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November-December 2007
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< previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 THE TEACHER AND THE TREESIt was a pleasure to read your article on Peter S. Ashton (“Honorable Forester,” September-October, page 34). The article did not, however, do justice to Professor Ashton’s service as an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher and mentor for undergraduates. I took the freshman seminar in 1982 that he and Professor P.B. Tomlinson taught on tropical forests. Their ability to convey their enthusiasm and love of tropical forests and the trees within them was astounding and, I have no doubt, helped set me on my career path. Ashton’s energy and sheer joy when discussing tropical trees still is my standard for how one should interact with students. He has been, as the article notes, an influential scholar, conservationist, and mentor of graduate students from around the globe. He also stands out as one of the best teachers of undergraduates that I have encountered. Manuel Lerdau ’86 WINNING WOMEN’S BASKETBALLI was perplexed after reading the plainly untrue opening line of “Rebound & Transition” (Sports, July-August, page 74): “Harvard has never won an Ivy League basketball championship.” This myopic observation carelessly—or sexistly—neglects the 10 league titles won by the women’s basketball team, including during this past 2006–2007 season. The women’s team, under the direction of head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith for the past 25 years, should be celebrated for its success. Your slight of the team in the same issue that features Harvard’s first female president on the cover should be a reminder to readers that women are still not given the respect afforded to men in our society. Ted Klupinski ’95 LE PROFESSEUR ON LEADERSHIPLike many colleagues, I have learned a great deal from Stanley Hoffmann (“Le Professeur,” July-August, page 32). One of the things he conveys is that a bit of self-deprecatory wit goes a long way to cure us of the recurrent threat of that fearsome academic pathogen, pomposity. I recall debating with him three decades ago on what was termed “Eurocommunism.” Stanley expressed some skepticism about the efficacy of the largest of Eurocommunist parties, the one in Italy. I declared that he was being ungenerous, especially since its leader, Enrico Berlinguer, had asked me if Stanley was likely to be Secretary of State. “That,” Stanley responded, “proves my point: they are not fit to govern.” Let’s hope he is with us for a good deal longer. Norman Birnbaum, Ph.D. ’58 Toward the end of an adulatory appraisal of Professor Hoffmann, one reads that he considers Charles de Gaulle to be the greatest statesman of his lifetime. Can it be that the professor is unaware of such towering figures as Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill? Or is it possible that Hoffmann’s Francophilia has overcome his judgment? Gilbert R. Cherrick, M.D. ’54 RADCLIFFE RUGBYWhat great, nostalgic fun to read the recent article “Rugger Mothers” (September-October, page 76)! As a petite African-American woman, I still get a kick out of telling people that I played for the Radcliffe Rugby team. For maximum “shock and awe” I casually slip it into conversations with obstinate male colleagues. Works like a charm! Yvette (Austin) Smith ’92 CRIMSON SCIENCE FICTIONIndeed, pulp sci-fi had a strong early connection to Harvard via the author Ralph Milne Farley, pseudonym of Roger Sherman Hoar (“Space Invaders,” September-October, page 92). Although I do not know Hoar’s biography thoroughly, I know he was both an alumnus (1909) and professor at Harvard, and a relative (although not direct descendant) of Leonard Hoar, early president of Harvard [1672-1675]. He was, in addition to being a scholar and statesman, a popular and prolific sci-fi author in the 1920s. Susan Carter ’90 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | continued >  
 
 
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