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Ringing Bells for Alma Mater I thoroughly enjoyed the Sesquicentennial issue [spring 2001]. My fondest
memories come from having Jacob Scher in journalism and William McGovern
in political science as professors. I never regretted attending Northwestern.
My degree from Medill opened many doors to me that could never have been
approached by a kid from the South Side of Chicago. Great job. I will keep this one. I learned a lot of Northwestern history.
My hat is off to your writers. I was thrilled to find a picture of my sister Josephine Balhatchet Zempel
(WCAS39) on page 27 [in "All Thy Sons & Daughters," spring 2001].
Her beaming face is shown with the Waa-Mu performers (she's second from
left). Jo is now deceased, but she was a very creative young woman who
was active in Waa-Mu and many other campus events. I remember how much
she loved Northwestern. This is how I want to remember her. Thank you.
Concerning "All Thy Sons & Daughters," if you check the records
you will find that the women's International House opened before 1950.
An attempt was made to make it a sorority (a national African American
sorority was willing to affiliate with the house). Around 1949 Northwestern
purchased Asbury Hall on Sherman Avenue to serve as the men's International
House. I just received my Northwestern magazine for the first time since
graduating from my fellowship training in June 1999. I thought the University
had forgotten its overseas alumni. By sending us the alumni magazine you
have made us feel part of the big Northwestern family and its rich tradition.
Because of my training at the Medical School, I was immediately offered
the position of director of the Pain Management Centre at the St. Luke's
Medical Center in Manila at the age of 33. I feel the Medical School has
equipped me well, and for this I am forever indebted to her. God bless!
This spring's Northwestern isn't a magazine — it's an album, a real
keeper. An anecdote it inspired: Staying Power The article about the Men Off Campus ["MOCs & WOCs," spring
2001] says MOC faded away in the early 1970s. If it did, it made a comeback.
MOC lasted at least through the end of the decade. My old MOC T-shirt
has lasted even longer. When the WOCs were thrown out of Scott Hall, circa 1971, they received
a two-room lounge near the front desk of Allison Hall. When MOC was also
thrown out of Scott, the two groups merged into a lounge in the newly
opened Norris. The two groups melded well, as evidenced by an almost-continuous
two-year-long daytime pinochle game. Enter the room, take over the hand
from whoever is leaving for class — repeat at will. Champs Forever The "Timeline" [spring 2001] states that the 1990 women's
basketball team was the first to win the Big Ten title. It was actually
the 1979 team — and we repeated in 1980 under coach Mary DiStanislao. Editor's note: The Athletic Department considers the 1990 championship the first "true" championship won by the women's team. Before 1982 teams were unofficially "crowned" champions. This Old College For those of us who are of an advanced age, the truly excellent spring
issue of Northwestern aroused memories. I found myself thinking of the
Centennial year (1951). Since my work was at the Psycho-Educational Clinic
and it was located on the fourth floor of Old College, I spent a lot of
time there. That the fine old building was still present at the Centennial
is a tribute not only to its sturdy construction but to the meticulous
care it received by the University over the years. [Unfortunately, the
building had to be razed in 1973 after being struck by lightning.] Family Matters With only 27 family members who went to Northwestern, we didn't qualify
for the multi-generational spans so well described in the excellent NU
Family Close-ups [spring 2001] on alternate pages between pages 76-86.
Nevertheless, our family did hit three pages in the historic issue in
an unusual way. Your story about the "Great Scotts" [NU Family Close-up, spring 2001]
stirred happy memories for me. I was disappointed, however, that you had
no photograph of John Adams Scott (WCAS1892). I took beginning Greek from
Professor Scott in what may have been his last year of teaching. When
he entered the classroom a respectful hush would settle over us. He stands
at the top of all the professors I have ever had. I read with interest the close-up on B.J. Moulding Lewis (WCAS47). She
was the sister of one of my closest friends, a fraternity brother at Northwestern.
Nowhere in the article did you mention her brother, Thomas Staver Moulding
(WCAS49, M52), who received his medical degree from Northwestern sometime
in the early '50s. Other Charter Members I was disappointed that Payson S. Wild was not included in "Charting
the Way" [spring 2001]. You should know right away that I'm Payson Wild's
grandson, so there is no doubt that I am a bit biased. Nonetheless, he
played a huge role during his long tenure as provost from the late 1940s
to the early 1970s. I was disturbed by the omission of Robert Strotz, a Northwestern president.
Was it unlucky that he bore the 13th designation of that assignment? There is not even a mention of me and my 13 years as dean of the College
of Arts and Sciences. Under my aegis the undergraduate curriculum was
completely revamped into the form it still has today. Most of the significant
interdisciplinary programs of the college were created on my watch. I
realize fully that I am tooting my own horn, since nobody else seems to
want to. But you can ask the reliable archivist, Patrick Quinn, about
the truth of my claims. For those who may not readily remember him, my father, James H. McBurney,
was dean of the School of Speech for 30 years. When he became dean at
the age of 37, he was the youngest person to be honored with such a position
at Northwestern. His accomplishments are far too many to list here but
do include publishing the definitive textbooks for high school and college
in argumentation and debate as well as discussion. He was also a member
of the Athletic Board for a number of years. His loyalty to Northwestern
never wavered, and he deserves to be remembered. Editor's note: The Sesquicentennial issue presented an overview of the University's history. The official Sesquicentennial book, Northwestern University: Celebrating 150 Years, goes into much more detail. The illustrated hardcover book includes mention of Payson Wild, James McBurney, Robert Strotz and many other notable Northwestern alumni, faculty and administrators who left their mark on the University and the world. To purchase the book, either log on to the Web site at www.nu150.northwestern .edu, call 1-800-621-2736 or fax your order to 1-773-660-2235.
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