LETTERS

The White House Elaborates

Many thanks for alerting me to the brewing controversy surrounding Richard Desmond's base hit in the May 17, 1948, Yale-Dartmouth baseball game ["The Day George Bush Missed the Ball," March],

When it comes to important matters like college baseball, I have a pretty good memory. Our team in 1948 was special, and I do recall this game in particular. During the play in question, I remember lunging for Desmond's hit, but then I realized that I could not stop the hotshot cleanly. So I rounded back toward first base, hoping another Eli could scoop up the ball and make a play to first. Fortunately, we had a big enough lead that the run scored off Desmond's hit did not jeopardize our victory even with my worse than usual 0 for 4.

I appreciate your interest in getting my side of the story, and I hope that this helps to set the record straight. Barbara joins me in sending best wishes.

Washington, D.C.

Mr Bush addressed his letter to our intern, Jonathan Douglas' 92, who wrote ourstory on the game. The White House gaveus permission to publish.

Rancorous Biz

Robert Sullivan '75 ["The Higher-Ed Book Biz," Summer] has written what is probably the most rancorous book review I have ever read on Charles Sykes's The Hollow Men, a book that is sharply critical of higher education in general, with prominent mention of Dartmouth. Sullivan also has harsh words for those alumni who are not entirely enthusiastic about the way Dartmouth is being run.

Although Sullivan in fact recommends reading the book, few would want to after reading a review which belittles the book and never comes to grips with its arguments. This is too bad, because higher education is in such a crisis that everyone concerned about the College should read not only The Hollow Men but Dinesh D'Souza's Illiberal Education and all the other books reviewed in the summer issue.

Sullivan is a good enough writer to know that righteous indignation doesn't go down very well with most readers, though it is a mode of communication that plays well at the political extremes. He tries to lighten up his piece by affecting a breezy manner, and by frankly admitting it to be a diatribe.

That it indeed is-he repeatedly refers to alumni critics as "Wahoo Yahoos." In Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Yahoos were a filthy race of brutes having the form and all the vices of man. Sullivan also refers to these alumni as Victorians who seek an all-male, all white, Christian Camelot-a not very subtle accusation of backwardness, stupidity, and prejudice. Isn't this the same old political correctness stuff, sneering at difference of opinion?

The Dartmouth Alrnimi Magazine must be unique in its willingness to gratuitously offend potential donors to the College. From my point of view, there has been too much nasty stuff of both sides, and the collegial spirit has suffered. Now, what one man may see as hard-hitting argument another may see as a low blow, so differences will always exist, but surely the level of debate can be brought up a little.

The Ernest Martin Hopkins Institute has sought to raise a public debate on issues affecting higher education. That debate is now underway, as shown by the many books and magazine and newspaper articles being published, as well as coverage in broadcast media.

We are planning an on-campus program which we hope will contribute to intellectual diversity. For example, Professor Jeff Hart '51 will speak on what an education is and how to get one at Dartmouth, and we hope to bring Dinesh D'Souza '83 and the flamboyent Duke Professor Stanley Fish to debate "Illiberal Education."

The focus of our programs will be on regaining academic ethics and integrity, restoring Socratic method to classrooms where propaganda has intruded, and supporting the College as a place for the transmission of culture and the search for truth, rather than a place for the inculcation of dogma.

We hope to broaden our support by offering alumni a positive way to advance their values. We have applied for, and have obtained, College recognition as an organization of alumni working in the best interest of the College.

To our knowledge, ours is a unique undertaking.

We welcome the ideas and support of all Dartmouth graduates and others in this effort.

Maynard, Massachusetts

Mr. Modahl is chairman of the ErnestMartin Hopkins Institute.

Robert Sullivan several times uses the derogatory term "Wahoo Yahoos." That term most apparently refers to anyone who is even slightly to the right of the author.Or perhaps anyone who disagrees with him.

The writer should know he can't convince people to agree with him by calling them names. Or even respect him.

It is a matter of some surprise that the highly respected Alumni Magazine would allow such name-calling in one of its articles. Maybe it's because the author is a contributing editor. Shame on those involved!

Spofford, New Hampshire

The summer issue is your best and bravest to date. "The Higher-Ed Book Biz" calls it as it is in elegant English. Bob Sullivan's closing five sentences were just right. Perfect, in fact.

And, in addition: Timothy Burger's excellent, beautifully written, eminently tair cover-in-depth of Dinesh D'Souza. D'Souza's achievements at 30—or any age-are of a national, major importance. The College must, or should, be proud of him. On the other hand, Illiberal Education is a devastating expose of certain academic obsessions that have made Dartmouth, and other once-fine colleges, almost unrecognizable. What a dilemma for Parkhurst Hall.

Hanover, New Hampshire

Mr. Sullivan generally applies the word "polemic" to work by both Charles J. Sykes and Page Smith (damned as "a pretty good book"). Surely the same word applies to the tripe Sullivan includes in his "review."

In true yellow journalistic fashion Sullivan picks out whatever he considers chaff and damns it (figuratively) as "'whining or a kind of mean-spiritedness. He apparently enjoys taking cheap shots at everything his small liberal mind fails to understand. His "review" grades out as ho-hum (yawn).

Cedarburg, Wisconsin

"As if we all don't care for it as deeply, and all want to see it get past this current strife."

Calling alumni "Wahoo Yahoos" is about as intelligent a way to get past this current strife as the diatribe is an intelligent discussion of a serious subject.

I can only hope that the editors put this drivel next to the D'Souza article as a way to show off its childishness.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

First, thank you for revealing, through selected authors, the new intellectual and philosophical thinking behind the NEW DARTMOUTH.

Robert Sullivan pained me with his "Wahoo Yahoo" characterization. I have been entertained by the scurrilous Review, because of its impudent stand against liberal bias and trashing of our anachronistic traditions.

I can't understand why he didn't devote one sentence to the hilarious Poisoned Ivy, which reported the genesis of the Review.

Doesn't anyone laugh at undergraduate efforts to adjust to their perception of unfairness anymore?

Mean-spiritedness tends to flourish when unfairness becomes the standard procedure.

Sonoma, California

Poisoned Ivy, written by Ben Hart '81,was published in 1984. We had asked Mr.Sullivan to review recent books.

Enterprising Journalism

Robert Sullivan is distressed that a Dartmouth Review reporter "called a College health officer, feigned distress about her sex life, got the administrator's sympathetic and graphic advice on tape, and published the transcript. The Review calls this journalism. Others would call it a setup, a sting."

I wonder how he feels about:

• Alocal consumer-protection agency doctors a car engine so it requires a simple, inexpensive repair, then takes it to a number of mechanics to see what their diagnosis, prescription, and bill are.

• A local human-rights commission sends matched black and white couples posing as homebuyers to various realtors to see if they get steered to different areas.

• The National Urban League sends matched black and white pretend jobseekers to a lot of companies to see if they're treated equally.

I think all four are enterprising efforts to get at the truth-and isn't that what a university is supposed to be all about?

Norwood, Massachusetts

Naming the Devil

In his article on the brilliant conservative thinker Dinesh D'Souza'83 ["Beyond Black and White," summer], Timothy J. Burger '88 quotes Morton Kondracke '60, of modest New Republic and "McLaughlin Group" fame, states that Air. D'Souza lacks "political maturity."

I find this comment both intellectually barren and faintly amusing at the same time since it pinpoints so well Mr. Kondracke's own lack of political honesty. Kondracke finds in D'Souza the courage and strength to name the devil and then criticizes his doing so, most assuredly because Air. Kondracke has never been able to find the courage to confront or challenge (left wing or right wing) in a consistent, straightfoward manner. In defense of Mr. Kondracke, perhaps this type of action is a requirement for association with the New Republic.

I will certainly purchase Mr. D'Souza's book at once anyone who recognizes and exposes James O. Freedman as "the Al Sharpton of Academia" will receive whatever support I can provide to promote his thinking and ideas for the future of this country as well as Dartmouth College.

Cedarburg, Wisconsin

We're Looking For Life Changes

The editors of this magazine are considering a story on the most interesting career changes made by alumni. Have you made a great switch, or know of someone who did? We're looking for the best anecdotes, the most telling stories that say something about alumni and the times. Please mail them to the editor, or fax them to 603/646-1209.

Glass Con

In the summer "Dartmouth Undying" you show a picture of a chain gang in convict suits. Is this the class of 1919 at its fifth or tenth reunion?

Needham, Massachusetts

Close: it's the class of 1920, in town forthe Commencement of the class of 1923.

Young alumni used to come back for graduation, presumably to give the seniors a foretaste of the wide wide world. In the August1923 issue of this magazine, WilliamMcCarter'l9 described the Commencementceremonies of the day as "loved and timehonored, but it is for a senior class of seriousyoung men to listen to their serious youngclassmates give voice to serious words of welcome and expressions of aspiration, whilethe alumni, temporarily disguised aspirates,convicts, or jockeys, or merely in nondescriptcostume of excellent and greatly-to-be-de-sired tan sweaters, disport themselves withmarches, countermarches, and hostly-con-tested baseball games."

Beardless Santa

The death of Professor Matthew Wysocki on July 10 was a loss deeply felt by all those who knew him. The greatness of his contribution to the arts at Dartmouth and elsewhere leaves us in his debt.

Each holiday season he would quietly present to my wife and myself a shopping bag of carefully wrapped toys for our three children. The gifts were unusual, and reflected the great care he had taken in their selection. I sometimes found myself wondering where he had obtained them.

One Christmas, when our son Ben was about five, Matt arrived at our door for a holiday feast bearing his seasonal bag of gifts. With his blue eyes and white hair he cut an imposing figure. After dinner Ben took me aside and said, "Dad, I think I know who Mr. Wysocki really is." "And who is that?" I asked. "He's Santa Claus. He just isn't wearing his beard."

Canaan, New Hampshire

Zoo Too

It was interesting to read about the non-stereotypical outcomes from nonstereotypical Dartmouth students in the May issue ["The Blue Zoo"]. However, I don't see why the Blue Zoo was singled out. Other off-campus institutions such as the Rock where I lived are just as exceptional. An analysis of outcomes for graduates of all resident-off-campus students would be interesting.

Sargent Rock '85-'87 Kingston Beach, Australia

Wrong Newport

Now that I'm in Newport, I'm very mystified to note that the College owns 598 acres here—a lot of land in this town! ["An Out-O'-Doors Omnibus," Winter.] Could you possibly tell me:

• the address of the property?

• Is it presently inhabited (by humans)?

• Can I walk my dog there?

• Does it need a caretaker? (I could be interested, especially given the cost of renting here!)

I'm guessing that the reference is to the Norman Bird Sanctuary in nearby Middletown, Rhode Island - it's the kind of thing Dartmouth would own. But that's just a stab. Any info would be appreciated (and on the Key West holdings, since I might well be stationed there someday too).

Newport, Rhode Island

Boy, did we fall down on this one. The"Newport" holdings turn out to be 598 acresin New Port Rickey, Florida. Half of it is"submerged," according to our sources, and40 percent is mangrove swamp. We wouldn reccrmmend walking your dog there. Ourapologies for the error.

The President sets the record straight on agame he played at Dartmouth in 1948.