the commission earnings from the sales. Our school has been able to support many student-related activities, plus be the recipient of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), and enjoy material items, i.e., scoreboards, that our school’s operating budget would not allow. We believe it is important for us to educate our students on wise choices. Like UMass being able to mail UMass Amherst magazine because of Coke revenue, our public school benefits too. Glad you supported your research. Glad you continue to run Coke ads. Christine Radzinski Nosel ’78 Ware, MA Outsourced but not Outsmarted As a UMASS grad, Vietnam vet, and general supporter of the campus life and what it represents, I was saddened and shocked to read your article in the spring issue regarding Vivek Paul ’82 and Wipro. His rhetoric about outsourcing is such an obvious smokescreen about the truth of the matter.   I am ashamed we went to the same university. He has paid back the America that welcomed him by putting thousands of American skilled workers, including myself and many others, out of work or forcing us to find new careers. There are countless Americans who have suffered because our government allows companies like Wipro to take advantage of an uneven playing field.   I actually speak from experience after having personally dealt with his company. He is a trusted partner as long as you play by his rules, not the fair ones. He and his ilk are a disgrace to the university. Stephen Garbowit ’73 Hamden, CT

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