University of Rochester
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Letter to the Editor

New Brand of Success

Kathleen McGarvey’s article, “The New Face of Rochester” (September-October), was one of the best articles that I have read on how to develop a brand identity. It is a must-read for any marketing or advertising class.

I was also impressed with the University community’s involvement in the process, thereby ensuring a broad energetic foundation for the University’s long-term growth and success.

Keep up the good work.

Dennis Wong ’77
Oakland, Calif.

Leading Professors

I enjoyed reading your article about the 50th anniversary of the Department of Economics (“Leading Economic Indicators,” September-October).

When I earned my BA in economics in 1974, I was fortunate to have been the student of many of those mentioned in the article—Rudolph Penner, Ron Jones, Sherwin Rosen, Walter Oi, and Michael Mussa all made important contributions to the person I have become.

But the best teacher of all was Rudi Dornbusch, from whom I studied Money, Credit, and Banking. He had the unique ability to explain a difficult concept in multiple ways.

Many times, he would pause in his lecture and try to see if everyone understood. When a student did not, he would repeat the key points, more slowly. If the student still didn’t understand, he would begin from a completely different angle, and using a different path of reasoning, reach the same conclusion. It was unusual that someone would fail to understand the second explanation.

It was the University’s loss that he left after only a few years, later working at the University of Chicago, at MIT, and at the International Monetary Fund. And it was the loss of society as a whole when he died from cancer in 2002.

Bob Kimmelfield ’74
Shaker Heights, Ohio

Hero—and Football Player

In your fine tribute to the outstanding and unselfish valor of Matt Shackles ’05 (“Everyday Hero,” Alumni Gazette, September-October), you missed mentioning that while attending the University, he was also a proud member of the Yellowjackets varsity football team and a brother of Theta Delta Chi fraternity.

He contributed more than being a student during his time at Rochester.

Phil Chrys ’71
Schenectady, N.Y.

Speaking of Speakers

In response to the two letters in the September-October issue decrying the appearance of Colin Powell at Meliora Weekend, I am so pleased that things have not changed since I enrolled as a freshman in 1958.

Like many universities in this country, there are a significant number of students and alumni who seek to stifle and condemn anyone with whom they disagree.

What a truly wonderful educational environment. We are open to debate, as long as those who appear think like us.

Robert Evans ’62
Williamsburg, Va.

One Snake or Two?

I noted that the medical component in the University’s newly designed logo (September-October) is represented by the staff of Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine.

I am made very content by this decision, since on my medical diploma (1955), the University seal appears to depict the caduceus of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to signify the medical unit.

Would it not then be proper to present to the University community a change in the seal (namely, the staff of Aesculapius to replace the caduceus)?

Russell Lane ’55M (MD)
Sutherland, Mass.

The intertwining snakes of the caduceus have been used to represent medicine in past incarnations of the seal, but in the early 1980s, the seal was redesigned and in that process, the double-snake staff was replaced with a single snake. During the development of the new logo, the seal was left unchanged, and so the rod of Aesculapius is firmly in place—Editor.

Corrections

In the September-October issue, because of the way we handled archival materials, we misidentified people in two photos.

In the story “A New Home for the Rochester Family,” the photo identified as Elmer B. Milliman ’19 actually showed Matthew Fairbank ’30, ’33M (MD). The correct photo is shown here.

And in the story “Leading Economic Indicators,” the photo showing the 1963 faculty of the Department of Economics transposed the identities of Lionel McKenzie and William Dunkman. McKenzie is on the far right, with Dunkman seated next to him. That story should also have said that Richard Rosett, one of the first faculty members in the department, went on to be dean of the graduate school of business at the University of Chicago rather than to chair the economics department at Chicago.

Our apologies to all.

Review welcomes letters from readers and will print them as space permits. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity. Unsigned letters cannot be used, but names of the writers may be withheld on request. Send letters to Rochester Review, 147 Wallis Hall, P.O. Box 270033, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627-0033; rochrev@rochester.edu.