Supporting Students
Reading “Holding On” (Summer 2002), the article by Paula Meseroll about student retention, reminds me in some respects of my college experience in the mid-’70s. (The school I initially attended) actually did everything it could to not retain students. It openly bragged that less than half the incoming freshmen would survive to graduation.

I eventually transferred to Syracuse. It was definitely friendlier to undergraduate students, and my advisor saw that I had potential. I don’t remember any formal program back then for this, but it’s nice to know that Syracuse still cares about undergraduates.

Bob Casey ’78
Oradell, New Jersey

Better Grooming
I couldn’t believe my eyes when the Summer 2002 issue fell open to the “Happy Trails” article. Syracuse, known for its outstanding academics, attentiveness to detail, and professionalism, really disappointed me with this photo and its message. This horse is so poorly groomed that it is embarrassing. As well, the horse’s bridle barely fits. I know it gets blistering cold in Syracuse, however, it’s not so cold that a currycomb, clippers, and hard brush can’t be used on the horses.

Jennifer Vogel ’84
Chesterfield, Missouri

Policy Debate
I’m not an Israeli or an Arab. I’m an American who believes Elliott Eisenberg G’92, G’96 was mistaken in his letter (In Basket, Summer 2002) when he wrote that “the root cause of ill will in the Arab world toward the United States has little or nothing to do with Israel.”

Israel is an American creation, and American money and munitions arm Israeli soldiers who terrorize Palestinians. This is the cause of the Israeli-Palestinian war today. I believe American policy toward Palestinians is unkind and cruel.

Nancy Kobryn ’69
Utica, New York

Sports Talk
Syracuse deserves its lofty status as a breeding ground for professional sportscasters (“Sportscaster U,” Summer 2002), but no snapshot of the SU sports broadcasting juggernaut is accurate or complete without proper acknowledgment of WJPZ’s contribution to that position. Entirely student run, WJPZ provides real-world training not only in sports journalism, but also in the production, sales, programming, and management areas of sports broadcasting.

In fact, a few of the alumni cited in your article—Ian Eagle ’90, Mitch Levy ’89, and Mike Dardis ’89—actually spent the majority of their collegiate broadcasting careers at WJPZ. There are many other prominent WJPZ alumni in the professional sports world as well.

WJPZ and the SU Alumni Club of WJPZ Radio applaud the University, the Newhouse School, and WAER for their sustained excellence and look forward to continuing to build Syracuse as “Sportscaster U” over the next 30 years.

Scott S. Meach ’90
President, SU Alumni Club of WJPZ Radio
Atlanta, Georgia

Environmental Angst
It disgusts me that we pretend we’re doing something about acid rain (“Acid Rain Man,” Summer 2002). If you don’t cut the acid rain problem off at the source, you can’t possibly treat it in the field. Any treatment plans are a waste of money until you dry up the source. Mother Nature couldn’t fix the problem—man definitely cannot. We are a bunch of fools.

S.R. Walroth ’74
Rome, New York

Visual Disabilities
I was delighted to see an article about the School of Education’s commitment to people with disabilities (“For One And All,” Summer 2002). For a ’72 graduate who received certifications in teaching children with visual disabilities as well as mental retardation and elementary education, the article brought back wonderful memories of such noted professors as Burton Blatt and James Winschel.

I was a bit dismayed, however, to learn that the inclusion program is preparing teachers to work with all children—with and without disabilities. Today there is a critical shortage of teachers for students with visual disabilities, and I urge SU to re-establish the program preparing teachers for such students. I also encourage undergraduates with inclusion preparation to consider attending a master’s degree program that will add a visual disabilities endorsement to their teaching credentials.

I wish the SU program well and hope there will be a renewed interest in teachers of students with visual impairments.

Anne L. Corn ’72
Professor and Coordinator
Programs in Visual Disabilities
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

Correction

The article “Sportscaster U” (Summer 2002) incorrectly identified WAER’s first woman sports director. Carol Sadler ’77 was the first, guiding the radio station’s sports department in 1975-76. For more information on Sadler, see “Sadler on Sports” at http://sumagazine.syr.edu/summer02/features/feature3/index.html.