Letters – Spring 2016
Mountain Research Station
The past few years Ihave been writing somememoirs to share with mythree daughters and 12grandchildren.
This fall I was writingabout my summer jobs.My most memorableone was working as anassistant cook at ScienceLodge near Ward in thesummer I was a sophomore.Right in the midstof my writing, the Fall2015 issue of theColoradanwas delivered with adouble page picture-storyaboutMountain ResearchStation [“Origins,” Fall2015], the current name!I felt it was meant to bebecause of the coincidenceof timing.
Norma Davis VavraKlein (Psych’49,MEdu’53)
Naperville, Ill.
Helmet Safety
I eagerly look forward toeach edition of the Coloradan.CU alumni are livingfascinating lives in all partsof the world and contributingto the bettermentof the planet. One of themost inspirational aspectsof our graduates andfaculty is how they modeldoing what you love forwork. Even better whenthat work supports theenvironment. ProfessorKevin Krizek [“Pedal Power,”Fall 2015] is a perfectexample. My only disappointmentwith Kevin’sinterview is the absenceof a helmet in the photoof him and his bike, alongwith the twice-repeatedphrase about enjoying“the wind in his hair.” I’maware that the pro-bikeDutch have their reasonsfor not using helmets, asdo many other Europeans.In Boulder, Colo., USA,however, bike accidentsand even deaths are notuncommon. Bicycle safety,including the wearingof helmets, can certainlyuse some reinforcement inour town.
Joan Gabriele(ʳٷԲ’97)
Boulder
Response to "An Apology"
In 1967, I was a freshmanand was enrolled inAFROTC. I was one ofthose cadets who wereengaged in drill practicein front of Brackett Hallone afternoon, whenMark Gutsche (Jour’73)[“Letters,” Winter 2015]serenaded us with hisanti-war song. It was loud,and we all heard it. Butreally, Mark, no apologyis necessary. You weremerely exercising yourright to free speech, whichall service men and womenhave fought to protect.I have not forgotten thatday, but it did not evokebitterness or rancor fromme. I felt worse for myfather, who did fight inthat war, but he didn’twitness Mark’s politicalexpression. I was not ableto complete the ROTCcourse, which wouldalso have provided a fullscholarship, due to physicallimitations. Later, I,too, began to oppose ourmilitary involvement in thatwar, and decried the needlessdeaths of thousandsof young American men. Ihope that Mark respectedthe job that our servicepersons did, even whileopposing an immoral war.I was more dismayed bythe treatment that returningsoldiers received fromtheir fellow Americans. Ihope, Mark, that you werenot among those who spaton and cussed at them.They, like all soldiersbefore and since, weredoing their job as ordered,no matter their personalfeelings about the war. Unfortunately,that war toreour country apart, and I’mnot sure we’ve ever recovered,but for people likeMark to express remorseindicates that some, atleast, have grown up.
Joe Felice (貹’72)
Aurora, Colo.
Lichen Love
Thanks so much forsharing your love oflichens! [“Lichen Hunter,”Winter 2015] As a 1969CU graduate majoring ingeology, I enjoyed lichensin the Western states, butnever studied them until Imoved to Chapel Hill, N.C.Last summer I attended awonderful workshop ledby James Lendemer andJessica Allen (of the NYBotanical Garden) held atthe Highlands BiologicalStation in Highlands, N.C.Good luck on discoveringmore lichens in Colorado!
Paula LaPoint (ұDZ’69)
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Photoby Patrick Campbell