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'I'm pleased that I seem to come by my advocacy of affirmative action legitimately. I'm very grateful to Stanford for giving this "faculty brat" a second chance.' Send us a letter. Return to the main letters page. |
TECHIES VS. FUZZIES For many years I hardly glanced at my copy of STANFORD. But lately I found myself reading more and more of it, until suddenly I realized that I had even read the ads! As a scientist-nonscientist couple, my wife Elinore, MA '69, and I enjoyed your article on teaching science courses in a new way ("A New Spin on Science," March/April). We like the way you select articles of general interest with a Stanford connection. Norbert Herschkowitz
The article "A New Spin on Science" was interesting. The idea of teaching science in context is worthy. The article commented that science folks take liberal arts courses, but "fuzzies" are not involved in science. That may be true as far as it goes, but there is a curious phenomenon that occurs in the reverse direction, in particular with engineers. At the risk of stereotyping, I have worked with many engineers over the course of years, and they do have a general tendency to think in black and white. If they indeed were exposed to more artistic endeavors, they must have forgotten. Physicists seem better able to see from an artistic perspective, even within the context of science. Geologists, while often whimsical, at least on occasion encompass that wider view. Engineers, though, seem so confusingly narrow and miss so much. The black-and-white thinking and seeming inability to understand much outside of their narrow discipline makes them extremely poor managers, as they cannot fully integrate the human experience into their thinking. So, while it may be that some people are not adequately exposed to science, it may also be necessary to address science-oriented people's inability to benefit from the supposed exposure they have had to the artistic side of life. John Phillips
IT DOESN'T ADD UP I took a class in logic 50 years ago at Stanford, and while it didn't all make sense at the time, over the years I have learned to think with some logic. And then I read "Wanted, Female Faculty" (March/April). My understanding of affirmative action is that it gives women and minorities the opportunity to participate in programs that traditionally have been denied them. I was never aware that it also guaranteed results; that a certain number would be provisionally granted tenure or doctorates or degrees in law. According to Gary Buff, the U.S. Labor Dept. attorney, the statement by provost Condoleezza Rice that she would not apply affirmative action at the time of tenure suggests ''that she doesn't believe in affirmative action programs." And, of course, some $500 million in annual grants to Stanford is at stake. But back to the logic. I know some Stanford alumni will write in shooting my example all to hell -- but here goes anyway. Let's say that: Now, I would like to ask attorney Buff: if he needed a triple bypass, would he choose a heart specialist vith a diploma on his or her wall that states, "I am fully accredited," or "I am conditionally accredited?" Kenneth F. Anderson, '50
'FACULTY BRAT' While reading about admissions ("How It Works at Stanford," January/February), I was pleased to find that I had been admitted from one of the "favored constituencies" - children of faculty and staff. I'm quite sure I would never have become a Stanford grad had I not been the son of Dr. H. H. Fisher, Chairman of the Hoover Institution and Library. I had a terrible academic record in high school and a court record too. In 1951 I dropped out of Stockton Junior College and joined the U.S. Navy. Following service, including a tour of minesweeper duty in Korean waters, and marriage, I tried Menlo College and did okay. I then took the College Boards, hoping to get into Stanford. I got in. I graduated three years later with a BA in History. I tried unsuccessfully to get into the History MA program, but was admitted to Anthropology's graduate program. The rest, as they say, is history (more accurately, anthropology). Before I completed my dissertation, I taught at UC-Santa Barbara, and later took a job in the Anthropology Department at the University of Alberta, where I remained until retirement a few years ago. While there I was a tireless advocate of minority groups' right to a first-class education. I suggested that the university allow aboriginal languages to fulfill the "second language" requirement. I fought against discriminatory testing. I supported the Women's Studies Programme and the School of Native Studies. I fought for the admission of nonmatriculated, older students (as I had been when I was admitted to Stanford). I'm pleased that I seem to come by my advocacy of affirmative action legitimately. I'm very grateful to Stanford for giving this "faculty brat" a second chance. I'm especially grateful to men like Bill Bark, Fee Keesing, and George Knoles for their support and encouragement. I think they gave me a good education and the right attitude. I've tried to pass this on to generations of University of Alberta anthropology students. A.D. Fisher, '58, MA '59, PhD '66
SKATING ON THIN ICE Call me old and crotchety, and many have, but I was appalled on my recent visit to the Stanford campus for Alumni Day to see all the skateboarders and the damage they have caused. They were at the entrance to the main Quad, jumping over and off the historic stone railings and steps and scarring the old walkways. I saw evidence of damage to concrete curbs, walkways and benches in many areas of the campus. It seems counterproductive to raise millions of dollars for repair of earthquake damage and then to allow irresponsible skateboarders to create new damage. Judith Cleaver, '54
THE REAL WORLD I think there should be a Stanford support center or counseling center for soon-to-be-graduates who are facing the dilemma of leaving the best intellectual and residential situation in the world and going out to "sell out" in the real world. For me, this was the greatest trauma of my life. Bending my knowledge to fit into the common, sordid mass of American cultural poverty nearly killed me. It's a long way down from near-omniscience to the despair we all face, in spite of all the hopeful propaganda. Bruce W. Ashford, '78
Address correspondence to: Letters to the Editor Stanford Magazine Bowman Alumni House Stanford, CA 94305-4005 Or fax to (650) 725-8676; or e-mail to stanford.magazine@stanford.edu. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and civility. |
