Tufts’ Humanitarian
Work
I just finished your winter 2004 issue on “The Challenge
of Humanitarian Aid.” It was a thrilling introduction
to many worlds I could not imagine before. The article
“Voices from the Field” was a work of art!
The pieces in the article, individually, were all well
written and thought provoking. Together, they provide
a marvelous tapestry of world challenge. This issue made
me proud to be associated with Tufts.
Matt Tarker, A52
Turnersville, NJ |
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I read the winter 2004 magazine with great
appreciation, finding interconnection in the inspiring
articles “Moments of Exquisite Compassion,”
“New Humanitarians,” and “Voices from
the Field.” Would that more mainstream magazines
were so relevant! Thank you for such a worthwhile magazine!
Augustus Nasmith Jr., F67, F69
Rutland, VT |
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Thank you for your recent (winter 2004)
articles on humanitarian assistance. Tufts University
graduates have a track record in this field that long
predates the founding of the Education for Public Inquiry
and International Citizenship program or the Feinstein
International Famine Center. Tufts’ creation of
these institutions is admirable.
Looking at the programs offered by Tufts, and at the work
being done there, I was disappointed that the College
of Engineering doesn’t appear to be very involved
in the relief and development work of Tufts staff and
students. I am a Tufts graduate (E75) with more than 20
years of experience in development and relief work in
water and sanitation in developing countries. In 2001,
I earned an M.Sc. in water and waste engineering, aimed
at training people who work in developing countries, from
Loughborough University in the U.K. I was one of three
Americans out of about 20 students. No similar program
is offered in the U.S., although there is at least one
other in the U.K.
Adequate water and sanitation are essential to good nutrition.
It almost goes without saying that diseases and parasites
found in water and sanitation (or the lack thereof) contribute
to malnutrition, while malnutrition lowers the body’s
defenses to diseases related to water and sanitation.
Perhaps Tufts is doing more in this field than is evident
from searching its website, but it seems to me that there
is an opportunity, as well as a need, for more attention
to this critical issue. In the meantime, keep up the great
work!
Maryanne Leblanc, E75
Burlington, CT
Editor’s Note: School of Engineering faculty
are involved in water, sanitation, and health projects
in the developing world. Civil and environmental engineering
students and faculty, for instance, are working on projects
in Nicaragua, Ghana, Jamaica, and Burkina Faso. The school
is also partnering with five other Tufts schools—a
partnership that includes the Feinstein International
Famine Center—to address worldwide water issues
through the new Water: Systems, Science and Society (WSSS)
program. For more details, see page 11 and visit http://www.tufts.edu/water/.
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Ah,
Memories
Thanks to Jon Jones for an article (“Ah, Winter,”
winter 2004) that triggered fond memories of my years
in the Tufts Mountain Club (TMC) (1961–1965). It
was with the TMC that I discovered the joys of snowshoeing,
winter backpacking, and a bit of ice climbing.
I offer one correction. Today’s Loj is the fourth
TMC lodge, not the third. The one not mentioned in the
article was lodge #2, an A-frame built to replace the
farmhouse that burned on January 1, 1962. It was completed
in February 1965, and abandoned less than five years later
to make way for I-93. It sat directly across the Pemigewasset
River from the present Loj.
Nick Haddad, E65
Watertown, MA |
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Tufts Mountain Club alumni who loved Loj #2 were
no doubt surprised to see it left out of Jon Jones’s
article. The A-frame cabin, located on the opposite
side of the Pemigewassett River from the current site,
had to be abandoned in preparation for the extension
of I-93 to Franconia Notch. This was before I joined
TMC in 1971; “my” Loj was the big farmhouse
that preceded the current facility.
I had always heard that the TMC Thanksgiving originated
as a celebration to mark the end of final exams, back
when Tufts held finals after Christmas. (And it was
considerably more than 31 years ago that “One
More Log MacDonald” inadvertently burned down
the first Loj—the TMC website says 1962, which
seems about right.) But who cares? All great traditions
mix truth and legend, and TMC has had its share of traditions:
ma-boo-hais, jello slurping, snow soccer. . .
Cheryl Muffet Gracey, J74
TMC President 1972–73
Kirksville, MO
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Shaping the Future
I read the nice article about Krisna Kumar in the most
recent Tufts Magazine (winter 2004) that highlighted
his research and his selection by MIT’s Technology
Review as one of the world’s 100 Top Young
Innovators. It is great to see young Tufts faculty recognized
for their contributions, vision, and hard work, which
are shaping our future.
Technology Review
actually selected two Tufts-related people. The other
one was Tufts graduate Meg Hourihan, J94, chosen in the
Internet category. Certainly we are proud of her selection
as parents and as graduates of Tufts. The recognition
definitely speaks to the quality of Tufts undergraduate
education. Meg had no computer science or graduate school
background, just the structured thinking and the structure
of language developed as an English major. Writing is
the common element, and the Internet is now the environment
for the web log tool that she co-developed. An interesting
path to the discoveries and the development of blogger.
Peter Hourihan, E63
Charlestown, MA |
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In Memoriam
I was saddened by the passing of Professor Percy Hill
Jr. last September. I was disappointed that your winter
2004 issue’s “In Memoriam” failed to
mention Professor Hill’s role as coordinator of
the General Electric Company (GE)–Tufts University
affiliation during the 1950s and 1960s. It was through
the GE–Tufts Apprenticeship Program that I received
my engineering education at Tufts. Professor Hill was
a wonderful leader and mentor to many GE apprentices.
You may have forgotten Professor Hill’s role with
his GE students, but the GE apprentices will never forget
this kind and dedicated man.
Harold Hawkes, A60, E62
Melrose, MA |
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Language Choice
Referring to the first letter in your winter 2004 issue
titled “Tufts Vets,” no one in the profession
should use the phrase “have her put to sleep,”
and I think, or hope, that no one does. But do the professionals
at Tufts Vet School educate their clients (of course,
not their patients) so that this phrase is not used?
Joan Vadina, J73
Needham, MA |
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