In memoriam
I hope the magazine is planning on more of a tribute to Jerry Causey than merely the death notice in the [summer 2008] edition. Jerry contributed greatly to DU as an outstanding baseball player, basketball player, assistant baseball coach and director (unofficially if not officially) of many student intramural activities. He is one of the very few talented enough to have been drafted in three professional sports (baseball, basketball and football). And, most of all, Jerry was a wonderful human being.
Steve Shaffer (BSBA ’72)
Littleton, Colo.
Earth issue
I am so pleased and impressed with the “Earth Issue” [summer 2008] of the University of Denver Magazine. It’s so relevant to the reality that exists in our environment and lives and future possibilities. Although I graduated from Colorado Women’s College in Denver and mourned its passing, I have been greatly comforted by the inclusion at DU. My brother did graduate from DU, however, so maybe that closes the loop. I loved Denver when I was there in the early ’50s. Such a beautiful city and crisp, clean air. Fifty-six years later, during a recent visit, the growth and change was alarming. May all your efforts help stem the tide of humanity’s reckless drive down the freeway of life.
Beverly Foedisch Lee (CWC ’51)
College Place, Wash.
I want to compliment you on the “Earth Issue” of the DU magazine. My only disappointment was that you did not take the opportunity to fully address energy issues. You did have one small print referral to your online magazine for a short, but accurate, article on the renewed interest in nuclear power in the U.S. [“New Life for Nuclear Power“]. My only addition to the article would have been to note that the U.S. is only one of about 30 nations currently expanding their nuclear power programs. The nuclear renaissance is really global, involving multinational companies and international collaboration among safety authorities.
Paul Dickman (BA ’75)
Chief of Staff, Office of the Chairman
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, D.C.
I must commend you on a truly magnificent issue. I was really impressed by all the articles relating to the earth. Perhaps “The People Problem” was the best, and I enjoyed the essay [“On the nature of creation“] by Chelsey Baker-Hauck.
Frank Swancara Jr. (BA ’57)
Cedaredge, Colo.
I especially enjoyed Robert Hardaway’s “Top 10 little known facts about gas prices,” as I was on Conoco’s speakers’ bureau during the oil embargo in the ’70s. Our message then was that this country needed a national energy policy to encourage domestic production and increased refinery capacity if we were to lessen our dependence on foreign oil.
G.D. Christman (BSBA ’64)
Billings, Mont.
Going green
Your summer 2008 edition was a fine and timely publication. Thank you. I’d like to correct a mistake in the Top News article. The article says the proposed addition of solar panels to Cherrington Hall would be the University’s first solar arrays. Not so. DU’s Meyer-Womble Observatory high atop Mount Evans has used solar power since 1997 — funded in part by the Renewable Energy Trust- — nearly eliminating the need for fossil-fuel-derived electricity for more than a decade. We collect sunlight all day so we can collect starlight all night. We’re pleased to see additional photovoltaic applications finally reaching the campus and would also like to see improved outdoor lighting methods around campus, and beyond, that reduce energy waste, glare and sky glow-all too visible from Mount Evans.
Robert Stencel
Womble Professor of Astronomy
University of Denver
Water woes
I find it ironic that the University of Denver would publish an article [“Running Dry,” summer 2008] about the scarce water resources in Colorado, and the Front Range in particular, considering that the University itself wastes large amounts of water on the vast and generally unused lawns that cover much of the campus. One might defend these lawns, perhaps pointing out that the type of grass used doesn’t require as much as most other varieties used on American lawns, yet I would still see sprinklers watering these lawns almost daily as I walked through campus. When I approached the University’s facilities department, I was told that under the threat of losing the continued support of a wealthy donor, the University would not consider switching to low-water-use landscaping. Whether or not this is in fact the case, the University of Denver’s regressive water policies are still disappointing. Universities should be at the forefront of thinking, employing new technologies and ideas to address ongoing and future problems. I hope that, in light of the recent Water Futures Panel that was held on the well-watered DU campus, the University will start to take some of its own water conservation advice, starting by transforming the majority of the campus lawns.
Leah Berry (MA ’07)
Washington, D.C.
Gender identity policy
I always thought there were only two genders: male and female. However, after reading the article on “New policy covers gender identity and expression” in the summer 2008 DU magazine, there must be more. Apparently there is a new category, transgendered, which is meaningless to most unsophisticated folks like me. Sounds like I need some sensitivity training — Mao Zedong referred to it as “correct thinking” — or I might accidentally use the wrong pronoun when addressing someone.
Unfortunately, DU has succumbed to this absurd, repressive political correctness that is sweeping college campuses. By considering gender-neutral bathrooms, expanded gender categories and gender diversity education, the administration is caving in to militant and confused young people who want to promote their deviant behavior. DU administrators can incorporate this nonsense into their nondiscrimination policies, and I can stop giving to the University.
Igor Shpudejko (MBA ’77)
Mahwah, N.J.
Well, DU, you just couldn’t wait to join Eastern and California universities in their drive to the ultimate “politically correct” position. Sexual orientation is a private and personal matter. I don’t want to hear about your proclivities along these lines, and you won’t hear about mine! But that is not good enough for those outside the male/female mainstream. Their deviation must be shouted out in laws (state) and policies (yours) and gay pride parades! I have hired many people in my 60 odd years in industry and maybe some were transgender. If so, they kept it to themselves as they should have. To wind this up, I, as a “creative and entrepreneurial individual” to quote Chancellor Robert Coombe, cannot tolerate the drift toward mass acceptance of regimentation implied in the new “green religion” based on unproven models and assumptions. Disasters, bankruptcy and regimentation await us as this course is followed.
Kenneth Bradford (BA ’53)
Littleton, Colo.
Liberal indoctrination
I was saddened but not surprised to read the caption under a picture of the DU Update section [page 9] of the summer 2008 edition. The caption explains that a dozen DU students participated in the Denver Urban Immersion Program (DUIP), and that among other things, DU students painted graffiti. After reviewing the DU Web site to learn more about the DUIP, I believe it is a fine example of the pervasive, unchecked liberalism infecting American universities today. May I suggest DU shorten the title of the program from “DUIP” to “Liberal Indoctrination 101.” The program description reads, “Experiential learning around the topics of: poverty, homelessness, public education, gentrification, industry-polluted neighborhoods, and graffiti as development of a public voice.” It appears DUIP taught DU students and homeless teenagers that graffiti is justified and being homeless is a failure of society. I vociferously protest the objectives of this course and the blatant politics behind it. A worthwhile program for all that were involved would have been to send the students to help the homeless teens find jobs, pursue education or constructively benefit their community. Graffiti is not a legitimate form of public voice. Mayor John Hickenlooper has characterized graffiti as “disrespect for the law.” Graffiti is vandalism and it costs the city of Denver more than $1 million a year to remove from public buildings and private property. Further, graffiti is a blight on the city and is linked to gangs, drugs and violence. The DUIP graffiti contains my alma mater’s name and crossed out images of the president of the United States. This is not the direction I want for DU.
Brian Greene (JD ’04)
Katy, Texas
The “people problem” and much more [summer 2008]. Who has been stealing my university? Each issue of the University of Denver Magazine clearly demonstrates the school’s move to the left. Rather than mince words, simply tell us you embrace socialism, or perhaps a totalitarian society. DU’s apparent willingness to side with trendy, yet harmful, views is disheartening. How does the Bible fit in with DU these days? So, move forward with your worldly agenda. Keep cars off the road, produce fewer people, assist those who want to die (unborn don’t qualify since they can’t speak), redistribute wealth, censor under the guise of intolerance (are you intolerant of my opinion?) and ignore the Emperor’s new clothes. Momentum is on your side. Seize the moment. Live with the consequences.
Craig Watson (MBA ’85)
San Diego
Correction
A number of readers wrote to correct the caption that ran on page 51 of the summer 2008 issue. The building pictured under construction was actually the Kappa Sigma house, not the Lambda Chi Alpha house as we had stated. The Beta Theta Pi house was pictured to the left.