Letters

HALL OF WONDERS
I read the interesting article  regarding wondrous artifacts in various Tufts collections (“Cabinet of Wonders,” Spring 2006). I was particularly intrigued by the reference to Dolbear’s contributions to the development of the wireless telephone. As an undergraduate walking past Ballou to my classes, I was always impressed by the various plaques that adorned its exterior commemorating Dolbear’s contributions in this area. I thought there must be significant historical value to Ballou Hall itself for this reason (and no doubt for other reasons as well). I wonder why Ballou Hall is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I encourage those at Tufts to initiate a movement that would make that happen.
TOM AVEDISIAN, E72
ITHACA, NEW YORK

TREE OF LIFE
Having just come back from a satisfying, joyous 60th reunion on the Hill, I was overjoyed to see that page in the Summer issue of Tufts Magazine showing the copper beech and its protector. It was almost the only thing I could recognize after a long absence from Tufts. Despite all the changes that were both exciting and confusing, there stood the tree under which I would sit with my then-girlfriend and ponder the future. I took a picture of it in the afternoon light and hang it on my office wall, my symbol of continuity with the Tufts I remember. Thank you to John Vik for providing the care that allowed me a bridge to earlier, less complicated days.
D. STUART MACROBBIE, M.D., A46, M50
SEQUIM, WASHINGTON

ROTC ON REVIEW
Thank you so much for the quality article “The Cadets” and the sidebar “Keeping a Legacy Alive” (Summer 2006). It is worth noting that the two alumni who were awarded honorary degrees this year were NROTC graduates; one excelled in the United States Marine Corps, and one excelled in business following military service.

From 1984 to 1988, I had the privilege of administering the oath of office at the campus commissions ceremony for the Tufts graduating ensigns and lieutenants. Today I continue to salute the Tufts cadets and midshipmen for their four-year efforts at the MIT campus to qualify for commissions in the United States military service.
JACK PITMAN, A57
COLONEL, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET.), PALM COAST, FLORIDA

What great future assets for our country to have such dedicated students from schools such as Tufts entering military leadership positions. The article, however, raised several questions and concerns about how the ROTC program has changed over the years. Why was there no mention of whether ROTC students receive course credit from Tufts for their studies? Why are ROTC students drilling at MIT instead of on the Tufts campus? Dan Crenshaw commented that he never felt uncomfortable among fellow undergraduates but quickly added that he rarely wore his uniform on campus. Is the Tufts community comfortable with the ROTC program?

The present ROTC program does not appear to be sponsored by Tufts, as it was in the past. It consists of a few select and dedicated Tufts students who make the additional off-campus time necessary to complete their arduous four-year course program.

This brings to mind a period when Tufts military graduates saw the university turn its back on them while they were on active duty overseas. Many of us have never forgotten this knee-jerk reaction by Tufts and have never received any closure. As a result, many of us still feel alienated from our alma mater. I believe Tufts has lost goodwill from former students and continues to lose thousands, if not millions, in financial contributions. This is rather sad.

Nevertheless, we welcome the new Tufts student ROTC program, and trust that it will continue to actively expand. If we former military graduates can offer any support in any way, we are ready to do so. We send the ROTC students, as well as all students at Tufts, our very best wishes for success in the future.
DUDLEY C. FARRELL, A59
CAPTAIN, U.S. NAVY RESERVE (RET.), ANAHEIM HILLS, CALIFORNIA

During my time at Tufts I had the opportunity to know a few ROTC cadets, and came away with respect for their hard work, thoughtfulness, and intelligence. While I have serious reservations about the military and the world’s seeming addiction to violence, I did get the sense that those cadets were the best the military had to offer.

That said, your article omits an essential question: can the vaunted values of a liberal arts education—critical thinking, questioning and acting on those judgments—survive in a hierarchical structure in which soldiers are subservient to fundamentally illiberal politicians, Democratic and Republican alike? While it is certainly better that soldiers be grounded in liberal arts values, “enlightened and thoughtful officers” are still beholden to the will of their civilian commanders. As talented and hardworking as they may be, I doubt cadets from Tufts can transpose liberal values to the military.
DOUGLASS HANSEN, A02
HARTFORD, CT

“FREE” SPEECH
I was completely taken aback by a photo accompanying the article on the 150th commencement ceremonies (Summer 2006, page 6). It depicted an African-American student, arms raised, an exuberant shout on his lips, with the caption “Free at Last!”

I’m certain other readers, particularly those of us who experienced the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, were as astounded by this faux pas as I was. I believe what we have here is another example in which someone’s words (in this case Martin Luther King Jr.’s) have entered everyday speech, only to have the nature and context of those words forgotten a generation or two later.
DOUGLAS A. CLARK, A72
ISLINGTON, LONDON, UK