Cindy Frantz, Professor of Psychology
September 29, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
Are you happy with how things are going in our country? If not, what are you doing to change things?
The strength of our democracy rests on the engagement of its citizens. One of the most important things we do as citizens is vote. We need active citizen participation on ballot issues at every level of government. We need strong, ethical candidates at every level of government. We need to vote in every election for which we are eligible.
This November, Oberlin residents will vote on important local and state issues and they will elect a new city council. Oberlin students are eligible to vote here. If you love this community, cast your vote here. You can register to vote until Oct. 10 ...
Steve Hammond and John Elder
September 22, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
Two issues related to the use of Oberlin’s renewable energy credits (RECs) will be on the ballot this November. Why? Because voters need the opportunity to correct two Oberlin City Council actions.
In 2004 Oberlin College began seeking renewable energy, and in 2007 the City Council established by ordinance, with the College’s encouragement, a Sustainable Reserve Program “for the sole purpose” of depositing the revenue from the sale of what are now known as RECs for a Sustainable Reserve Fund “to provide funding opportunities for community-based, utility-related, environmentally-friendly initiatives demonstrating energy efficiency, energy conservation, greenhouse gas reductions and/or dev...
Victoria Garber, OC ’17
September 15, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
Let me begin by admitting that, like my esteemed former colleague Sami Mericle, I harbor a certain amount of resentment that the Oxford comma was implemented only after I was forced to remove it from countless articles during my time at the Review. This objectionable comma convention was indeed a favorite target for complaint, but still I rejoice at its end despite the long-standing nature of the tradition.
On the matter of such breaks with Review tradition being inherently negative developments, I would also remind everyone that my own Arts and Culture section used to rate the films it reviewed not in stars or on a scale but with distinctly rabid-looking white squirrel icons. The tradition was th...
Booker C. Peek, Emeritus Associate Professor of Africana Studies
September 15, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
A view holds that we should use our superior nuclear power to “Make America Great Again.” In any nuclear war, even against Russia, China, or both combined, America would likely win.
Another view is that such a victory would be a Pyrrhic one at best. For while we could destroy all of those nations, perhaps no more than a fraction of ours would remain, and those few remaining cities would present a life worse than those we witnessed at the heights of Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, and Irma all together, but with no help from the outside world ever arriving. In effect, virtually the entire world would be on fire rather than submerged in water, with the earth’s environment being almost totally des...
Chris Canavan, OC ’84
September 8, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
Editor’s Note: The following is an email sent June 14, 2017 to the Oberlin College faculty and staff by the chair of the Board of Trustees. This was not submitted to the Review as a Letter to the Editors, but as it is addressed to the Oberlin community, we feel it appropriate to publish the text in full.
To the Oberlin community:
Oberlin’s Board of Trustees met last week. It was a bittersweet meeting because Oberlin is going through so many transitions. President Marvin Krislov will soon depart for Pace University. We bid farewell to Mike Frandsen, Sandhya Subramanian, and Debra Chermonte. But we also welcomed Oberlin’s 15th president, Carmen Ambar, and we’re lucky to have Alan Norton, Donica Varner...
Sami Mericle, OC ’17
September 8, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
While I was impressed by the reporting in the semester’s first issue of the Review, I was jolted by the use of the Oxford comma, a stylistic change that has evidently been implemented since I left staff at the end of last year.
I consider myself a dedicated fan of the Oxford comma in most situations. It provides rhythm, clarity, and fairness to lists. But this change in the style guide is objectionable for two reasons:
First, it breaks with years of Review tradition. The paper has a continual problem with a short institutional memory, which is inevitable for a student newspaper with a transient staff. But should the staff toss aside old conventions at the whim of each new production edit...
Roger Copeland, Emeritus Professor of Theater and Dance
September 8, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
In the Sept. 1, 2017 issue of The Oberlin Review, the paper’s Editorial Board lists a number of actions taken last year by the Krislov administration which “[paint] a picture of an untrustworthy, austere, and aloof bureaucracy” (“Ambar Provides Opportunity for Needed Change,” The Oberlin Review, Sept. 1, 2017).
I agree with their choice of the word “untrustworthy.” But I strongly disagree with one of the reasons the editors cite for arriving at this adverse judgement. They criticize the administration’s decision to “[resume] business with Gibson’s Bakery after controversy that sparked massive student protests.”
Ironically, just a few pages earlier in the same issue...
Charles Newman, OC ’65
September 1, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
Here are some ways the Oberlin community of students, faculty, administrators, and alumni might function as a special social resource in these terrible times.
Oberlin must always nourish and celebrate the arts. The Allen Memorial Art Museum could exhibit the works of refugee artists, the Conservatory could put on concerts where refugee musicians would perform, and art students could make and sell posters to publicize local job fairs and donate the proceeds to programs that support residents of Lorain County facing hard times.
Students and faculty members must always meet the highest academic standards. A topic can be relevant to both scholarly debates and social, political, or economic c...
Michael H. Lubas, OC ’69
September 1, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
I am enraged, and The Oberlin Review should be ashamed! The May 5 edition with its front page lead-in on Marvin Krislov’s legacy is an abomination! While I was never a Nancy Dye cheerleader, the article demonstrates the cloudy presuppositions and misinformed arrogant assumptions posturing as reporting while a love-fest for Krislov is mirrored against a less than compassionate understanding of Dye’s progressive illness, which she chose not to parade in the manner that seems to be Oberlin’s motto these days; essentially, “I am a victim!” She chose to do the best she could with what she had. I and others may not always have agreed with her thinking or manner, but I can only hope to have...
Bob Gross, Oberlin visitor
May 5, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
In regard to the columns that have appeared in the Review debating libertarian capitalism: While I am a proponent of capitalism, I believe libertarian capitalism would be a disaster.
It would be far too easy for the wealthy and powerful to exploit markets in a system of libertarian capitalism. The production of goods and services would be governed by monopolies. An easy illustration for how this would transpire can be seen in the way professional football evolved into a monopoly.
At one time there were two separate professional football leagues: the American Football League and the National Football League. The two leagues bid for the services of prospects coming out of college, res...
Manish A. Mehta, Donald R. Longman '32 Professor of Chemistry
May 5, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
Since 1874, The Oberlin Review has been the sole campus publication to bear the label “Publication of Record of Oberlin College.” Every year, I read with great patience to see if you will live up to the solemn duty that title places on you, and every year I am left sorely disappointed. A publication of record should document, in a reasonably faithful way, the life of the College. By many measures, you have failed in that special responsibility.
I note that the “Publication of Record” light has been flickering on your masthead marquis. It was absent in the mastheads to issues 8, 10, 14, 22 and 23 this year (Volume 145). While it makes me sad, I recommend that you scrap that...
Wendy Uhlmann, OC '83
May 5, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors:
For seniors, graduation is in less than three weeks. Here are some tips from the perspective of an Alumni Leadership Council member, but mostly written from my experiences as an alumna, parent of two Obies and university faculty member.
Take time to celebrate your accomplishment of graduating from Oberlin College, an academically rigorous institution. Take time to figure out what you want to do in life, emphasis on “you” — not your parents, not your family, not your friends, you.
Take risks. Venture outside your comfort zone. Find your passion and pursue it.
Ask for advice. It is free, will often save you time and can be very helpful. Find out why people like their work and where they live an...
