Dishonorable Degree
After perusing your March issue, I believe it's
unmistakable that the university and your publication intend to be identified
with the Democratic Party and its political participants ["Co-oping
with the Clintons," Talk of the Gown]. The party, more correctly identified
as "Hypocrats," makes me question the thinking of the university.
The university takes pride in having granted an honorary degree to William
Clinton, the first lying pervert to occupy the Oval Office. Maybe Monica
Lewinsky will be honored next commencement.
Please remove my name from your mailing list.
F. Colley, MBA'68
Arlington, Massachusetts
The Consequences of Clinton
Full appreciation for President Clinton and what he has done may be
realized only after the mushroom cloud rises over Back Bay. But the economy
is great!
Bob Ristom, E'61
Lewisville, Texas
From 1963 through 1973 I was enrolled in University College. During
this period, my only decent courses were in the business area, from professors
who worked in the private sector during the day. Without exception, the
liberal arts professors spoon-fed their own liberal point of view and penalized
all students who disagreed with them, no matter how well a different point
of view was presented. I quickly learned that in order to succeed, all
you had to do was use all the buzzwords that the professor used, even when
I did not agree with what was taught.
The school keeps raising tuition beyond the reach of middle-class families,
but there was enough money to pay the retired president a million-dollar
salary. Apparently, one of the primary requirements for employment is to
be a liberal Democrat politician such as Harshbarger or Dukakis. This money
could be better spent by hiring some conservative professors to present
a balance in the curriculum or by reducing tuition.
During the years that I have received the alumni magazine, my political
beliefs have rarely ever been addressed in any articles. Your mindless
support for Clinton has infuriated me. This man should be in jail, not
glorified by this magazine.
I am the father of two sons and a daughter in their twenties who are
all college graduates. Because of my own experience with Northeastern,
they were not given the option of applying for admission to your university.
You have chosen to be a bastion of liberalism. I have expressed my lack
of support by selecting other colleges. In addition, I have never recommended
this school to any of my many friends.
Daniel Pagliarulo Page, UC'68, UC'73
Wrentham, Massachusetts
In the Big League
I was delighted to read Daniel Penrice's article on N.U.'s business
school and its BS and MBA programs ["They Mean Business," March].
There are thousands of universities across the country offering similar
educational programs, but N.U.'s traditional strengths in "applied
theory" and the co-op offering make it a formidable competitor and
a very desirable choice. Specifically, the High-Tech MBA goes a long way
in promoting the program's uniqueness, identifying the practical needs
of the industry and reassuring the East Coast's Silicon Valley (Route 128
and beyond).
One note of discord-I was a little disappointed while reading about
MBA comparisons: " . . . MIT's Sloan School and Harvard Business School
are generally considered to play in a different league." I see no
reason to demote and delink N.U.'s MBA programs from the competition. From
personal experience, I can tell you that, worldwide, like it or not, N.U.
is invariably compared with MIT and Harvard as soon as I mention that it
is located in Boston (assuming, of course, that the individual is unaware
of N.U.).
Tushar J. Mehta
Bellevue, Washington
Art Appreciation
I understand Sam Bishop, associate professor of art, is about to retire
["Artifacts," March]. Thanks for the support and encouragement
you gave me in art fifteen years ago.
Pam Roberts, UC'84
Richmond, Virginia
Principles Before Publication
As a thirty-one-year continuously sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous
and a graduate of N.U. in the '50s, I am thoroughly disappointed with both
Northeastern University Alumni Magazine and John Gedney for the article in the
January issue ["From Skid Row to Huntington Avenue"]. The word
"anonymous" means just that. The traditions of AA include the
statement, "Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all of our traditions,
ever reminding us to place principles before personalities." What
this means is that no one ever associates his or her full name with AA
(notice I identify myself by first name and last initial), as this is boasting
about membership in AA. It gives the impression that people will not be
able to remain anonymous should they join AA. Thus the magazine does a
great disservice by frightening away people who wish to remain anonymous,
and Gedney violates that which helped him attain twenty-three years of
sobriety.
Tony F. [degree information withheld]
Corona del Mar, California
Have One on Him
I am one of the lucky few to remember being able to order a beer with
my burger from the grill set up outside of the cafeteria during two of
my summer quarters. Ahh, a nice nap in the sunshine on the quad afterward
. . . The Massachusetts drinking age was eighteen for a brief period back
in the mid-'70s and I couldn't have been happier. Finally, someone thought
I was responsible for myself; I and most others acted responsibly in kind.
It is unfortunate that people seem to ignore that linkage.
Clearly, the drinking age should be lowered or even abolished. Teenagers
should be taught how to drink responsibly instead of just being told "no"
like they were three-year-olds. "Old enough to fight-old enough to
vote" was our slogan in the early '70s and students today now enjoy
the results we gained. Perhaps the current generation could say "Trust
me to vote-trust me to drink"-or, at least, they can vote for a candidate
who will lower the drinking age!
Mike Mitchell, E'77
Lynnfield, Massachusetts
The following are some readers' comments that were attached to magazine
subscription forms, received in March and April.
Co-opted
The magazine is great! How about a series of articles featuring major
co-op employers? There are some great stories out there.
Paul Pratt, E'58, MEd'62
Sharon, Massachusetts
Editor's note: Ask and ye shall receive.
That's the Spirit
Please do a feature on N.U. religious life.
Stephen M. Sherokey, LA'75, MEd'77
Saratoga Springs, New York
Editor's note: Such an article appeared in the January 1997 issue. You
can find it on our website at <www.numag.neu.edu>.
Thanks for the Memories
As a native Bostonian, I really want to thank you for the articles about
the early years of N.U. I've especially enjoyed those about the land on
which Northeastern is built.
Oscar Epstein, E'48
Brookline, Massachusetts
Please keep the history of N.U.-physical and cultural-as topics in the
magazine.
Guy H. Hutchings, BA'69
Acton, Massachusetts
Bond Aid
Great magazine! My bond with Northeastern grows with every page.
Steven H. Baden, E'96
Atlanta, Georgia
We welcome your letters and reserve the right to edit them for space
and clarity. Send them to: Letters to the Editor, Northeastern University
Magazine, 360 Huntington Avenue, 598CP, Boston, MA 02115. Fax: 617-373-5430.
E-mail: <sp@ur.neu.edu>.
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