Telluride Newsletter
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Telluride Newsletter 1978 ~eptember Volume 66, Number 1 CONVENTION GUARDEDLY OPTIMISTIC In sharp contrast with the note of gloom and doom on which the 1977 Telluride Association Convention had closed, when TA members gathered for the 1978 Convention, the fi- nancial news was good: Custodians managed the Trust Fund Gzrarded to its best performance in recent memory; Cornell guaranteed Optimists support for Ithaca TASPs through 1982; and Telluride Devel- . opment Council reported annual giving was up almost 100%. or pessimist^ Unlike last year, no fundamental changes were on the 1978 Convention agenda. Stringent economies were observed, but Convention avoided eliminating programs outright. Summer Programs After a brief hiatus, TASPs return to robust health during the 1978 Convention. 1979 reserves were set up for a Deep Springs summer session, a Johns Hopkins TASP, and two Cornell TASPs. Encouraged by Cornell University's agreement to foot half the bill, Convention voted funding for the two bers and to vote the elevation of another, leaving the 1978-79 traditional 16-student Cornell TASPs-in 1979, instead of one roll of members at 73. The new members are Hallie DeChant, 20-student TASP, as held in 1978. Leonard Loomis, Mary Mansfield, Ken Pomeranz, Lili Stern, Deep Springs and Mark Thomas. Those whose resignations were accepted Deep Springs College continued to play an important role in are Douglas Bailey, Norman Brokaw, James Johnston, Arthur Association business during the 1978 Convention. Once again Melzer, and two formcr TA presidents - Robert King and Dean Edwin M. Cronk was present and gave a DS report. In Abram Shulsky. Jonathan Brezin was elevated. addition, many DS students attended all five days of Conven- Those anxious to save the Association from the clutches of tion. the Smithsonian Institution can also breathe easier thanks to Besides funding for the 1979 DS summer session (under- the successful work of the Doom, Disaster, and Unanticipated taken as a memorial to James Dean (DS58 CB6l TA62), TA Dissolution Committee, which managed to get Article 111, made its final $1,800 contribution to the Rinehart-Telluride Section 8, of the Constitution amended, so that the Association Memorial Professorship. will not cease to exist if membership should fall below 60. An Cornell Branch amendment to the By-Laws, reducing the reimbursement for The Cornell Branch budget was cut severely in 1977-Asso- Convention travel expenses, failed. ciation members evidently hoping that Branchmembers' hard South Africa work and efficient use of food, gas, and electricity would hold Perhaps the longest debate of this year's Convention took the line against inflation. In evaluation, the Cornell Branch continued on page two Committee noted Housemembers were more res onsible and ingenious in their institutional work than ever be f ore, but that Human Rights Symposium this alone could not meet rising expenses. Consequently, items A' Victor Baras Memorial Symposium on the subject of in fhe Branch budget such as utilities were adjusted for ex- human rights will be held at Cornell Branch on Saturday, pected price increases. While some Branchmembers maintained October 14. Papers and comments upon them will be pre- Branch life had suffered due to the necessary institutional work, sented in the morning and afternoon, followed by a general most agreed the workload was acceptable, and did not cause discussion. Luncheon and dinner for participants, attendees serious problems at CBTA. Extended discussions were devoted and Housemembers will be served at the Branch. to the relationship between the House and TA. The main Human rights in relation to international politics and point at issue was blurbing. Some Housemembers felt blurbing United States domestic and foreign policies will be covered served to undermine trust between TA and non-TA members, in the papers to be presented by Fred E. Baurnann (CB62 and damaged House morale. Many felt the practice should TA64), Paul D. Wolfowitz (SP60 CB61 TA62), Charles become more democratic by including more non-TA members H. Fairbanks, Jr. (SP62 CB64 TA65), and Allan Bloom, in deliberations. A resolution to add three non-TA members frequent CB faculty guest. The symposium will be chaired to the Blurbing Committee was narrowly defeated. by Cornell Government Professor Myron Rush. Rush and Telluride Association Abrarn Shulsky (SP58 CB59 TA61) will serve as commen- In one respect, 1978 proved a landmark in the history of the tators. Association, since a member of Berkeley Branch was elected Organized by Donna and Cliff Orwin, the symposiu-n TA President. Eric Swanson (DS65 BB68 TA69) succeeds will be jointly hosted by Cornell Branch, Telluride Associa- Nathan Tarcov in the post. {See article, page 3). He will be tion, and ADSTA. All past and present Nunnian associates, assisted by Stephen Sestanovich as Vice President, and Mark alumni and friends are cordially invited. Please write or Thomas as Secretary. call the TA Office for further information, if you wish to A large in-coming group of new TA members made it attend the Baras Memorial Symposium. easier for Convention to accept the resignations of six mem- Elections, Honors, Memorials CBTA Guest Demesne The current Cornell Board of Trustees has three Telluride Nothing much can be done about thundering hooves on the alumni as members: Albert E. Arent (CB29 TA30) was stairway to and from the third floor, but otherwise Telluride's elected to a five-year term as alumni trustee; Samuel R. Pierce, VIP guest room is now ready to welcomc the most "I" of Jr. (CB47) rejoined the Board (formerly alumni trustee, Telluride's and Cornell's "P's." 1972-77) as a member-at-large for a five-year term; reelected Newly-elected Cornell trustee Albert E. Arent (CB29 to a one-year term was Jacob Sheinkman (CB48 TA49). TA30), as a member of the Law School Council has had more Special awards and honors granted Cornell Branchmembers occasion than most to observe the deterioration of our guest during spring 1978 are: BARNESSHAKESPEARE PRIZE, First quarters. The date of the last renovation is shrouded in the Prize and Honorable Mention, Susan Biafzconi; CLARKTEACH- mists of time and the mysteries of old Minutes, but it predates ING AWARD, Best Teaching Assistant, Stephen Fix; J.G. the current administration. This means that Linus Pauling, WHITESCHOLARSHIP (Cornell Romance Studies Department, Aaron Copland, Norman Thomas, Walter Reuther, Jules for non-native Spanish speakers), Patrick J. OIConnor; BURR Feiffer, Henry Morgentheau, Theodore Bikel, Henry Wallace, AWARD,Eric H. Wefald; PEMBERTONCUP, Steven D. Cohen. Allen Ginsberg, Strom Thurmond, Ramsay Clark, I.F. Stone, News from the "Oxford Branch" of Telluride Association: Alger Hiss, Frank Church, Saul Kripke, and Lord Murray of Granted Firsts in PPE, Oxford University, were Carol F. Lee Newhaven, among many others, have lived with us in varying (SP71), Kathleen M. Sullivan (SP71 CB72 TA74), and degrees of inelegance. Be it noted they all, including Mr. Harold G. Levy (CB74 TA75). Arent, have been very nice about it. In mid-April a symposium on the subject of human rights was held as a memorial for Victor Bmas at the New School for Social Research. Paul K/olfowitz and Abram Shulsky, among others, spoke; other Telluriders in attendance included Bob King, Chuck Bazerman, John Burleigh, Cary Lord, Clif Or- win, and Nathan Tarcov. Convention continued from page one place on Saturday, June 10, when it was moved that "a poll be taken of members present and represented by proxy to deter- mine their positions on corporate withdrawal from South Africa, and that the Association President be instructed to vote our shares in shareholder resolutions on the question in propor- tion to the results." The ensuing discussion resulted in the adoption of a clear policy on the voting of TA shares in cor- porate resolutions. First, the resolution was amended to delete the principle of proportional voting of shares. Second, the President was instructed to vote all TA shares in favor of reso- lutions calling for corporate withdrawal from South Africa. Third, TARP was amended so that corporate depositors should abstain from voting TA's shares, except on express instructions from the President. Financial The substantial accomplishments of the 1978 Convention were achieved at the cost of a projected $8,000 deficit for 1978-79. This figure should be compared with last year's Gracious Living in Room 14 budget deficit of $23,000. There are a number of reasons why a continued deficit is disquieting, not the least of which is that the sharp increase in spendable income this year may not be Enough was enough, however, and last fall this alumnus- duplicated in 1979-80. The sudden imposition of the new trustee-law councillor generously offered the wherewithal to Spendable Income Formula caused a sharp drop in spendable make Room 14, Cornell Branch, a guest room worthy of its income for 1977; although it rose sharply this year, it is not frequently-distinguished occupants. Old layers cf plintedP aPer anticipated spendable income will return to the levels attained were stripped, plaster patched, fresh paint applied, carpeting under the old formula. Another cause for concern was the laid, bathtub refinished, good beds and comfortable furniture realization this year that all fat has been trimmed off our pro- installed, blinds hung, handsome coverlets and matching drapes grams. If additional future savings become necessary, they custom made-and, for decor, living plants moved in. The will have to be achieved through wholesale cutbacks-such as colors are earthy: terra cotta, soft brown, beige and cream, with House renovations, salaried positions, entire programs-and/or the varying greens of corn-plant, dracaenae - warnecki and substantial increases in spendable income. Certain measures margenta - and philodendron as contrast. taken by the 1978 Convention hold promise for the attainment The result has this summer's TASPers peering enviously whenever the door is unlocked for sheet-changing, plant-water- of the goal of increased spendable income - an aggressive fund-raising program was presented and ratified; a thorough ing, etc.