Colby College Digital Commons @ Colby Colby Alumnus Colby College Archives 1984 Colby Alumnus Vol. 73, No. 3: May 1984 Colby College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/alumnus Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Colby College, "Colby Alumnus Vol. 73, No. 3: May 1984" (1984). Colby Alumnus. 122. https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/alumnus/122 This Other is brought to you for free and open access by the Colby College Archives at Digital Commons @ Colby. It has been accepted for inclusion in Colby Alumnus by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Colby. TH LUMNUS�--- Features 12 A New Vision of Campus Lift> Reactions to Colby's residential commons plan were predictably varied, but a great many students have committed themselves to making the plan work. 17 Colby's MC'ln of Mystt>ry Robert B. Parker '54 steered clear of the ranks of Phi Beta Kappa at Colby, but his success in years following has been remarkable. 22 A Many-SplendorecJ Thing Professor Charles Bassett contemplates the varied challenges and rewards of teaching at Colby. 26 A New Kind of All-American Kaye Cross '84 is an outstanding student and athlete by anyone's measure. 28 Cards Hold Promise for Dahmen The artwork of Jane Melanson Dahmen '63 has been accorded interna­ tional recognition. 29 An Ambassador of Scholarship The Colby Library Quarterly earns recognition for Colby throughout the academic world. 31 Kevin Hill. 1929-1984 A precious few influence their communities so profoundly as did Kevin Hill '50. DepartinentsEustis Mailroom 5 News from the Hill 32 Class Correspondence 46 Milestones Alumni Club News (inside back cover) Volume 73, Number 3, May 1984 The Colby Alumnus is published quarterly On the Covers: (Front) Binney Hare '84 con­ Editor: Lane Fisher Editorial Interns: for the alumni, friends, parents of students, centrates on the final touches she adds to her Karen Jo Giammusso '86 and John Beaudoin seniors, and faculty of Colby College. Con­ January Program sculpture, a project that '87 Design and Production: Bonnie Bishop cise letters to the editor are invited. The was supported by a grant from Colby's stu­ Photography: Lynn Mosher Bushnell and editor reserves the right to edit letters or dent special projects committee. (Back) High Mathew Leibowitz '87, unless otherwise publish excerpts as spatial constraints de­ spirits prevail over early spring slush and credited. mand. snow as Colby harriers Mark Pagnano '87, John Moore '87, Phil Thornton '87, Arthur Feeley '85, Kevin Farley '86, and Andrew Sheehan '86 train for the approaching sea­ son. (Photos by Lynn Mosher Bushnell.) EUSTIS MAILROOM Pro on Caen for the total educational process by and Hartours come up with in that makes us delighted that our the way of new adventures, but it As the mother of a "Colby in daughter is at Colby. will take great resourcefulness to Caeneuse," I was delighted to re­ match this last African tour. ceive my January Colby Alumnus. Anne C. Bean The interesting and accurate re­ Melrose, Mass. Louise Holt McGee '40 porting of life and events com­ Fort Fairfield, Maine pleted the picture that many Happy Trails photos and letters from Gretchen '85 have given us of her year away. The Colby College Kenya safari Venerable Class Notes The program is to be com­ was beautifully planned with in­ mended as it is and will continue finite attention to detail. Quite I thoroughly enjoyed last fall's to be a highlight of her education. frankly, had this trip not been workshop for class correspondents In the brief conversations we have originally proposed through Colby, and other alumni volunteers. The had with our daughter, we are de­ I doubt very much that I would major frustration of being a cor­ lighted with the quality of her have given it a second thought. It respondent, however, seems to re­ French, as well as the exposure to was the involvement of the College main unsolved: the time lag in culture and civilization that Pro­ that assured me that the safari publishing class news. fessor Greenspan has coordinated would be first class, as it was. My classmates are pretty consci­ for them. He must be an extraor­ Well in advance of our depar­ entious about returning their ques­ dinary person to remain sane and ture date, Steve Kirstein '80 of tionnaires quite promptly. By the unruffled amidst the confusion and Hartours [the photographic safari's time I synthesize their news into a terror that can accompany a year­ coordinating agent] provided a list column and the College gets the abroad program. His courtesy and of suggested readings that I found Alumnus published, much infor­ calmness at the airport in Septem­ quite helpful. It is an advantage to mation is sadly outdated. As a ber made the departure less trau­ have some idea of the customs and good example, a questionnaire matic for the nervous parents who culture of the people who live in a went out to the Class of '66 in gathered together for mutual sup­ different environment, one which August, but news from it did not port. Our task now as parents will added to my enjoyment. appear until nearly six months be to get them back on the The anticipation of traveling and later. "farm," now that they have seen sharing the experience with a Col­ Class columns are important to Paree, not to mention Tignes, Val by group, who at one time or alumni and help generate a fellow­ d'Is'ere, Milan, Athens, London, another had had common interests, ship that encourages support for and other sights. was exciting. Although it had been the College. I am not familiar with Perhaps other parents happily many years since college days for production schedules and snags noted the editor's note at the end some of us, we 10 easily estab­ that might develop in them, but it of the article, which pointed out lished a camaraderie at the begin­ seems that if "manpower" is the that the author not only is em­ ning of the tour. Two weeks later problem in publishing more timely ployed, but also is using the skills we parted with the expectation of class news, Colby could summon she gained at Colby and abroad. reuniting in June 1984 to renew the resources to handle it. That i a wonderful bonus from friendships, compare photos, and the program. revive memories. Jan Atherton Cox '66 Thank you, Colby, once more I'll be watching to see what Col- Falmouth, Maine THE COLBY ALUMNUS 11 I have read every word of the tions to the College and have set Report of the Trustee Commission examples and followed ideals Greek Dichotomies on Campus Life, and I think it's a worthy of the highest tradition of marvelously well-written and per­ the College. suasively argued document. It is I would like to commend all of I have read with sorrow and ap­ also bold. It changes the course of the members of the commission, preciation the Report of the Colby history. who worked so long, hard, and Trustee Commission on Campus It's unfortunate that in so many honestly to deal with a difficult Life at Colby. Regrettable as some respects the fraternities-mine and controversial issue. I would aspects of the picture were, I feel perhaps most egregiously so-did like, also, to think that I speak for sure that positives can be made of themselves in in a long, drawn-out, all alumni when I say that I will the negatives. Any alumni who hari-kari passion play. But this continue to support Colby to the read the report carefully and fact notwithstanding, the commons best of my ability and that I wish thoughtfully will be impressed by idea will, I believe, stand on its it the very best of luck as it enters the amount of study, consider­ own merits. I know, have worked upon a new, and hopefully better, ation, and reflection that it repre­ with, and respect unquestioningly era. sents. the honesty and sense of fair play To me, the Mayflower Hill cam­ of members of the administration. George J. Markley '67 pus has always seemed like the I have every confidence that they'll Fairfield, Conn. realization and even the glorifica­ make the new system work. PLP tion of a dream. My generation Onward and upward! lived and learned on both sides of George Markley testified in sup­ the railroad tracks and graduated Anthony M. Maramarco '71 port of fraternities before the during the first World War. Yet Simsbury, Conn. Trustee Commission on Campus we .shared warm companionship KDR Life. and inspiring and often challenging teaching. But times are changing, and for I strongly agree with the commis­ No doubt my emotional responses those who listen the hour has sion's conclusions and feel now, struck for Colby to rebuild again to the abolition of fraternities will for the first time, that I can -this time within its own-physical, wane as time goes by, as indeed recommend Colby to prospective psychological, and ideological they were tempered by the compel­ students as a college that is wholly structure. ling logic generally found through­ committed to fostering intellectual I was fortunate enough to share, out the Report of the Trustee curiosity and development. as an alumni trustee, in the "ago­ Commission on Campus Life. ny and ecstasy'' of the abandon­ However, for some time to come, I Patricia Maguire '79 ment of the "Old Bric ks" and the will probably be nagged by the Windsor, Conn. move to Mayflower Hill. I admit feeling, albeit irrational, that the XO that the presently planned reforma­ decision has in some manner been tion also involves me in an emo­ a personal attack on those of us tional readjustment.