May/June 2009
Letters to the Editor
Midshipmen, Not Cadets
I very much enjoy reading your magazine. However, on page 7 (March/April), Henry Coleman ’46, whom I knew, was identified as a former “NROTC Cadet.” As a point of information, all of us in the NROTC Unit were identified as midshipmen, not cadets.
Little Rock, Ark.
You’re Welcome
Congratulations on a consistently well done job; the magazine is informative and nostalgic. I appreciate getting to revisit the campus and its people on your pages.
Chappaqua, N.Y.
Letters
I would like to offer some constructive criticism. I regard this magazine as one of the finest college magazines in the United States. There is one point that has consistently annoyed me. Why do you limit the amount of space for “Letters To the Editor?” In the last issue (March/April) there were only four short letters from our alumni.
Of course, the first thing that most alumni turn to is their Class Notes. In my opinion, the second choice is the “Letters to the Editor” page.
Is it possible to include 10 letters from alumni in each issue of the magazine?
I would be interested to hear what other alumni think of this idea.
Stan Edelman ’49, ’53 P&S
New York City
Editor’s note: We welcome letters (or e-mails) to the editor and try to publish as many as we receive, as long as they relate to something published in the magazine. Unfortunately, sometimes we receive few letters (especially if an issue is delayed in publication, leaving less time between issues), and in that case the letters section is brief.
July/August 2009 CCT Online Only
The current financial crisis places pressures on all budgets, including those of the College and Columbia College Today. In order to permit the College to devote a greater share of its resources in these hard times to academic affairs and student services, we have decided to publish the July/August 2009 issue of CCT online only. This will save a significant amount of money in printing and mailing costs while still allowing us to bring you all the news, features and departments you have come to expect from CCT.
Log onto www.college.columbia.edu/cct shortly after July 1 to view the July/August 2009 issue. As always, we encourage you to visit our Web site to view the current issue of CCT, exclusive Web-only content and past issues back to 1999.
Lewis Cole ’68
I noted the obituary of Lewis Cole ’68 in the March/April issue and look forward to more on this graduate’s life and contributions to the University. As a 1968 classmate of Lewis, I remember well his appearance on the David Susskind show during the spring of that year. He referred to the best values of the nation in his interpretation of the students’ strike, and we could not have had a better spokesperson for our cause that year than Lewis Cole. I have no doubt that his influence on the University and the culture in general will be as lasting through his leadership in film studies at the School of the Arts.
Pomona, Calif.
War Memorial
I was pleased to read about Columbia’s War Memorial (March/April). However, if Columbia were truly interested in honoring the memory of fallen Columbians, it would allow our military’s ROTC programs to operate without discrimination on campus. Columbia permits tyrants such as Iran’s Ahmedinijad on campus, but not the American military Columbia claims to honor. Is this what our fallen heroes would have wanted? Honor our war dead with more than a plaque — let those who risk their lives today by serving our nation do so with pride on the Columbia campus.
Gregory Menken ’95
New York City
“Mission Accomplished”
As the father of a recent grad, I like reading Columbia College Today. I always enjoy reading your column [“Within the Family”], but I must respond to your sarcasm regarding President Bush in your January/February piece.
You referred to his trip to the carrier Abraham Lincoln as a “photo op,” implying that the trip was self-serving. While photos were taken, I assure you this was not his purpose. He was doing what good commanders do: visit and encourage the troops.
The President probably had nothing to do with hanging the “Mission Accomplished” banner. Moreover, it was not meant to describe the greater war effort. I was specifically directed to the sailors and Marines of the Lincoln, who had indeed accomplished their mission and were heading home after an especially long cruise. That being said, I don’t understand why the President never made this point, or why he recently expressed regret for the banner.
If there was anything to regret in the speech, it might have been his opening statements that major combat operations had ended in victory. While true at the time (the invasion was over and was successful), the scope and length of the insurgency was not anticipated.
One more small point: President Bush did not “helicopter” to the Lincoln. He flew in on an S-3B (small jet). Thank you for publishing an enjoyable and informative magazine. Keep up the good work.
Ben Withers P’06
Alexandria, Va.