1964

Well, the frost is on the proverbial pumpkin, and the summer of 1982 is just a memory. I am sure all of you have at least one experience that highlights the summer. I have one memory in particular that may prove everlasting, or at least until April Fool's Day of 1983.

Several '64s used the occasion of Bob Freeman's 40th birthday to gather at Brad Evans's house in Brookfield, Conn., to have a colloquium or, more appropriately, a symposium on two vital contemporary issues. While the other Ivies may discuss such mundane issues as the Falkland Islands, acid rain, or Reaganomics, this entourage of erstwhile intellects polemicized on two issues with far-reaching and profound sociological ramifications.

Herb McCord presented a dissertation on the aging process as a mid-life crisis. He presented a personal theory that the mid-life expansion of the mid-line is a normal physiological phenomenon totally unrelated to food or alcohol intake. He maintained that this process occurs in everyone and that the only mid-life crisis is that it does not occur equally in all people. Sven Karlin '65, Bill Dix '67, and Brad and Barbara Evans presented the opposing opinion (based more on theory rather than empirical evidence). This issue was never resolved because the mosquitoes drove the participants indoors, where another debate was in process.

There, Pam Cahners, because Bob Cahners was somewhat confused at this point of the evening, gave a lecture on the hotly debated issue: Is the bar version of Pac Man more difficult to play than the home version? Bob refrained from contributing to the discussion because he is going through a drying-out period from over-indulgence in Pac Man play. Even now the mention of the word Pac Man brings beads of perspiration to Bob's forehead, and his palms begin to sweat profusely. Cindy Dancik, Pam Cahners, and Judy McCord helped Bob through this difficult ordeal by stuffing submarine sandwiches in his mouth until he decided to take a nap. Dick Horton '65 actually contributed to Bob's condition by bringing more beers to the table in order to distract Bob.

By the way, everyone had a truly enlightening experience in the bucolic setting on the shores of Candlewood Lake. While these two issues still remain unresolved, one issue was finally settled. I can categorically state that a 16-foot outboard boat can still maintain buoyancy with Herb McCord in it. Remember, a boat with water up to the gunwales is still considered buoyant.

Now for some other summer news: Richard Neely, chief justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, a former legislator, and one of the judges actively governing America, has written a book, How Courts GovernAmerica. The book centers on the idea that American judges decide appeals in accordance with their private values and that, paradoxically, this non-democratic decision-making is essential to democracy. Some key excerpts from the book are as follows: "It is ironic and paradoxical that the democratic process can be successful only if it is supervised by a non-democratic institution. This particular epiphany is crucial to an understanding of why democratic institutions elsewhere have failed so miserably throughout history and continue even today to fail elsewhere in the world."

The book goes on to say: "Because the democratic process is dominated by large, well-financed interest groups, non-democratic decision-makers are indispensable if a democracy is ever to say 'yes' to a weak group or 'no' to a strong group."

The book's concept of an actual conservative court should- intrigue the current national administration (this is a view of the Des Moines Sunday Register of January 3, 1982, and Neely, though a Democrat, might be an attractive appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, allowing our President the satisfaction of making a merit appointment.

I would like to end the column by quoting Richard: "Whether man is viewed as a fallen angel, as he was in the 14th century, ... or whether he is perceived in the 20th century as a risen ape, the need for an ordered society remains."

In my next column I will deal with the issue of whether man is a fallen angel or a risen ape. I hope to have the following guest writers: "Black Whit" Goit representing the risen ape point of view and Ron Schram writing on behalf of fallen angels. Bye.

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