From the Readers

Summer Mailbag

I was surprised that I liked the online format of the Oxy mag, especially the filmmaking story (“From S#!%house to the Penthouse,” Summer) and the obituary on Professor Andrew Rolle ’43 (“An Author First, A Professor Second”), which enabled me to appreciate him more than I had earlier.

Many thanks to the editorial staff for a new chapter in our Oxy experience for which I am thankful along with many of my fellow classmates enjoying a fuller life and grateful for my years there.

Sam Calian ’55
Evanston, Ill.

Not a Fan of Anthony

Fauci is a fraud—he created this mess. I cannot believe you had him in Occidental magazine (“Draft Doctors,” Summer). Very disappointed.

Elaine Aldrich ’66
Santa Cruz

If you missed these stories or any others from our online-only Summer magazine, please visit oxy.edu/magazine to catch up on your reading. 

A Grand Time at Oxy

One of the ATOs sent a link to “Baker’s Beauty” (Spring) online to my husband Bob Jones ’67. I read it and coincidentally a good friend sent the attached picture celebrating his grandson’s admission to Oxy. They were on the first in-person tour and Kanaya was the only student already admitted, so the tour guides were thrilled. Kanaya had never been on campus and did the whole admission and financial aid process online, so the article on Vince Cuseo (“Charting a Different Path,” Spring) was also pertinent. Occidental has a beautiful new fountain, a brilliant new student, and a bright new future. Congratulations!

Sharon Stanberry Jones ’67
San Clemente

Seven Friends, Seventh Hole

I have always loved Lucille Gilman Fountain—it really is a symbol of Occidental in my mind. Though I have many photos of my time at Oxy, this fountain picture featuring the 1988-89 Norris Hall residence life staff (left) is one of my favorites. [That's head resident Mark Canavan ’89, foreground, reclining on a surfboard in Gilman Fountain with the support of resident advisers (l-r) Michele Garrant ’88, Heather Finstuen ’88, Gwen Thomas ’88, James Miley ’89, Mark Paoletti ’89, and Doug Stan ’89.] 

Gilman Fountain was the signature 7th hole (teeing off from the top of the Coons Administrative Center steps between Johnson and Fowler halls) of a par-4 disc golf course created by Dawson Nichols ’89 and myself. At our 30th reunion, classmates Ron Provost, Shawn Berman, Bill Cohen, and Jose Olivas joined me and played the “front nine,” including the fountain hole.

Matt Canavan ’89
Petaluma

Calling All Tigers!

This fall, President Elam is kicking off the development of a new integrated strategic plan (ISP) for the College that will set institutional goals for the next five to seven years, identify what actions and financial resources are needed to meet those goals, and how to measure their success. Occidental’s current strategic plan was adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2012 and extended in 2017. The planning process needs input from the entire College community—including alumni. To learn more about the process and how you can directly have a voice in Oxy’s future, visit oxy.edu/strategic-planning.