Letters to the Editor

Denbeaux & Denbeaux: Defending an American value

I was very moved by your article. The Denbeaux family should be commended for their fine work. I have been very troubled by almost every aspect of the war in Iraq. This article reminded me that we cannot sit passively by and trust our government to do the “right thing.” I hope other Wooster alumni and current students will be motivated to participate in the October 6th teach-in. I know I will be!

PAMELA CIBULA MCCRORY ’ 87
PITTSBURGH, PA.

I want to congratulate you on the Summer 2006 edition of Wooster magazine; this magazine reflects the unusual quality of the Wooster education as well as the “good feeling” about the Wooster family and many wonderful traditions.

The most outstanding article to me was “ Denbeaux & Denbeaux: Defending an American Value.” To read the account of two men standing up for what they believe and offering the services of their profession in the midst of such controversy was awe inspiring.

GEORGE JOSEPH ’ 40
LAS VEGAS, NEV.

The prison articles were excellent— brought tears to my eyes. To read the best I’ve read about Guantanamo in my little college alumni magazine–astonishing!

EMILY MCQUEEN ’62
MADISON, N.J.

Thank you for publishing the article about Mark and Josh Denbeaux. I was very upset when I first heard of Guantanamo Bay where prisoners were being held without trial and were tortured. I became more upset when I realized that even after much illegal activity and horror was documented, only a few low level members of the armed forces were indicted or tried. No officers responsible for these men were held responsible.

Now with the story of these two brave and generous men you have filled in some of the details that everyone in America should know, and I have found one little thing I can work on. I plan to contact local universities and colleges to urge them to join in the Guantanamo Bay teachin. It is especially gratifying to have an upbeat story to describe the situation. I do not like to distribute “ain’t-it-awful?” literature. This article gives a message of hope and pride.

JEAN EBERLING HARRINGTONBEEK ’ 47
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.

“Denbeaux & Denbeaux” brought back fond memories of my old friend and Eighth Section-mate, Mark Denbeaux. The article also reminded me of a cartoon: Two men with the word “liberal” pinned to their lapels pass a beaten, mugged man lying on the sidewalk. One liberal says to the other, “We must find the person who did this so we can help him.” They were referring to the culprit.

I hope the same compassion that motivates Mark Denbeaux to go to Guantanamo also instructs him to donate to one or more of the charities that help our wounded and maimed soldiers.

CARL ANGELL ’68
HOLLYWOOD, FLA .

Inside/Outside

I am completely blown away by the article in the recent alumni magazine about your class inside the juvenile home! My father, Judge John R. Milligan ’49, was a pioneer of juvenile detention and treatment in Stark County, Ohio. I would like so very much for you to continue this story in a published format. The experiences of all of your students deserve to be documented and are illuminating to the public at large, as well as to the practicing professionals in juvenile detention. Although I am sure that many of the experiences are not “warm and fuzzy,” they are all learning experiences and cannot help but move all those involved forward in a most constructive way. Thank you for a really terrific issue!

NANCY MILLIGAN STEWART ’ 79
KALAMAZOO, MICH.

Birt Babcock

I enjoyed the summer issue of Wooster, especially the article about Birt Babcock. And yes, we ate sauerkraut in Babcock Hall!

NANCY CAMPBELL BROWN ’ 52
WOOSTER, OHIO

Supporting Wooster

This letter is not related to published material in your alumni magazine, but it is about the poor financial support by Wooster’s alumni. The August 28 issue of U.S. News & World Report includes its annual “America’s Best Colleges.” Among the 110 best liberal arts colleges are five Ohio institutions–Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison, Ohio Wesleyan, and Wooster. All of these schools have stronger alumni giving than does Wooster. Wooster’s rate is 31 percent, a shameful rate for a college allegedly loved by its alumni. Kenyon has a 44 percent rate, and the big-time eastern liberal arts colleges such as Amherst, Williams, Wellesley, and Middlebury are all in the 50-60 percent giving range.

I doubt if Wooster has many poor alumni. It’s never too late to offer support.

BILL HENDRICKSON, 51
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.

Remembering Dayan

Our congratulations on the high standard, quality of content, and information of your magazine.

Our son, Dayan Hirji, studied there between 1994 and 1996. On his return, he worked as a web and software designer with an organization in Calcutta, India, and later became a partner in the same organization. He designed many programs and sites which, at that time, were considered unique by his clients and peers. Dayan was very gifted in this area. He was also an extremely caring, thoughtful and affectionate person. Unfortunately, we lost him in a car accident in February 2003.

We thank you, The College of Wooster, and everyone there for continuing to share with us what was a short but important part of Dayan’s beautiful but brief life in this world.

PARVEEN AND ZUL HIRJI CALCUTTA, INDIA