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Hubert Dreyfus Thank you for the enjoyable and illuminating article, “A Conversation with Hubert Dreyfus” (June 2004). Bert Dreyfus is indeed the proverbial life-changing teacher: I was an undergrad following the path of least resistance toward law school before taking his amazing Continental philosophy courses at Berkeley in the late 1980s, which encouraged me to become a philosophy professor myself. It was a real pleasure reading Bert’s candid, funny, and profound reflections on a life of teaching and research which has touched and transformed so many of us. Iain Thomson ’91 Albuquerque, New Mexico As an alumnus, as well as a former faculty member (1968–71), I was delighted to see the Q&A with Professor Dreyfus. Bert has, over the years, exemplified what the word teacher means. His work outlining the limitations of artificial intelligence has been seminal. His explication of Heideggerian philosophy has almost single-handedly resulted in the current prominence of applied Heideggerian philosophy. It was a treat to read the interview. Vonnie Gurgin ’66, M.A. ’69 Berkeley The Cal experience I loved Emily Kagan’s graduation poem, “Note to Self” (“CalZone,” June). She has a wonderful ability to capture the often unrecognized moments that, when added together, give form to the larger and more intangible change and growth that take place over the course of one’s college experience. Her deft use of language made me nostalgic for my days as an English major; I wish such a speech would have been made at my graduation from Cal. Liz Arney ’90 Orinda Nutty measurement I was shocked when I read “Silent Streams” (“Talk of the Gown,” June) to find out that there were “over a billion tons of almonds harvested in California last year.” Don’t we wish! I believe you will find that it was a billion pounds. Everett Johnson ’46 Turlock UC poetry I am writing to comment on the “Do UC a poem?” announcements run at my urging in recent issues of the Monthly asking for Cal-related poems to be published in an anthology. To date, I have received 30 poems from graduates who have written about their alma mater (one is about a 70th reunion gathering). Because I have received only four undergraduate poems, I am extending the deadline for submissions until December 2004. If any reader would like to send a poem, please do so by mailing me at 3165 S. Wilshire Drive, Redding 96002, or by e-mailing rocky@shasta.com. Rocky Main ’49 Redding Reginald Zelnik My heart stopped for a moment when I heard about the death of Reggie Zelnik. I flashed back to a scene, circa 1966, in my history seminar--“The Russian Revolution”--taught by Reggie. On a lawn outside of Wheeler, about ten of us, mostly ardent young men eager to learn how to bring about their own revolution, earnestly and passionately discussed the history of that event. The sun was bright, the sky blue, the discussion boisterous. And there was Reggie--a big bear of a man with a shock of unruly dark hair and intense brown eyes, guiding the group. He will be frozen in time for me like that. I had the good fortune to have learned from some of the best in the history department--Brentano, Slottman, Litwack--all of whom were inspirational in a “star quality” kind of way. But Reggie had a quiet energy. He was able to make me, a callow 19-year-old girl, feel that I was a valued part of the discussion and one whose opinion mattered. I must have written two dozen or so history papers while at Cal. I saved one, and have it to this day: my paper for Reggie. He took the time to really read, understand, comment on, criticize, and praise the paper. His thoughtful and encouraging words stayed with me always. The Cal community is diminished by his loss. Betsy Franklin ’68 Oakland Editor’s note: See Leon Litwack’s remembrance of Professor Zelnik here. |
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