Weighing in on Globalization
I AM DISAPPOINTED by the College Park article "Globalization from Both Sides of the Barricades After 9-11" (Spring 2002). I object that you chose to dignify those who would use the 9-11 tragedy to advance their political disagreement with "globalization."
While it is generally accepted that the al-Qaeda organization is responsible for the 9-11 attacks, when did al-Qaeda confirm as the reason for the attacks their opposition to globalization? I can recall no report confirming this. Other reasons for the attacks are being considered, including the U.S. military presence in Saudi Arabia, U.S. support for Israel, and the influence of Western culture on the Arab world. To paint the 9-11 tragedy as a response to the evils of globalization--and to print the article in a university publication--is at best one-sided, and at worst factually inaccurate and an exercise in political opportunism.
John P. Rankin '76
Bowie, Md.
CHARLES CADWELL's essay on the reasons for poverty in our increasingly globalized world ("Globalization Is Not the Issue," Spring 2002) failed to seriously consider supra-national organizations like the International Monetary Fund and to a lesser extent the World Bank. Cadwell posits that these organizations have less to do with poverty than many of the protestors of recent years have insisted.
It was the IMF that straitjacketed many developing countries to satisfy short-term macroeconomic policies that are friendly to neo-liberal capitalism; this led to massive unemployment, dizzying levels of poverty and desperation among the general populace of countless nations since the 1980s. Now, in 2002, we have Asian Tigers that are more paper than anything else. In Latin America we have the once-proud Argentine "success story"--after Carlos Menem pegged the peso currency to the dollar--wallowing in nearly 50 percent unemployment, and the Chilean economy, which after some adjusting of IMF plans by the government, managed to maintain "only" a 10 percent unemployment rate, still desperately high for that nation. It must be remembered that during a brutal dictatorship, Chile satisfied many of the IMF's austerity plans and transitions to democracy in 1988 with a shameful 40 percent poverty rate.
Cadwell should further IRIS's research on the developing world's mechanisms to improve the economy and political infrastructure. But to say that the "real issue[s]" are these and not also supra-national organizations like IMF is short-sighted.
Daniel A. Reyes
GIS Coordinator
Department of Anthropology
University of Maryland
GUESS THE YEAR
Editor's note:
The year of the Campus Criterium bike race was a stumper for many, in part because it happened three consecutive years in the late 1980s. The photo from the Fall 2002 "Guess the Year" contest was taken at the 1987 event. The winner of the Terp baseball cap for guessing the right year is Kurt Fenstermacher of Allentown, Pa. (He actually named all the years of the event). Fenstermacher was the race director of the last Campus Criterium in 1989.
CORRECTIONS
IN THE SPRING '02 issue of College Park, a story about the recently released book Cole Classics! by alumnus John McNamara '83 incorrectly reported the year of Len Bias's death. Bias died in 1986.
In a story about alumnus Lance W. Billingsley '61, the Sierra Nevada mountain range was incorrectly referenced as being in Colorado. The range actually traverses the state of California. College Park regrets the errors.
Cole Memories
THE CAMPOUT for the Terp-Tar Heel game in 1995 was an unparalleled experience in Cole. Domino's delivered to a seat rather than to a door. Every electrical outlet on the concourse fed a TV, Nintendo, VCR or other form of entertainment. WMUC rocked the captive audience with a different DJ every hour until 2 a.m. When the lights went out, the rows of seats were empty, but the concrete floors were covered with pillows, blankets, and students. The next morning, we learned everyone would get tickets and we cheered like champions--a cheer echoed at the victory.
Dana Sears '98
San Diego, Calif.
AS A FREASHMAN I took one of the large freshman-level courses that met in a lecture hall. We ended up being seated with other similar classes in Cole for our final exam. About halfway through the exam, while I was in deep thought and totally immersed in my exam, a student suddenly started screaming, ran up the stairs, and bolted out of the building. My concentration was shot from that moment on, but I managed to do well on the exam. It stayed in my memory because it was such a bizarre testament to the extreme pressures faced by some while on the way to their degree.
Frank Jacocks '74
Chesterfield, Va.
IN 1972, WE SAT in a dark, smoky Field House watching Joan Baez in the spotlight as her sweet, clear voice filled the arena with verses of "Amazing Grace" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
Then the scene changes to bright lights as hundreds of students sat in Cole for their Math 110 final exam. Sitting a specified number of seats apart, our faded blue jeans contrasted with the bright yellow exam booklets.
We walked up the windy hill on cold nights in the early 1970s to watch McMillen, O'Brien, Elmore, Brown, Howard and Lucas play basketball in a packed Field House. No separated seats there!
The weather changed to sunny and hot as we shuffled into a stifling Cole on our last day as University of Maryland students on May 11, 1975. This time the spotlight was on us.
Vickie Martin Layton '75
Hagerstown, Md.
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IN THE SPRING OF 1959, Sen. John F. Kennedy was the featured convocation speaker at Cole Field House. Nearly 6,000 attended, a record for such an event. As the newly appointed editor of The Diamondback, I participated in a post-speech press conference out back in the parking lot. Senator Kennedy answered questions for about 15 minutes, laughingly denying his presidential aspirations since he had not yet announced his candidacy. Then he looked out at the assembled reporters and asked, "Do any of you guys need a lift back to Washington?" Several of them climbed into his late-model convertible and off they drove, top down. Remembering that day, I could swear that the future president lofted over the door [of the car] into the driver's seat. Of course that didn't happen, but he did galvanize a student body not previously known for its political activism, and he won a campus-wide straw poll by a wide margin.
Bonnie Feldesman Lefkowitz
'60 Bethesda, Md.
FOR HALFTIME entertainment at one of the men's basketball games, two Maryland varsity wrestlers put on an exhibition to promote their team. On a small mat at mid-court, they started to show typical collegiate wrestling moves.
During a takedown, one of them accidentally hit the other in the mouth. He discovered a red substance oozing from his mouth and started going after his attacker in a non-collegiate fashion. The attacker ran from the floor and out the chute of Cole.
Suddenly, they appeared on the promenade, screaming at each other. Still yelling, they traversed the catwalk that took them up to the platform above the U.S. and Maryland flags--108 feet off the floor!
Then, it happened. The body of a wrestler went flying out over the railing, hitting the basketball court with a thud. There were screams everywhere. We looked up--two wrestlers were looking down--laughing!
Attendance at subsequent varsity wrestling matches picked up dramatically!
Nick Kovalakides '61
Potomac, Md.
DECEMBER 4, 1976. My wife and I had faculty/staff season tickets, which meant we were seated in the unreserved student section. Harriet (my wife, M.L.S., 1976) and I had been expecting our first child and the due date of Nov. 17 was long past. We arrived early, as was our custom, and took seats in the upper rows of Section Q. Shortly after arriving, my wife told me we had to go. Her water had broken. We advised the usher to get a mop down there and headed for the exits, where a ticket taker expressed concern that we would not be able to return. We advised him that we would not be coming back and headed home. That evening we sat at home and listened to the game on radio while we kept track of contractions. The next day our daughter Loryn--BSOS '98--was born. Oh, and Maryland beat Princeton 58-45.
Donald N. Oliver
Columbia, Md.
AT COMMENCEMENT in Cole Field House in the early 1980s, Maryland native Eubie Blake received an honorary doctorate and enchanted the crowd with his ragtime piano playing. To me, the highlight of the occasion was his offhand remark, "Here's a little number I wrote in 1899!" This talented musician and entertainer was born in 1883 and lived five days more than 100 years.
After much discussion, a Montgomery County school was named for him, the James Hubert Blake Senior High School, and their teams are known at the "Eubies."
Bruce H. Burnside '44
Rockville, Md.
NO COLE MEMOERIES would be complete without a memory of William Purington Cole's son, William Purington Cole II, better known as Billy.
Billy was in the class of 1940. He left with so many Maryland boys for war and did not come back. Billy was an outstanding lacrosse player at Maryland. He had a wide circle of loyal friends.
Bess Paterson Shipe '40
Potomac, Md.
COLE WAS THE RENDEZVOUS spot for our blind date, Feb. 14, 1969. University of Maryland students at the time, we were fixed up by one of George's fraternity brothers for a Valentine's dance. We decided it was easiest for us to pull up in front of Cole where he could follow me home so I could dress for the dance. He always reminds me of seeing me give a quick little wave from my yellow Mustang and then speed off with him following close. Terrapin Club members married 29 years, we cherish any mention of Cole.
Carolyn Norton Sarbacher '72
George Sarbacher '71
Potomac, Md.
1970--BY SITTING almost on the baseline, we would hear Tom McMillen softly saying, "Oops!" when he made a basket. After we beat South Carolina, we ran to the floor and I tousled Tom Riker's hair--he almost swung at me.
Jaak Pesti '70
Gaithersburg, Md.
MY PREGNANT wife and I attended the opening game against Virginia at Cole on Dec. 2, 1955. After the game, she went into labor and our son was born the next day. Me, my son and grandsons have been attending games ever since their births. I graduated from Maryland, as did my wife, son and daughter. Hopefully our five grandchildren will be next. We are truly a herd of proud turtles.
Bill Steele '50
Silver Spring, Md.
