Up Front | Letters to the Editor

December 1999: Vol. 79, No. 1

WRITE US!
Kent Hannon
Stegeman Coliseum/301A
UGA, Athens, GA 30602

Support for UGA's admissions decision

Have you noticed what is happening at the University of Georgia? It seems that some folks want to come to Athens so badly they've hired lawyers to challenge the institution's admissions process.

Should the University admit students solely on academic credentials? If so, then UGA will not reflect the geographic and racial profile of the state. That is not a desirable situation politically or socially. On the other hand, if you adjust admissions policies to make the student body more representative, you may deny some qualified offspring of Georgia taxpayers the opportunity to attend UGA. Quite simply, there are no easy answers. If there were, the administration would have already put them into practice. Trying to find a middle ground, UGA's admissions policy ensures that some 80-90 percent of the freshman class will be admitted solely on academic criteria. The remainder are judged on a variety of factors, including race. To me, that seems a fair solution.

C. RICHARD YARBROUGH (ABJ '59)
Past President, National Alumni Association
Atlanta

I don't think I've ever been as proud to be an alumna of the University of Georgia as I was upon reading the comments of President Adams in support of the twin goals of academic excellence and diversity in admissions. It is gratifying that UGA is committing its energies to addressing current issues and redressing past wrongs.

Charlayne Hunter and I lived in the same dorm, but, frankly, I was terrified to speak to her—after all she had endured to get where she was, it was hard for me to imagine she would be interested in an exchange of pleasantries with someone whose journey to Athens was relatively free of obstacles, compared to hers. President Adams' words and actions are an endeavor that can only make the University better for all the citizens of Georgia.

SUSAN PERCY (ABJ '66)
Atlanta

Although I did not attend UGA, I did grow up in Atlanta. I read an article in USA Today about President Adams' defense of affirmative action. I want to say how much I admire him. Affirmative action was established to help level the playing field. Anyone who thinks the playing field is level, is living in complete denial and ignorance. Keep up the good fight, Dr. Adams!

DARYL DIXON
Portland, Ore.

Popham story caught flavor of gathering

Your lead piece ("Titletown, U.S.A.!"/Sept. '99) should remind Georgians how lucky they've been to have had Vince Dooley as coach and athletic director. He and Joe Paterno stand heads and shoulders above all their brethren.

I was most interested in Laura Wexler's piece on the Popham Seminar. She caught the flavor of this exciting gathering well. I was brought into the group when I started the fund-raising effort for the McGill annual lecture. My dear friend of nearly 60 years, John A. Griffin, chaired that event. John was a member of the original Popham Seminar that preceded the one Bob Anderson helped to organize. John Popham is one of God's noblest creatures.

SCOTT CUTLIP
Dean, College of Journalism and Mass Communication (1975-83)
Madison, Wis.

"Titletown" loyalty hard to swallow

I know that as editor of Georgia Magazine it is necessary to show unbridled loyalty to the school, but your recent piece on the Sears Cup was a bit much. It is fantastic that Georgia has done so well in the rankings. However, to suggest that it is unfair because Stanford offers more sports than Georgia can afford to is a bit much to take. Georgia has one of the most profitable athletic programs in the country.

SIDNEY KUSHNER
UGA, Genetics
Athens

Teacher of the year says thanks to writer

Since being named National Teacher of the Year, I have been fortunate to have many articles appear about me. However, I believe Jena McGregor's article in the Sept. '99 issue of Georgia Magazine does a better job than any other of describing the teacher I hope I am, and of delivering my message as I wish for it to be expressed. I am especially proud that such an article appeared in a magazine from my state and university.

ANDY BAUMGARTNER (BSEd '76)
1999 National Teacher of the Year
Augusta

David Fletcher's help was the turning point

I would like to congratulate David Fletcher on his retirement from the University (Sept. '99 issue), and I'd like to share with your readers why he meant so much to UGA students. As an 18-year-old freshman at the University in the winter of 1981, I became very ill late in the quarter and fell behind in a math class. I went to see Dean Fletcher and he helped me—with a doctor's excuse, I was allowed to withdraw. I made up the class that summer, made an A, and went on to graduate from the UGA law school. Later, I discovered I had pledged and was initiated into the same fraternity where Dean Fletcher had been a member. I dare say his help was the turning point in my academic career. I received help when needed, and it had a lasting effect on the rest of my life. Dean Fletcher's kindness and help permanently touched me, and for this I am eternally grateful.

RICHARD H. TAYLOR (BBA '83, JD '85)
Brunswick

Legal aid and defender society is invaluable

I would like to compliment Georgia Magazine and Laura Wexler for the great article, "Baptism Under Fire" (Sept. '99) concerning the School of Law's Legal Aid and Defender Society. It is very informative and portrays realistically the training that students receive and the benefits that citizens receive from the work of the group. My involvement with the program began when it was less than a year old, and having now been associated with the Society for 18 years, I feel much like the proud father who has seen his progeny come of age. There is one error which I feel must be corrected. The article refers to the battles "Judge John Barrow" fought for in the program. This name should be "James" rather than "John," who is the judge's son.The Legal Aid and Defender Society had no better friend, then or now, than Judge James Barrow, now retired.

The program originated as part of a program funded by the Ford Foundation in 1965-66 to improve representation for indigent criminal defendants. The grant to UGA sought to meld this goal with the educational aspects that law students would receive through the work. One of the things that came out of the grant was the enactment of the Third Year Practice Act, which permits third-year law students to represent indigent defendants under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Dean Lindsey Cowan provided great support from the law school as did Professor John F.T. Murray. The first attorney hired as director, and my immediate predecessor, was Gary Blasingame, who 31 years later is a prominent Athens attorney.

The article mentions Gov. Roy Barnes as being a student in the Society—I remember him well, as I do two other graduates who are well known throughout the state: Chief Justice Robert Benham (JD'70) and former Attorney General Michael Bowers (JD '74).

ROBERT D. PECKHAM
Athens

CORRECTION
In the Sept. '99 issue, the press-box companion of Hartman and Trippi was Mike Cheatham (AB '95), and two of the tennis photos were taken by Perry McIntyre (ABJ '77).