How Did Everything Get So Political?
Good to see an article addressing the nature of our current political divide [“How Did Everything Get So Political?” Spring 2023] It would be great to make this a series where the rise of marooned independent voters and the influence of media as a profiteer are also explored, for example. I have a feeling it’s crucial to the repair, maintenance and advancement of society.
John W. Comerford (Film, Psych’90)
Petaluma, California
I usually looked forward to reading about the “on or about” campus news. But the latest edition speaks to the reality of how things have become so politicized. The current edition is nothing more than left-wing propaganda and disinformation. CU’s always been far left of center, but this edition exemplifies the extremist lefts’ war on truth, and desire for censorship and subjugation.
Edward Haugland (EurSt’84)
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
I am terribly disappointed. I am a very loyal CU alum, and always been a big fan of this magazine. I do not believe that an issue focused on current politics is an appropriate realm of exploration on the part of CU. Our society is deeply divided on most of these topics, and I feel it is downright arrogant for this university — which is accomplished in so many other areas — to step up and assert its global views.
Colleen McAllister (Engl’64)
Greenwood Village, Colorado
Thank you for the great work showcasing CU for us alumni. That said, I wanted to reach out about the cover chosen for your most current issue.
While the article is discussing how to integrate political perspectives and de-polarize, your cover seems to infer the opposite. This I found disappointing. As an unaffiliated voter, the artwork depicts some fairly radical perspectives and frankly, instigated a lot of difficult conversations in my house with my children after I had them get the mail. While the cover art is usually a beautiful depiction of the Boulder we know and love, this seemed to miss the mark.
Kristen Lanier (Comm’05; MEdu’11)
Littleton, Colorado
The First Amendment
Just wanted to say that I loved and appreciated the article on the First Amendment and to ask you to please do more — Second Amendment next!
Judith Craig Buczek (Zool’66; MD’70)
Camano Island, Washington
Reflecting on The Sink
I was born in 1947, and grew up in Boulder and lived at 10th and Pennsylvania for most of my youth. I spent many an afternoon on The Hill and had many friends who worked at “Herbie’s Deli.” I went away to college, but when I was back in town, that was where we all met up. Boulder is totally different, and not necessarily for the better, but it’s nice to know that something truly Boulder has survived the times.
Thaine Gilliland
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
I enjoyed the article about 100 years of The Sink. A feedback letter in that issue implied that The Sink served cinnamon rolls and peanut butter. I don’t believe, however, that The Sink made them. I was at CU Boulder from 1954–59 and worked in 1955 as a server at Owens Cafe, which was a corner place a block from The Sink. The morning specialty at Owens was toasted cinnamon rolls with peanut butter, and they sold a ton of them.
Incidentally, I went from Owens to being a waiter at a new fine dining restaurant on Arapahoe Ave., the Lamp Post. It was the first place in Boulder with a full liquor license, and big tips allowed me to stay in school and graduate.
Dave Oxley (Econ’60)
De Pere, Wisconsin
I spent a lot of time at The Sink during my years at CU. I particularly loved the fries! I took my parents once when they visited … My mother was not impressed with the artwork, and my dad's comment (as an engineer and contractor) about the overheard pipes was that they were a fire marshall's worst nightmare!
Susan McKee (IntlRel’69)
Santa Fe, New Mexico
I worked as a short order cook at Herbie’s Deli, circa 1978. One of my favorite memories was our neighbor to the south, Nicky. He had a witchcraft shop, and most days, he would call his order into the restaurant. We would get the order with the header “Nicky,” and when it was done and ready for pickup, we would bang on the stainless steel behind the grill (which was the wall between our spaces) as a signal that he could come over and pick his order up. He would pay on the spot, and he never had to shut down his store in order to get lunch.
Martin Agather (Econ’80)
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Baseball and Softball
Now that Deion Sanders is football coach, I look forward to having baseball and softball started again at CU. We need them to take advantage of all the revenue both these sports now generate. Shame on Colorado for not having baseball all these years. I am looking forward to getting these programs started soon.
Jack Price (PE’66)
Camas, Washington
Aging Buffalo
As an aging buffalo, rheumy-eyed and slow afoot, every new wind gust threatens and menaces.
Impossible to fend off, fatally unwilling to take a knee and submit, the inevitable, this time and this time only, presents itself, a courtier proffering a tasteful tankard.
Thank you, Coloradan, for trueing the time ‘twixt then and now.
Drew Clearie (Psych’72)
Sarasota, Florida
The Columbia Astronauts
In your spring issue you pictured the crew of the orbiter Columbia of STS-107 [THEN, pages 65–66]. I realize that one of the crew was a CU alum, and it was nice to honor her on this anniversary. There were six others on that mission, and I don’t think it would have been too hard to at least include their names. Dave Brown (right, rear with pilot’s wings) was a dear friend of mine and my flight surgeon when we deployed together on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in 1984.
Norm Walker (MechEngr’78)
San Diego, California
[Editor’s Note: It was an oversight on our part to not recognize the rest of the Columbia crew in our story. In addition to Kalpana Chawla (MAeroEngr’86; PhD’88; HonDocSci’03), we wish to also recognize David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Michael Anderson, William “Willie” McCool and Ilan Ramon, who died 20 years ago. We regret the error.]
Remembering Bill Deno, Campus Architect
I’m sad to announce William “Bill” R. Deno (Arch’72, MA’73), CU Boulder campus architect emeritus, died Feb. 20, 2023. He was 94 years old. Bill was generous beyond measure and a decent human being who fell in love with CU Boulder and never let go.
Bill was given the title of Boulder campus architect in 1991. He managed the complete renovation of Old Main in 1984 and was responsible for the ADA updates to all buildings on the main Boulder campus during the 1990s. Bill brought back to life the importance of CU’s Master Plan and wrote two books about architect Charles Klauder’s vision, Body & Soul, Architectural Style at the University of Colorado at Boulder (1994) and Body & Soul: A Partnership of Architecture and Academics at the University of Colorado Boulder Centennial Update (2018), both of which I passionately designed for him. In 2020, Bill created the Deno Trust Endowment to fund tree replacement and development on CU Boulder’s main campus. I will miss him dearly.
Elizabeth Johnston
Rosedale, Kansas
