LGBT Support
I just read Amy Shires’s wonderful article announcing the opening of the LGBT Resource Center (University Place, Fall 2002). My pride in Syracuse University soared. In 1971, I graduated from SU with both B.S. and M.Arch. degrees, but without a word that I was gay.

During a 1994 visit to SU, I was saddened by the lack of any visible integration of LGBT students into the general student body. Today it is very pleasant to experience how it feels to be accepted as a fully enfranchised member of the SU family.

I hope many LGBT alumni will openly support this center. Thank you to the administration and to the student body for taking another decisive step in providing a diverse and inclusive environment for the superior education of all.

Michael Barthold ’71, G’71
Perrysburg, Ohio

Nursing Blues
I was disappointed to read about the proposed closure of the School of Nursing (Quad Angles, Fall 2002). As a graduate of this program, I find it disconcerting, especially when there is a large nursing shortage. I would ask the University to reconsider its decision in light of the school’s history, the excellent graduates it has produced, and the great need for nurses that exists.

Carolyn Cohen Parchinsky ’65
Hoboken, New Jersey

I was upset to learn that Syracuse will most likely be closing the School of Nursing. I feel the education I received at SU was positive and enabled me to further my career. I also take exception to Vice Chancellor and Provost Deborah A. Freund’s comment about nursing. She states, “The school has offered a solid program of instruction and has graduated thousands of well-trained nursing professionals.” I, for one, am not trained! I am an educated, professional nurse. Until our own institution realizes that nurses are indeed educated, how can the expectation of others be changed to see nurses as educated, professional people?

Barbara Spencer Selvek G’94
Canandaigua, New York

Safety Changes
Reading “Safety on the Hill” (Fall 2002) brought back fond memories of my fellow “original” student marshals Mike Kicera, Mario Briccetti, and Joe Canavan. I applaud all advancements in keeping pace to parry safety and security concerns. However, I cannot help but feel saddened that society has not progressed further in dealing with the root causes of the problems. Prestigious universities of higher learning, such as SU, can put their resources to better use.

Robert M. Serpico ’74, G’76
Floral Park, New York

Fraternal Slight
Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw wrote a thought-provoking column in the Fall 2002 issue centering on an incident involving a student who went to an off-campus costume party in black face. The Chancellor rightly reminded us that although the incident resulted from thoughtlessness and not malice, the student’s actions were still hurtful.

I have one quibble with the piece. The student was described as “a member of one of our fraternities,” as if fraternity status had some bearing on the incident. Perhaps the University’s (unconscious) bias against fraternities has been unwittingly revealed by this comment.

William G. Cavanagh ’72
Pelham, New York

Green Grievance
I read with disappointment the article “A Design for the Future” (University Place, Summer 2002) describing the School of Management’s plans for a new building. I was shocked that a school that prides itself on “cutting-edge” business principles and practices would fail to identify “green building” as its primary objective for the new structure.

I believe the building should be an absolute showplace—the pre-eminent example of “green building” that would serve as a model to encourage corporations to follow SU’s lead.

Miriam Gross ’78
Boston, Massachusetts

Editor’s Note: Peter Isaac Weingarten ’93 of Fox & Fowle Architects (the architects of the new School of Management building) offers the following information about the building: SU has been committed to the principles of “sustainable,” environmentally responsible building design and construction methodologies for many years. The new building’s design will continue this trend on several environmental fronts and be a true model for the leaders of tomorrow. Among the numerous featured design elements are:
• A central communicating circulation corridor that maximizes the amount of daylight penetration to all interior spaces;
• Displacement/under-floor ventilation in classrooms to increase ventilation effectiveness and save energy;
• The use of numerous energy-efficient measures, low-emitting materials containing no volatile organic compounds, and regional building materials made with recycled content.
To achieve this goal, a nationally renowned design team led by Bruce Fowle ’60 will complement the University’s in-house professional expertise.