Letters

QUOTE/UNQUOTE “Unless prosperity is widely distributed, among Americans, almost everyone in this country is ultimately endangered.” BOB CASEY ’76

Trading Places

I SELDOM LIKE OPINION PIECES BUT write in response to Professor Irwin’s [“Trade, Jobs and Politics,” July/Aug]. Here at last is someone who knows about the world economy and our political social work. His explanation of trade, jobs and politics is simple and accurate.

Even better, he makes his case pleasantly. He seems to understand the eternal political attraction of protectionism, and to tolerate those who live off its catchy phrases. Because my own tolerance departed years ago, I particularly admire his.

At a time when proponents of free trade and trade expansion appear to be losing the national debate, it is a joy to discover a wise man in Hanover. Thanks for publishing his article.

McLean, Virginia

IRWIN’S ARTICLE ARGUES THAT FREE trade creates more jobs for Americans than it loses. If that were true, America would not run huge trade deficits.

States than to other countries. Then he cheerfully goes on to cite as examples: "legal work, computer programming, engineering, and management consulting.' Well, aren't we Ivy League! Our upscale livelihoods can't be lost to low-wage countries—or can they? There's a growing trend of outsourcing high-end service sector work as well. The X-rays from your last hospital visit might have been interpreted by a radiologist working for low wages in Pakistan. Your software might be designed and serviced in Bombay. Irwin says more high-end service sector work is outsourced to the United

Even work that can be performed only in the United States is jeopardized. Consider three examples: law practice, health care and construction. Much of this is inherently local work. But demand and ability to pay for these services depends upon a stable, prosperous local economy. Unless prosperity is widely distributed among Americans, almost everyone in this country is ultimately endangered.

Portland, Oregon

Seniority

THE SENIOR OPINION SURVEY ["Seniority," July/Aug] brought cheer to my heart: 88 percent wanting to do good; 80 percent choosing little pay for something they love; 61 percent Democrat; 80 percent for Kerry vs. 5 percent for Bush.

As a retiree I chose to join the Services Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and International Executive Service Corps (IESC) and went to Africa twice with SCORE and to Armenia with lESC. If anyone wants more information I'll be glad to advise.

Easthamp ton, Massachusetts

YOUR SENIOR SURVEY PRESENTS AN interesting perspective on the attitudes of the graduating class. At a time when the College strives valiantly to assure a proper diversity in the student body, I was struck by the lack thereof in attitudes toward political parties and presidential candidates. The two major political parties have approximately equal numbers of adherents nationwide and the two major presidential candidates are about tied in polls. Yet DAM's survey indicates that the Dartmouth class of 2004 is aligned about 4 to 1 toward the Democratic Party and favors John Kerry by 16 to 1.

It would be interesting to discover whether this lopsided political orientation results from the choices made by the admissions office or was the result of four years of Dartmouth education.

Brookfield, Vermont

I EXPECTED A KERRY LANDSLIDE, but 80 to 5 is so lopsided as to make me think that the educational experience borders on brainwashing.

Oxford, Maryland

AS I READ THE RESULTS OF THE Senior survey I anticipated that those who took issue with the anti-Bush faculty opinions reported in Jan/Feb will now write to blame a lack of diversity among the faculty for the students' views.

As a biology professor I suspect both results partially reflect the dissatisfaction of scientists—faculty and studentswith the widespread efforts by the Bush administration to undermine the scientific process underlying policy decisions. From global climate change and stem cell research to effects of snowmobiles in Yellowstone and research on sexually transmitted diseases, this administration twists science to match its own political agenda.

Bush has filled advisory panels that had a history of being objective and nonpartisan with political cronies. He often uses the term "sound science" to justify decisions made for purely political reasons. It's not surprising that we teachers have a "negative impression" of President Bush.

Reno, Nevada

Unreal Estate

I GREATLY ENJOYED THE INTERVIEW with David Brown '76 about his modest living circumstances ["Continuing Ed," July/Aug], He has clearly escaped the United States dictum that "stuffwill make you happy." Indeed, he observes, "Measurements of happiness are inversely related to wealth."

Unfortunately, the piece reminded me of one of the problems I encountered at Dartmouth as an undergraduate: class divisions between the have-a-lots and the have-damn-littles—a discrepancy echoed by the real estate ad facing the Brown interview. Perhaps DAM could cultivate a stronger sense of irony.

Clinton, New York

Open Minded

I WAS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED by the vitriol ["Letters," July/Aug] regarding the interview with Bill Asher ’84 ["Continuing Ed," May/June]. It was very interesting for me to read about someone who has made moral and career choices that few of us would ever consider. Is he worse than so many of the Wall Street wizards who have cost millions of people their savings and pensions? I'll leave the judgment on his moral choices to God. The Bible is full of similar stories about people who have made bad choices. We don't criticize the authors and publishers of the Bible for their words.

Coral Springs, Florida

Pale Green

Your "Fanning the Flames" item ["Campus," Mar/Apr] wonders why student attendance is poor at Dartmouth sporting events. The answer is very simple: Very few people are interested in cheering for a loser.

It takes money to develop winning teams. Ours have been squeezed and starved for so long they risk having terminal anemia. As long as the athletic department is such a low priority, Dartmouth will field losers. The same issue of DAM points out that in the last five years Dartmouth's total budget has increased by 55 percent. I wonder how much the budget for athletics in-(orde-) creased in the same period?

Sao Bras delAlportel, Portugal

Big Mac

I HATE TO THINK WHAT "JOHN G." (Kemeny) would make of the fact that the College actually began a three-year migration to Windows for all administrative computing on campus in January 2002 ["The Great Disconnect," May/June], six months before I finally switched to a Mac after years of misery, first on DOS then Windows in different guises. Then there's the rise of spam/ virus-related problems associated with my Dartmouth e-mail account ever since Dartmouth went Windows.

I do comfort myself that, thanks to the Mac, I no longer feel like a computer imbecile despite my Dartmouth education. John G. could only be pleased.

Paris, France

Mixed History

THANK YOU FOR PUBLISHING "Mixed Company" [May/)une]. As someone who spent four years living in Dartmouth residence halls that were completely coed, it was hard to imagine that the idea of coed dorms was once such a controversial subject. Perhaps it should not have been so "unthinkable." During my senior year, 20 years after the events recounted by Dr. Gross, a similar issue came to the forefront in response to which the behavior of some students was strikingly similar to that described by Gross.

His neighbor in Russell Sage, who called him a "Wellesley faggot" (hereinafter referred to as the WF guy) could easily have been, a member of my class confronting the Student Assembly president who proposed in his 1992 convocation speech that all fraternities and sororities go coed.

While is it nice to see that Gross is now contributing to society as a physician, the more interesting (and less predictable) story would be to see what the WF guy amounted to and how he would reflect on his past behavior. Perhaps he too is now raising a daughter with hopes of her attending Dartmouth and living in Russell Sage, or perhaps he is still a staunch believer in his convictions and has vowed never to donate a red cent to his alma mater.

Jersey City, New Jersey

THE EARLYYEARS OF COEDUCATION were often cruel. That women suffered merciless psychological assaults can hardly be doubted. I observed the bullying cretins of the sort who harassed Paul Gross, but it is confusing how he might have been "a target, an outcast" on a campus that so overwhelmingly favored coeducation.

I was among those who believed (quite misguidedly, as I later understood) that Dartmouth should remain all male. While I was never physically threatened for my views, I always knew mine was the minority position.

I don't mean to diminish whatever discomfort Paul experienced, but I do question whether the articles subtitle, "men welcomed women at their own risk," is historically accurate. Readers who look to DAM for a sense of the past should know that such an observation is as misleading as it is melodramatic.

Wilton, Connecticut

Worth 1,000 Words

I WONDER IF OTHER READERS Recall the intriguing early painting by Theodor Geisel ["What's Under The Hood?" Mar/Apr] on the magazines cover in 1975. Then, the painting was plainly labeled The Rape of the SabineWoman, although the Hood Museum database says Women. According to Charles D. Cohens The Seuss, The WholeSeuss and Nothing But The Seuss, the painting is a parody of a 1583 statue by Giambologna called The Rape of theSabine Woman.

Geisel painted this 30-square-foot canvas in the early 1930s to hang behind the bar in the New York Dartmouth Club. When the club was being refurbished, the painting was stored in an alumnus' basement in New Jersey and forgotten for years. Since it is damaged, the painting is shown now only to select faculty and students. One hopes it will be restored for all to enjoy.

Walnut Creek, California

Write to Us We welcome letters. The editor reserves the right to determine the suitability of letters for publication and to edit them for accuracy and length. We regret that all letters cannot be published, nor can they be returned. Letters should run no more than 200 words in length, refer to material published in the magazine and include the writer's full name, address and telephone number. Write: Letters, Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, 7 Allen Street, Suite 201, Hanover, NH 03755 E-mail: DAMletters@dartmouth.edu Fax: (603) 646-1209

We're Proud Congratulations to Washington Post reporter and DAM contributing editor Matthew Mosk '92, whose profile of Marine Lt. Nathaniel Fick '99 (Jan/Feb 2004) earned a silver medal in the Best Articles of the Year category of the 2004 Circle of Excellence Awards presented by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. In addition, the magazine won a gold medal as one of the best alumni magazines in its circulation category; this is the sixth gold medal won by the magazine in this category in the past 10 years.