You Said: Fall 2023
Well Said
“Often the best thing I can do as a leader is get out of the way and let somebody new rise up.”
The Rev. Burns Stanfield, Sept. 6, 2023, Small-Thomas Lecture, “The Spirituality of Organizing.” View a video of the talk.
When poker was a serious offense
I write in response to the summer 2023 Cornell Report letter that mentions poker games by certain members of the Cornell faculty and the resulting friendships that have endured. How times have changed, as my roommates, Jack Sherwood ’63 and [the late] Gil Davis ’64 (successful prosecutor of Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones case), and I were threatened with being expelled by Dean Good and Dean Sidles for playing poker in our Olin Hall room. This “offense” was serious enough that letters to that effect were sent to our parents!
Needless to say, that threat had no consequence whatsoever and the friendly games continued, as well as closeness with Jack for all these years. Perhaps our poker games and friendship was a harbinger of later events by faculty at Cornell.
David Bruun ’62
Wasco, Illinois
’70 alum admires today’s students
I want to commend those multiple current Cornell students and alumni who serve on the Mount Vernon Fire Department and the Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Service.
When I was a Cornell student more than 50 years ago, many on campus thought they were socially aware and politically involved. Me, admittedly, not so much. I mostly limited myself to classes, studying, running, and conversations with friends. I gave no thought to volunteering in the Mount Vernon community; when could I possibly have found the time?
The connection would never have occurred to me then, but with the experience of another half century providing perspective, I now realize that the students featured in this story are doing more for their friends and their community, and perhaps also for themselves, than even my most politically active friends were doing during the late 1960s. They have taken Voltaire to heart in working to cultivate their garden by volunteering themselves as their best, sometimes the only, productive response to the vagaries of living. The next person who suffers a fire or needs emergency medical transportation will benefit from their dedication.
Richard Gast ’70
Bettendorf, Iowa
In response to the post: If you could relive one day at Cornell, what would it be?
Tim Neubert ’94: Wednesday afternoon of a midyear block break!
Trisha Weydert Gehler ’98: Homecoming dance freshman year … the official first date with my husband-to-be.
Jan Lansing Murphy ’83: 1st day back sophomore year. Back with my best friends after 3 months apart!
Charles Hayes ’77: April 24, 1977. My senior recital and final Chamber Singers concert.
Michael Christopher ’71: Reporting on the Old Sem crisis for The Cornellian; my senior recital, which included Alf Houkom performing my “Piece for Professor and Chalk Board.”
Tim Maaske ’76: It would be my senior year playing basketball for my dad against arch rival Coe College on the Hilltop.
Wendy Marshall Sheriff ’02: I loved waking up to a snowy campus and heading to class with hot cocoa in hand. Not having to drive in that weather was the best part!
In response to a post about the three newest professors emeriti
John Heaton ’91: Not sure I like this trend of professors who came to campus after I graduated in 1991 having been there long enough to retire with emeritus status. But as John Gruber-Miller taught me, tempus fugit.
Be part of the conversation
We are delighted to publish letters and social media mentions. Tag @cornellcollege to be considered on social media. Email us or mail them to cornellreport@cornellcollege.edu or Cornell Report, Box 1648, 600 First St. SW, Mount Vernon, IA 52314-1098. Submissions are edited for style, length, and clarity.
