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What's the Point?

ARTICLE CHOICES BUG READER

THE COVER ARTICLE, “A BUG’S Life” (November/December 2003), was well-written and worthwhile, as was last issue’s “American Nightmare,” on the 1890s murder case (September/October 2003). But what were they doing in Cornell Alumni Magazine? This publication ought to be devoted to matters of interest to Cornellians. Are there no campus controversies worth exploring? Are there no veteran alumni to comment on Cornell, as Rym Berry ’04, LLB ’06, Emerson Hinchliff ’14, and Selly Brewer ’40 once did? Are there no “incidents” worthy of dwelling on? Are faculty not doing much that would be of general interest? And at the most scenic university in the world, are there no new buildings or other views of interest?

David Kopko ’53
Northampton, Massachusetts

Ed. Note: The research featured in both cover stories was that of Cornell professors.

Militants or Terrorists?
I HAVE JUST READ THE TRAGIC STORY of Sherri Mandell ’77, and her son, Koby (“Keeping the Faith,” November/December 2003). Thirteen-year-old Koby was kidnapped and stoned, and his body left to rot in a cave. You define as “militants” those who butchered this child.Why?

Scott Abramson ’69
San Mateo, California

Ed. Note: The term “militants”—persons acting aggressively on behalf of a cause—describes accurately the perpetrators of this crime and does not imply any sympathy for their actions.

Flying High
CORNELL PLAYED A ROLE IN THE development of heavier-than-air aircraft earlier than described in your article on Charles Manly Class of 1898 (“Nearly First,”November/December 2003). In A Dream of Wings: Americans and the Airplane 1875-1905, Tom Crouch describes the role of Professor Robert Thurston, then director of the Sibley College of Engineering, in support of aviation pioneer Octave Chanute. Albert Francis Zahm, ME 1892, heard an 1890 lecture Chanute gave at Sibley, and went on to work closely with both Chanute and Samuel Langley. Thurston died on October 13, two months before the Wright brothers took to the skies.

Clifford Argue ’63, MEng ’66
Mercer Island,Washington

Political Prof
I VEHEMENTLY PROTEST THE APPOINTMENT of Cynthia McKinney as a visiting professor (From the Hill, November/ December 2003). Before being defeated in the primary, McKinney and her father resorted to the lowest kinds of politics—temper tantrums, questionable campaign practices, race-baiting, and Jew-hating.Her district, encompassing a wide range of voters with a black majority, sent her packing. I firmly support the diversity and wide open intellectual forum of learning that Cornell has always promoted. But what in the world does Cynthia McKinney have to teach our students? Lowdown Dirty Politics 101? Surely there are others more qualified to bring real meat to the table.

Sara Straw Winship ’68
Atlanta, Georgia

Grammar Gaffe
THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE CANTANKEROUS I get. The last sentence of the Milton Konvitz obituary states “according to legend, he never repeated the same lecture twice” (From the Hill, November/December 2003). It is possible that the writer meant exactly what the sentence says, i.e., Professor Konvitz repeated some lectures, but if he did, he never repeated that lecture again (never repeated it twice). I doubt it, though. I believe the writer meant that Konvitz “never repeated a lecture” or “never gave the same lecture twice.” A minor quibble, perhaps, but we should always strive for clarity in our transmission of ideas.

William Brownlee ’50
Chevy Chase, Maryland

Ed. Note: You are correct. The intended meaning was “never repeated a lecture.” We won’t make the same mistake twice.

Abel Praise
LAST YEAR, PROFESSOR LYNNE ABEL ’62 left her position as associate dean for undergraduate education in the Arts college to return to teaching in the classics department. I cannot imagine having navigated the waters of academia without Dean Abel’s support and guidance. Her contributions to the improvement of the college and her students are innumerable. The university owes her its foremost respect, admiration, and gratitude.

Jeff Diener ’95
Manhattan Beach, California

Correction
ON PAGE 58 OF “GLORY DAYS,” A PHOTO caption was incorrect (November/December 2003). The runner at the top of the page was identified as Jim Mealey; he is Bob Mealey ’51.

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