Alumni

Letters

Renewed Commitment to Activism
Although I am always proud of my alma mater, I was compelled to send my first e-mail to the alumni office to express my feeling of delight after reading Lindsay Beller's article, "Getting Personal," in the summer 2007 issue of Spectrum magazine. It was wonderful to read about Lake Forest College students' renewed commitment to learning about, sharing information, and taking action regarding national and international problems.

I would like to recommend a book to all interested students and others who have not yet read it about another program dealing with an important global issue. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace — One Classroom at a Time (Penguin, 2007) by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin tells the story of the enormous impact one American man is making in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Powerful! Keep up the good work, Lake Forest College!

Diane Baker Lanman-Lefstein '70
Indianapolis, Indiana

Music Appreciation
I was saddened to read of the passing of Professor of Music, Emeritus, Frank Kirby. He was an unassuming and gentle man but, nevertheless, quite a character. I can still see his absolutely unique repertoire of facial expressions and mannerisms. If it had not been for his course Introduction to the Symphony, I might have missed out on one of the great joys of life.

I was not surprised to learn that his last work was on Furtwängler. I remember one class when, without much introduction, Professor Kirby played a half dozen or so different recordings by great conductors of the same stretch of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The last conductor was Furtwängler. The recording quality was awful, but as soon as I heard it I wondered why any of those other guys had bothered. Professor Kirby was grinning like the cat that swallowed the canary.

David Kavesh '78
Chicago, Illinois

End of an Era
The retirements of Professor of Politics Paul Fischer, Professor of Economics Richard Dye, and Professor of History Michael Ebner are truly the passing of an era at Lake Forest College. The Henry Adams quote, "a teacher affects eternity," was apropos. Over the course of their years at the College, they affected the academic lives of their students, and that influence, for me and no doubt many, many others, continues. In their classrooms, we learned how to think critically, research thoroughly, and present conclusions cogently — skills that prepared me for life beyond Lake Forest College and that I rely on daily in my professional career.

I thank them for all that they gave to their students and wish them well in their future endeavors.

Ann K. Adams '86
Washington, D.C.

Thanks for the Memories
In the spring 2006 Spectrum, we asked alumni to submit memories from their time at Lake Forest College to help commemorate our sesquicentennial, which will conclude at the end of 2007. Nearly two dozen responded, including several former Stentor editors. Taken together, the memories provide a context and understanding for what student life was like over the last eight decades, from going to college during World War II, to completing chemistry assignments, to experiencing the first nice day after a long winter. We thank you for sharing.

To read more, visit www.lakeforest.edu/about/sesq/memories.asp. You may still submit them to spectrum@lakeforest.edu through the end of the year.

Michael Ebner, Professor of History, Emeritus; Director of Communications and Marketing Liz Libby; Executive Director of Alumni Programs and Special Projects Tim State '93

Editorís Note: In the summer 2007 issue, Spectrum incorrectly identified the graduate on the left as Tenzin Dolker í07 and that she was dressed in Tibetan clothing. It is Kaoruko Ozaki í07, and she is wearing a traditional Japanese kimono. We sincerely regret the error.