Letters
鈥楾hink for Yourself鈥 Seminar
Several alumni identified classmates in a photo of a 1968 freshman preceptorial that was featured as the opening photo of Class Notes in the March-April issue. Taught by professors Michael Cherniavsky of history and Robert Marshak of physics, the course, Science and World Affairs, capped enrollment at 20 freshmen.
鈥淚 was lucky enough to be in that class鈥攊t was fall semester of 1968 in Dr. Marshak鈥檚 office in Bausch & Lomb,鈥 wrote Tom Dragosavac 鈥72. 鈥淚t was certainly the right thing at the right time for me. I learned it鈥檚 a good idea to listen and think a bit before I speak. I also learned that applying my mind and heart to the problems of the world was a good use of my time. It was definitely a 鈥渢hink for yourself鈥 seminar. It no doubt contributed to my changing my major from physics to sociology a year or so later.
鈥淒r. Marshak carried the torch for idealism, while Dr. Cherniavsky offered a polarity of world-weary cynicism. So no matter what we said, one of them would 鈥榞et鈥 us. It was great team teaching.鈥
Dragosavac, Scott Smith 鈥72, Jerry Toporek 鈥72, 鈥75 (MA), and Joe Smith 鈥72 identified their fellow students as Scott Sugarman 鈥72 (at the desk), Marshak, Toporek, Ray Singer 鈥72, Barb Thorne Benkwitt 鈥72, Donna Schubert 鈥72, Burns Fisher 鈥72, 鈥79 (MS), Vickie Sidou 鈥72, Cherniavsky (in a jacket with his back to the camera), and Don Strebel 鈥72. The two note that the online version of the photo (above) also shows the left shoulder of Michael Saul 鈥72 to the left of Sugarman and Dragosavac鈥檚 hand at the bottom of the frame.
A full account of the class can be found in 鈥淎 Tale of Two Superprofs鈥攁nd a Freshman Preceptorial,鈥 published in the Spring 1969 issue of 乱伦强奸 Review and available online at http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=3483&y=1969&v=31&i=3&p=20.
鈥擲cott Hauser
Think You Had Snow Days?
I noticed that the item in 乱伦强奸 Review regarding classes being called off on a couple of winter days because of a deep snowfall (鈥淎sk the Archivist,鈥 March-April) didn鈥檛 include a reference to an event which occurred in the winter of either 1957 or 1958.
We had a fairly good snowfall during the night and, after clearing the walks around our fraternity house, a couple of us wandered up onto the Eastman Quadrangle to look around. We thought it would be a fine prank if we piled some snow up against the doors of Morey Hall and then we returned to breakfast. Imagine our surprise when we learned a few minutes later that classes had been called off for the day due to the snowfall!
Whether our prank had anything to do with the decision, I鈥檒l never know鈥攁nd I鈥檓 pretty sure the statute of limitations has expired on that one.
John Rathbone 鈥58
Hamilton, New York
Think about Dean Merrill
I very much appreciated the article on Dean Ruth Merrill, whose quiet strength and sensitivity enriched many of us individually and campus culture collectively (鈥淏ringing University History to Life,鈥 March-April).
We in the Class of 1960 who were privileged to have her as our dean are indebted to her for her wise counsel. We benefitted from her expression of confidence in our ability to learn and to lead. For many of us her quiet and unexpected support opened doors. Dean Merrill inspired us to add value to our lives and our society.
In preparation for our 50th reunion, our class, called 鈥淐ity Girls,鈥 initiated the Dean Ruth A. Merrill Award. This award recognizes a 乱伦强奸-area undergraduate woman whose endeavors enrich the lives of others.
If you have an anecdote to share about Dean Merrill鈥檚 influence on your college years or would like more information on the Dean Merrill Award, contact me at anndwein@frontiernet.net.
Ann Weintraub 鈥60
乱伦强奸
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