@baylormag
January/February
"Finding Meaning on Main Street" (MyView in January/February 2003) was an outstanding message! I couldn't agree more with Eric Roberson's observations and perspective. As a parent of four children working full time, it is easy to lose clarity of one's purpose and role in life. However, I hold on to life's simple truth -- by allowing God to be the foundation to all my plans, I, too, can live a life of value, meaning and purpose. Thank you, Eric, for your uplifting article.
Thomas Dotter, BA '89, MBA '95, Keller, Texas
I enjoy the Baylor Magazine very much. A graduate by choice in 1987, I am always interested in Baylor happenings. In the "Learning to learn" article by Barbara Elmore I wondered how to teach my granddaughter Zoe, age 5, how to learn. Then I remembered Albert Schweitzer saying, "Children learn by example, example, example." How true. Baylor University sets a good example in life.
Betty G. Morriss, Theodosia, Mo.
I have never written before, but in reading through the January/February Baylor Magazine, the picture of the 1948 basketball team really brought back memories. Although I cannot remember all of the names, the faces of the basketball team were as familiar to me as if I had seen them yesterday. I think that everyone at Baylor went to the basketball games in those years and watched Jackie Robinson, Heatherington and others beat the opponents. I remember how thrilled everyone was when the team went to New York for the championships. I was taking a journalism course at the time, and one of the requirements was to interview someone on campus. I went down to the house where Jackie Robinson was living, and he put up with me while I asked my stupid questions. Thanks for an interesting article and one that brought back many good memories.
Peter McCook, BBA '49, Austin, Texas
The major reason for this letter ...
is to add some thoughts to the article on childhood asthma on page 44 of the January/February issue ("Breathing Lessons"). Although the article, unlike many others that I have seen, does at least mention allergy, it does not, in my opinion, emphasize sufficiently the actual role of allergy in the causation of asthma. Most allergy specialists will agree with me that allergy does not merely cause "many" of the cases of asthma, as the article states, but actually most (or possibly all) of childhood (and for that matter, also adult) asthma. In that case, a major effective form of treatment was not mentioned and that is immunotherapy or, in common parlance, "allergy shots." ... The majority of patients so treated do far better in the long run than those treated with medications and inhalants alone.
Noel H. Seicol, MD, '44, Rye, N.Y.
Anytime I think of my school days at Baylor, I think of Dr. George Stokes. I was a radio-speech major, and George was my professor from 1952 to 1955. He was also my Sunday School teacher at Seventh & James, and we both sang in the church choir. ... I was a frequent Sunday afternoon visitor in Katy and George's home. I particularly remember one afternoon at about 4 o'clock when a lady called asking if George would sing and bring a devotional in her department that evening. He told her "sure," and spoke very kindly to her. But, when he hung up, he groused a bit about people not respecting his time. I told him he should have told her no, but Doc said, "A Christian never turns down an opportunity to testify." That was George. He was genuinely a sweet man. ... Dr. George had a keen wit and was a marvelous classroom teacher. All of us who were lucky enough to have been in his classes have fond memories of him and his great philosophy of life. Thank you for writing about him in his role as the "Sing" emcee. I loved Vicki's commentary about being his "neighbor."
Dick Clayton, BA '55, Woodland Hills, Calif.
November/December
Thanks for Susan P. Bratton's book review of The Future of Life in your November/December issue. This is a topic I've been hearing and reading about a lot lately. The November/December issue of E (Environmental) Magazine featured a 16-page spread called "Stewards of the Earth" about the growing religious mission to protect the environment (www.emagazine.com). A few months ago, I discovered an organization called Center For A New American Dream that helped me outline easy, effective steps my church can take to become better stewards of the Earth. ... I am convinced that God wants people to care about their connections and to educate themselves in how to become better stewards of the Earth in order to become better people to each other.
Lennie Dusek Bryan, BA '95, Little Rock, Ark.
I wanted to write regarding your book list for young readers. I was thrilled to see three of the Harry Potter books included. These are excellent books that require well-developed reading skills, which are the exact skills our young readers need to be developing. As a reading aide and future teacher, I am thrilled when any of my students pick up one of the Harry Potter books because I know that they will have an enjoyable and engaging reading experience. The setting of the Harry Potter books is clearly within fantasy, not as a child's textbook on witchcraft. I find these books similar to the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis in how they deal with issues of "good vs. evil" or "right vs. wrong." I hope you will keep these books on your reading list; I know they will stay on mine.
Katherine Faith Hope, BA '93, Ottawa, Ill.
Coach (Guy Morriss) doesn't know me. I am just an average Kentucky Wildcat Football fan. We never met, but I have followed Guy's method of training young men for football and, more importantly, life. I hope all within the Baylor University family have a small idea of what a great man and great coach he is. Give him some time and some room and he will provide Baylor with a gift of greatness and promise that many (possibly better known) coaches would ever have the ability to give. Coach is a man's man, a gentleman and a good Christian family man. ... I will now have Baylor University as a second spot in my football calendar as an "absentee fan."
Robert Tierney, Stanford, KY.
It amazes me the hypocrisy regarding the Playboy's "Women of the Big 12" issue containing Baylor students. Bill Cosby can be seen taking part in Playboy-sponsored events and being in Playboy, yet he is not banned from coming to Baylor and performing. Bill Cosby's actions would be unethical according to Baylor. Baylor representatives criticize the students for being in the magazine but seem to think it's OK if you are a television star who makes lots of money to come and perform at Homecoming. It appears Baylor does not clearly communicate its mission as a Christian institution when it comes to choosing performers with the same values they look for in their students. ... I do not support the students' decision to be involved in the magazine, but the administration is setting a bad example in being inconsistent in its decisions.
Michael Volcik, BBA '93, Austin, Texas
The week the e-mail system died ...
As we were preparing to go to press with this issue, Baylor's electronic mail delivery system had a major malfunction, resulting in the University being without e-mail for more than a week. The sad news for Baylor Magazine is that we were not able to access letters to the editor that may have been sent in regard to the prior issue. We will add those letters to the May/June magazine.