Covering diversity
I am always attracted to the magazine’s cover and was pleased to see its featured photo of Provost and Dean of the Faculty Tracey Hucks ’87, MA’90 (spring 2018). That enticed me to scan inside for other photos and, as a result, appreciate visually the face of Colgate today. This, along with other aspects of Colgate’s progress, has made me prouder now to be an alumnus than I was many years ago. Back then, Colgate shined academically but fizzled demographically, a shortcoming that diminished its potential for expanding its students’ notions of America’s diversity. In this respect, it probably was no worse than many of its peer institutions. Those were the days, my friends.
Today Colgate is greater than it was. Yet I recognize that some alumni of my era, and perhaps some more recent graduates, yearn to Make Colgate Great Again. Sad. As much as I gained from my Colgate education, I wish it had been more like it is today. But that is only a half wish. Under its present standards, I probably would not have made the cut for admission. It was only well into my four years, if even then, that I may have approached today’s required level of excellence.
Jesse Etelson ’55
He noticed a slipup
Dear folks, I like numbers but I was confused by one in the spring 2018 issue of the Scene. The article concerning Professor Silvia Jiménez Bolaños and her fascination with Fibonacci numbers, in turn fascinated me. But I don’t understand why her left shoe bears two “2”s. It seems to me that one would suffice. Would you mind asking her where I’ve gone wrong and conveying same back to me?
Ted Schulenberg ’52
Dear Ted, You are absolutely correct. You found a mistake in my shoes! The number 2 should appear only once [the Fibonacci sequence is 0112358…]. They corrected the mistake after I bought the shoes. It is amazing that you were able to catch that!
My area of research doesn’t involve the Fibonacci sequence, but I’ve found it fascinating ever since my math teacher told us about it when I was 9 years old.
Thank you for reaching out.
Silvia Jiménez Bolaños, assistant professor of mathematics
Inspired by the vision statement
I received in the mail Colgate’s vision statement for its third century, and it inspired me to think about what Colgate means to me. I call my vision statement “The Thirteen Principles of Colgate.” (I did borrow one point from Colgate University’s Third Century vision statement about intellectual rigor, which I liked.)
- Colgate University is a small liberal arts college in upstate New York with big aspirations.
- Colgate students work hard and play hard.
- Colgate’s faculty is world class and sets a standard of intellectual rigor for the university.
- Colgate’s administration and staff embrace the values of diligence and common sense.
- Colgate’s alumni are the beating heart of the institution and the guardians of its traditions and worth.
- Colgate is American, good and bad, yet also welcomes and interacts with the world.
- Colgate is inseparable from the beauty of its campus in Hamilton, N.Y., situated proudly in the Chenango Valley.
- Colgate is its people, maroon and white, a Raider Nation.
- The stewardship of Colgate University is a sacred trust.
- The essential character of Colgate University is encapsulated in its motto Deo ac Veritati.
- Don’t overthink it; try to get along with other Colgate people.
- Enjoy every minute of your association with Colgate.
- And Let Colgate Be Colgate!
Daniel Wiseman ’85
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