1976

We live on the side of a mountain that is honeycombed with old mine tunnels, dating from the days when Juneau was a major gold producer. A few years ago, a Canadian outfit made `some haphazard efforts to reopen the mine, but failed. They left behind an environmental mess. The creek that drains the mine runs (literally) through our backyard and provides our water supply. I was thus very pleased to learn that Christian Bjelland's company won the remediation contract. Earnest-looking engineers driving pickup tracks with large "Kvaerner" stickers have been running around town. Their efforts have been winning praise from Juneau's tough-to-please greenie community no small feat. I hope they will keep up the good work.

On the other end of the environmental spectrum, Mike Aylward has been appointed vice chair of the Insurance Law Committee of the Defense Research Institute, the nation's largest association of insurance defense lawyers. Mike specializes in defending insurance companies in litigation and claims disputes arising from environmental liability and toxic exposures "to asbestos, lead, and medical devices such as breast implants and heart valves." Mike is a partner in a Boston law firm.

Dr. Ken Monteiro, triumphing again in the byzantine world of academic politics, was appointed dean for human relations at San Francisco State University. Ken's role includes managing the university's affirmative action program, mediation and conflict management, and "program development concerning the diversity of human relations and their improvement." Ken has been in touch with Bai-Maas Tal and hopes to visit Ousmane N'Dao in Senegal this summer. He reports that KenNorman is now a Superior Court commissioner in Oakland, Calif. Ken saw GaryLove and Pam Joyner Love recently and says they are doing well.

Dr. Joel Goldfield was profiled in the Connecticut papers for his pioneering work with technology and language teaching. Joel has been active in the development and use of software to facilitate language learning. Joel is the director of Fairfield University's Culpepper Language Resource Center and the Rassias Institute for Language Studies. Joel and spouse Iris Bork-Goldfield (also a professor at Fairfield University) have two children, Julian 7 and Miriam 4.

Corey Bock has finished graduate school at the University of Washington in Seattle and at last report was diving back into the work force. Any class members with leads on interesting jobs for a former financial journalist now equipped with an M.P.A. are encouraged to contact Corey at .

Louise Erdrich's new book, TheAntelope Wife, is extraordinary. It was published in the wake of Michael Dorris' death (although written before), and was described by one reviewer as a "story of complicated, dangerous love" culminating in a tragic suicide. Jack Kent '50 kindly sent me the text of Louise's Convocation address, given at the College last fall, shortly after Michael's death. I leave you with her words:

"I want to say to you things that only can be said in Ojibwa, a language my late husband, Michael Dorris, taught me to appreciate. I dearly hope you learn here in the fullest way and lead a good life, a life of kindness, challenge, vision, and consideration. The beauty of the road lies partly in its difficulty, just as most scenic roads traverse the roughest terrain. You walk in others' tracks and leave tracks as well. Make them straight, keep your paths true, for these tracks will forever show the character of your passage. Live well, in blessings." Thanks to all who sent news. Drop a line to:

957 Gold Belt Ave., Juneau, AK 99801 (907) 586-4000;