LETTERS

Thunder from the Hilltop



I am most disturbed by D Magazine’s concept of an SMU student (September). While your portrayal of an SMU coed is fairly accurate (please note she usually drives an El Dorado convertible) the characterization of the male student was appalling. I have enclosed a picture of a real student from the hilltop.

Please notice the following differences:

1. Shorter hair.

2. Made-to-order Brooks Bros, shirt, diamond shape monogram on pocket with lightstarch for school and a medium starch fordress. Rugby shirts are suitable when participating in sports but not in class.

3. Wool and cashmere slacks, glen plaid andno cuffs.

4. The watch: Digital? Never! Too nouveauriche. Rolex always, gold for dress and steelfor class.

5. The wallet is full of credit cards, but in hisname.

6. Dad says, “The chauffeur stays home.You’re on your own now.” A Porsche forsport and a Rolls for the weekend. Personalized plates? How gauche! A C.B.? Only if youtransfer to A&M.

7. You only wear tennis shoes if you letclasses interfere with your game – otherwiseCole-Haans and Weejuns.

Please wake up your research department! P.S. Scrum is an abbreviation of scrummage which is a play formation in rugby.

Paul Fielding (Sr. ’77)

Dallas



In response to Charles Matthews’ “Can SMU Get It Together?”, here is some interesting information about the typical SMU coed (Kappa preferably): The SMU chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma received the Scholarship Award at the National Kappa Convention in July for maintaining the highest cumulative grade point average of any sorority on campus, and of any Kappa chapter in the nation during the past two years.

Mary Brooke Otiphint

Public Relations Chairperson

Gamma Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa

Gamma



I read with interest “Will UTD be the Death of SMU?” which questioned if Dallas had enough room for two top-notch universities. The presence of two such schools would greatly benefit Metropolitan Dallas, especially if they cooperated in special programs such as the operation of an important research lab, or an exchange of professors. This is the manner in which two other fine schools, Harvard and MIT, have benefitted the Boston area. UTD and SMU should work together to benefit Dallas.

Glen Spielbauer

student, University of Texas at Arlington



Bicentennial Delight

I guess the nicest – and the nastiest – people on earth live in Texas!

If you will send me Ms. Lanman’s address (“Letters,” September) I shall return her $2.50 Bicentennial House admission. We traveled 250 miles to see it – and it was worth every mile and every cent. Our only regret was we could not move in!

(Aside to Mr. Collum: Thank you for dreaming it. Thank you for creating it. Thank you for sharing it. Same time, next year?)

Christine McCollom

Ardmore, Oklahoma



Salesmanship Club

As a former counselor with the Salesmanship Club Boys Camp, I can hardly find the words to express my deep appreciation for the very fine article by Doug Holley (August). I have been out of the program for over a year now, but when I read the article and recognized the names of children that I had worked with, my eyes became a little moist. These kids have had so much of life’s deck stacked against them, that they really deserve a pat on the back for “making it.” The Salesmanship Club is a great organization and it is a good thing to see their work recognized. Perhaps it will help other camps get established, as the need is overwhelming.

Jim Webb

Dallas



Low Profile



It is good that you have such as Bill Por-terfield writing for you now. However, his “Profiles,” “The Wizardry of Oz Srere” (August), while easy enough to read, was a tantalizing gyp. Very like being promised an evening alone with Garbo, and getting instead an introduction to the other tenants in the building. After such a fantastic build-up, I just knew I was going to be invited to supper, raucous table thumper than I am.

“Where would Sandor and Mary Lazlo’s children be now if the two had remained in Hungary?” Maybe there’s the gut story, Bill, for you or your Hungarian counterpart.

Jac A. Austin

Dallas