January 2003			Utter Anxiety The Soul of Programming	E Line Sports Q&A Classes From the Field First-Person Letters Huskiana
		Platitudes and boosterism I do not understand why a university magazine would feel the need to run a cover story on “five reasons to have confidence in the stock market” [“Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Bear?” November]. The story did nothing but reiterate commonplace platitudes about investing (e.g., number 2: “In the long run, investing in stocks will always be better than stuffing your money under a mattress”; number 4: “If you build diversification, returns will come”). Readers gain no new insights here; the article merely adds noise to the daily din of market news and investing advice available through nearly every media outlet. Masquerading as analysis, the article is simply market boosterism that encourages—virtually pleads with—readers to invest. The magazine ought to stick to covering stories directly relevant to the university and its educational missions of teaching, research, and service. Rich Heyman, MA’94 Morris, Minnesota Let the market decide I very much enjoyed Michael Cottrill’s article “The Shadow Side of Accounting” [From the Field, November]. Though I agree in theory that the proactive steps he mentions are required to restore “investor reassurance and confidence,” I think it is unrealistic that they could ever be applied “to every American company and manager.” Perhaps a more effective solution would be to let the market do the policing. Companies could include in their annual reports a section called “Financial Statement Performance Criteria,” in which the incentive-compensation method used (NPV, IRR, BCR, Economic Value Added, and so on) is explained and displayed on a spreadsheet, akin to the P&L statement. This would allow potential stockholders to decide, on the basis of the incentive-compensation method a company has adopted, whether management is working for the long-term interest of the shareholder, or is just pursuing a short-term reward. Stephen McCabe, BA’83 La Jolla, California Wake-up call Unfortunately, the only gripping features of the November issue—aside from the always pertinent alumni deaths—were the advertisement for a London Theater Getaway and the constant reminders that we need to “get busy” and write to the magazine. Give me something substantive to get excited and busy about, and I’ll write you a letter every issue. I’m getting sleepy . . . Jeff Cutler, AS’88 Hingham, Massachusetts Not n-cognito What a pleasant surprise to find myself in the magazine! I played the piccolo in the 1938 band, featured in the “N-spiration” Huskiana [November]. (I’m in the far left column, second from the rear.) I was a freshman that year. I still remember the noon pep rally in front of Richards Hall the day before the Bates game. My wife, Barbara, whom I met five years later, confirms that this is how she remembers me. Thanks for the memories. I am going to frame this photo. I think my children and grandchildren will enjoy it. Phil Goodman, E’43, MA’49 St. George, Vermont