Stand with alumni
Re “Virginia Wesleyan graduate ousted from alumni council” (A1, Nov. 17): My conscience will not allow me to remain silent in the face of the atrocious developments at Virginia Wesleyan University. I joined the faculty in 1970 and helped create the excellent academic program and the dynamic atmosphere of that era, which included close involvement of students in virtually all aspects of campus life. I retired in 2002, proud of my 32-year career and the thousands of students I helped to educate. My most proud possession is a plaque noting that I was twice awarded the college’s distinguished teaching award.
How times have changed. The current president and Board of Trustees make major decisions such as the name change in secret without meaningful input from important constituents of the university community, including alumni and faculty emeriti. Any dissension is punished, as in the case of former Alumni Council member Kim Mayo.
Moreover, the response to alumni efforts to have a dialogue about the name change has been met with stubborn intransigence by the administration and Board of Trustees. I can only conclude that the open and collaborative tradition fostered by former Presidents Lambuth Clarke and William Greer has been replaced by contempt for Wesleyan’s traditions and those of us who devoted our careers to fostering them. I stand with the so-called “mean-spirited” alumni (as current President Scott Miller called them) and always will.
Daniel W. Graf, Ph.D., Virginia Beach
Youth violence
Re “Study: Fear, easy access to guns drive youth shootings” (A1, Nov. 18): All Virginians, and especially our legislators, need to read, heed and act on the findings outlined in this important article.
As this study finds, the key to reducing youth violence is “to focus on the kids.” All young people need mentors, law officers they can trust and access to responsible adults who can help them manage their emotions, reduce their understandable fear of bullies, and navigate the pernicious effects of toxic social media.
Do you want fewer crimes, reduced violence and safer cities? Then we clearly need to devote more time, money and determined effort toward helping our most vulnerable children.
Gary Ball, Chesapeake
Thank you
A heartfelt thank you to the kind employees at Classic Nissan of Williamsburg, who helped my mother and me when we limped into their dealership on three wheels on Friday after a sudden flat tire during a road trip.
They offered us refreshments and a comfortable place to sit, called multiple tire shops in the area to try to find a replacement tire, loved on my foster dog, and even gave me a ride to a rental car agency. They went above and beyond and we are grateful.
Laura F. Overstreet, Elizabeth City, N.C.
Generations
Re “What does ‘6-7’ mean?” (Sunday Break, Nov. 16): I was reading an article in The Virginian-Pilot the other day, which reminded me of something that happened earlier this year in my science class.
I was conducting a lesson on the periodic table, and we were completing an activity where the students had to construct their own mini version of one. As I was guiding them through the different parts, we came to the period/row numbers that go down the side of every table. It was only at that very moment that I realized what was about to happen. I told them, “Now on your activity, number your rows/periods down the side using the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 … oh and don’t forget those last two rows below the main table, because those are numbered 6-7.” Now you have to imagine my voice going deep while I alternate my two hands going up and down.
The amount of groaning and sheer “cringe” I received was unbelievable. Mark one point for the older generation.
Timothy J. Dishaw, Virginia Beach
