Letters

QUOTE/UNQUOTE "Most suicides are die result of failure to receive treatment for mental discorders that seriously impair rational thinking. More attention to this aspect of Bryan Randall's story would have been helpful." —DAN ROMER '69

Covering Randall

MANY WILL WONDER WHY YOU PUT Matthew Mosks sad story of Bryan Randall '88 on your cover ["Coming Undone," Jan/Feb]. I'll hope your article prevents similar tragedies.

One of my tasks as a psychiatrist is prevention of suicide and homicide. When I read a story such as this I think of the possible places for intervention. The first time you start thinking about violence to yourself or others, and it doesn't immediately repel you, go get help. Many middle- and upper-class people may not be aware—and pride and life expectations may get in the way—but there are many resources out there to help.

This is how Bryan Randall's note for his 20th reunion (2008) could have been written: "Sorry I can't make the reunion, but I'm a single dad raising four kids (12, 10, 8 and 6). I've had some real rough times but some good friends, my family and my church have helped me out."

The other issue this article raises is the anger, dismay and inability to memorialize a friend who has died so violently. Two of Bryan's kids survived that horrible day. I wonder if there's something the teammates could do for them. Another reason to have put this article on the cover.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

IT TOOK GREAT COURAGE TO Publish the article about Bryan Randall. It mentions the point in his life where he "sought salvation...in basketball." It is sad that a man with his potential for goodness came to this end. It is even sadder that Bryan's Dartmouth experience did nothing to help him find a real path to salvation. Is it possible that the College will awake to the need for spiritual leadership? Has the College adopted trophy faculty, endowment and physical plant as our only yardsticks of success? When our bodies return to dust, will there be anything Green in our eternal souls? In attempting to serve too many masters have we neglected to serve God?

Silver Lake, Ohio

"COMING UNDONE" WAS A FORCEful reminder of how we must work at nurturing the deep friendships we make at Dartmouth. Bill Zarchy's "Googling David" was the perfect companion piece. They command me to take responsibility for maintaining the wonderful friendships I made at Dartmouth, while it's still not too late. It's an important lesson.

Newton, Massachusetts

MATTHEW MOSK'S ARTICLE ABOUT Bryan Randall, although well written, troubled me because—as a retired psychoanalyst—I felt more empathy would have been appropriate than was evidenced by describing his actions as "an incom- prehensible binge of self pity." No one knows what wild feelings and fantasies, perhaps of psychotic proportions, were swirling in his mind in those last few minutes. Since we don't know, I think we should strive to avoid deprecation and try to be understanding.

New York City

YOUR COVER STORY ABOUT BRYAN Randall was unsettling for many reasons, but two in particular stand out. To place a story on the cover about a graduate who committed murder-suicide is certainly a departure from the DAM s typical practice of highlighting the successes of the Colleges programs and students. That such a departure should occur in the case of an African American is a decision that could well have been reconsidered. I am sure there are many alumni who have committed suicide and Some who have even taken others' lives.

As the director of the Adolescent Risk Center Communication Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, I also have a concern rooted in the poor handling of Mr. Randall's suicide. Recent national recommendations for the reporting of suicide encourage journalists to avoid the sensational aspects of such acts and to focus on the important role that psychiatric disorder plays in this unfortunate outcom (see www.afsp.org ). Most suicides, and in all likelihood Mr. Randall's, are the result of failure to receive treatment for mental disorders that seriously impair rational thinking. Men are particularly prone to resist seeking help for such conditions as major depression, and this places them at greater risk. More attention to this aspect of Bryan Randall's story would have been helpful.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

WHILE CLASSMATES, FRIENDS AND family will forever ponder the "what-ifs" of Bryan Randall's tragic situation, I find it hard to believe that your article cast any new light for them on the sad end to this young mans life and his destruction of his family. For those who never knew Bryan the sensationalism seemed needless.

I am usually intrigued and enlightened by the articles in DAM, but I would not give a hint of a rouse for this article.

Greenwich, Connecticut

WHATISTHEPOINTOFTHEARTICLE on Mr. Randall? That a Dartmouth alumnus became a psychotic [expletive deleted]? If this is supposed to be a cautionary tale, please spare me. The mainstream press pummels us with this daily.

Mechanicsville, Virginia

THE STORY OF BRYAN RANDALL IS tragic, to be sure. However, I am unable to comprehend how it belongs in DAM—let alone on the cover. Stories of the many wonderful, talented and well-directed students, alumni and faculty in the Dartmouth community who do great things and make meaningful, unselfish and inspiring contributions to the world around them are the ones that belong in DAM and on its cover.

Newton, Massachusetts

Classic Case

JOHN MARTIN'S ESSAY ["A CLASSIC Tale," Jan/Feb] hits the nail on the head with reference to the essentials of a proper liberal arts education.

Columbia University has retained its famous classics course for decades in spite of the pressure toward politically correct and trendy curricular change in its brother institutions.

It's a shame that Dartmouth does not make a course like this one mandatory for all of its students. We should certainly strongly consider doing so. Moreover, it's a pity that "Great Issues" was abandoned decades ago. This was a course that established intellectual bonding in our senior year and an awareness of a global view well before other schools accentuated crossover curricula.

A return to the fundamentals of a fine liberal arts education is in order, and curricular reform should proceed with an eye toward the universality of the human experience without the fractionation into groups that has dominated the past three decades.

New York City

Al Things Considered

I VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE REmembrances of Al McGuire ["The Professional," Nov/Dec] from many of my classmates. Each of us who came into contact with McGuire realized that this was a special blessing for us.

The epiphanies for me as manager of the freshman team were away games. Most memorable was the trip to Burlington, Vermont, to play UVM. McGuire believed strongly in giving the boys a meal four hours before game time, then imposing a three-hour rest period. As the players went off to study after eating, McGuire took me to see Rebel Without a Cause. After the closing credits, as we searched for a coffee shop, McGuire became animated and I became mesmerized James Dean, his rebelling spirit and his tragic end, triggered in McGuire broad generalizations about how a young man should find his way through life.

A half hour later as I ran around the floor collecting basketballs and the team gathered around the young coach for final instructions, I found myself realizing that finding mentors—not having experiences—was the key to becoming oneself in a complicated world.

Palo Alto, California

Study In Contrast

DR. IRA BYOCK SUCCORS THE Dying and their families ["lnterview," Nov/Dec]; Dinesh D'Souza ["Harpooning a Liberal," Nov/Dec]harpoons liberals for fun and profit. The former acts selflessly, to illuminate and enrich the human condition for all of us. The latter acts selfishly and divisively, in the manner of Captain Ahab, to sink us all (or, at least, roughly half of us; although which half depends upon ones point of view). Call me Ishmael, but in my mind there is no question as to which is the greater exemplar. Thank you for your juxtaposition of these two leading individuals during a season for thanks- giving, celebration and reflection.

Palo Alto, California

Ultimate Giveaway

I HAVE NOT GIVEN AWAY $45 MlLlion like Zell Kravinsky '75, but I am one of the other 150 or so altruistic kidney donors ["How to Give Even More of Yourself," Nov/Dec]. Going against the wishes of your loved ones need not be part of the process. My doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital would not allow me to donate until my family supported my decision. I could not have recovered so quickly from the procedure—I missed only four days of work—without the support of my wife and my dad, Joel Sternman '65.

Altruism to a stranger need not conflict with one's familial obligations.

Boston, Massachusetts

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