Letters to the Editor

Author: [no author name found]

To the Editor:

I was pretty bummed when I read your interview with the new liquor inspector. If I really wanted to know his job history I would have called and asked for a resume. I would liken those sort of questions to getting an interview with Bush and asking him his favorite kind of pizza instead of why he's destroying the environment. I understand that you can't ask him why the hell we can't get free beer anymore (curt answer: it's illegal), but asking him why he's enforcing a policy that endangers students and makes it more likely for students to break the law would have been wicked nice. I'm pretty sure that you know that the majority of students are pretty miffed about this policy, and cutting into Mike a little bit instead of going all buddy, buddy would have been much appreciated. Check out the article on McCardell - he's got some pretty sweet stuff to say on the issue. I understand it must be hard to do your job with all the work we have here - I can't imagine having even one more deadline, so kudos for that. However, I feel like you sort of botched your opportunity.

Sincerely,

Jeff Bates '08

Cumberland, Maine



To the Editor:

I will add to the discussion about English and American literature courses at Middlebury by making a suggestion to future high school teachers. I urge you to take as many American Literature classes as you can while you are at the College. For one thing, English majors need to be prepared for the high school classroom by a deep knowledge of American works. If the English Literature major does not cover enough of them, take advantage of the opportunity in American Literature. High school courses center on the American novel, no matter what the syllabus says.

For another, by taking these classes before you graduate you will actually read them. There are many "I really should read this sometime" titles in American Lit. You may not get to them down the line. High school teachers do much preparation for units; not all textbook teacher guides do the trick.

The classroom may offer many learning aids. Still, the teacher is the ultimate resource. The students will seek your expertise. Middlebury's excellent English and American Literature majors will give you yours.

Sincerely,

Carroll Cummings '86



To the Editor:

With all due respect, Caroline Vial's review of Carla Fehr's lecture on the Summers episode at Harvard seems to illustrate the very thing it is decrying. Whereas Summers's remarks on some possible explanations for women's under-representation on the science and engineering faculties at Harvard that were a model of academic caution-tentative, open-minded, and un-dogmatic - Vial and Fehr's reaction was the very opposite. Realism being the first desideratum of moral responsibility, a good liberal arts education should honor the critical and un-biased search for truth. Let the spirit of Emerson bloom once more on New England's college campuses.

Sincerely,

Luke Lea

Signal Mtn., Tenn.