Letters

NAZI-LOOTED ART CONFERENCE

We thoroughly enjoyed the Conference on Nazi-Looted Art held Oct. 25-27, 2011, at Lafayette. Our daughter, Rachel Davidson ’13, had the opportunity to work with Rado Pribic, Williams Professor of Languages and Literatures, and Diane Ahl, Rothkopf Professor of Art History, as an EXCEL Scholar conducting research and helping prepare for the conference.

Rachel has been very enthusiastic about her academic experience at Lafayette since her first semester. She has been highly engaged by her classes and has enjoyed close relations with most of her professors. Working with Professors Pribic and Ahl has been a highlight of her Lafayette experience. It provided her a gratifying sense of accomplishment as an undergraduate student.

The conference was masterful. The speakers were excellent. We learned a great deal and returned home interested in reading more.

— Dianne Schwager and Dan Davidson
Bethesda, Md.

EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In the 56 years since entering Lafayette I have never been more proud of my school than I am today. Reading of the many accomplishments and activities in the recent Lafayette Magazine (fall 2011) was a thrill for both Ann and me, and I congratulate President Weiss for his leadership in this extraordinary time for the College.

— Fred Benson ’59
Former Trustee
Mount Desert, Maine

GLOBAL STUDIES THEN AND NOW

Living in Watson Hall of International Affairs gave me wonderful exposure to students from around the world while I was at Lafayette, but nothing like the travel opportunities available to today’s students (“Community-Based Learning and Research Helps Students Apply Classroom Knowledge in Real-World Settings,” www.lafayette.edu). Lafayette College is a far better school in every way than when I was privileged to study there.

— Donald P. Boardman ’61
Timonium, Md.

PRAISE FOR HISTORY COURSE

History of Technology taught by D.C. Jackson, professor of history, was an incredible experience (“Prof. D.C. Jackson Encourages Students to Think About the Politics of Technology,” www.lafayette.edu). The most impressive section to me was mining and raw materials. Jackson described how the developed world takes “sanitary, bountiful water and electric power on demand” for granted, but rarely recognizes how mining not only affects what we use or consume each day, but also shaped the expansion of the U.S. during the “Manifest Destiny” era. That course tied together my passions and majors — geology and history. Lafayette is blessed with an engaging (and funny!), interesting, and intellectual history department.

— Derek Pizarro ’04
Blue Bell, Pa.

POPE HAS LASTING INFLUENCE

How sad and, at the same time, interesting to read about Professor Earl Pope (“Memorial Resolutions for William M. Dobriner and Earl A. Pope”), perhaps one of the last living professors from my time at Lafayette. Although I had only one class with him — the required religion course — what he taught me about the religions of the world opened my eyes and made me a more tolerant, loving adult. He had a wonderful way of pointing out the similarities of the world’s great religions, rather than emphasizing the differences.

What I didn’t realize is the role he played on the world stage. Obviously, he not only “talked the talk,” but he “walked the walk.”

— Tom Gray ’70
Bridgewater, N.J.