From the Editor from the Reader
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VMagSmr05_C1_final 8/1/05 3:09 PM Page 1 VANDERBILT MAGAZINE Vsummer 2005 A Taste of World Peace Katrina Markoff ’s truffles offer more than beautifully prepared chocolate. They reveal a philosophy of life. also: Greetings from Vanderbilt Elvis Biographer Peter Guralnick The Future of Libraries VMagSmr05_C2 8/1/05 12:15 PM Page 1 “The puzzling or curious situations I develop appear much like a movie still with an implied story, but few clues are given about the final outcome,” says Professor of Art Marilyn Murphy of her work. “The viewer must determine what has happened to bring the characters or elements to this point and how the situation will resolve itself, often implying the work of an unseen hand just outside the frame.” Shown here: “The Lifesaver,” oils on canvas, 40” X 30”. VMagSmr05_pg1.final 7/25/05 4:07 PM Page 1 one Big Vanderbilt Weekend Celebration Reunion class parties for the undergraduate classes of 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000. Homecoming events for ALL alumni, students, family and friends, including “Classes Without Quizzes” educational events, cocktails and conversation with the chancellor, Homecoming Tailgate, Commodore football against Georgia, the Commodore ReVUe Parade, Dynamite Blast and more. This is the place to see all your friends! Homecoming and Reunion October 14–15, 2005 Last year more than 5,000 alumni and friends returned to campus to reconnect and reminisce. This year will be even bigger. Come be part of the excitement. To find out more and register online, visit www.vanderbilt.edu/alumni Join the Crowd! VMagSmr05_pg4-7.final 7/25/05 4:13 PM Page 5 DoreWays From the Editor From the Reader Blessed by Elvis Tunneling I enjoyed reading the tunnel article in the recent Vanderbilt Magazine [Spring 2005 f you liked music, Memphis could be a heady place to live in the issue,“What Lies Beneath?” p. 32]. However, late ’60s. Blues legends like Muddy Waters played regularly in the parks and I would offer one additional step in the build- small bars. Stax recording artists were changing music and the Memphis music A forum for exchanging ideasA forum for exchanging ing process. Before the tunnel is built, it is scene. And, of course, there was Elvis. Whether you felt his genius died with his important to select a contractor who is expe- induction into the army, or that his work had simply evolved a little out of sync rienced in driving tunnels, understands the with mainstream rock, Memphis was his home. He was our boy. geology of this part of Nashville, and has the That’s why I was excited to read this issue’s brief interview with biographer Peter appropriate equipment to build the project. IGuralnick. I wanted to know why he wrote a book about Elvis. Turns out it wasn’t the In addition, there are a couple of tech- over-the-top fame, or even the fact that Elvis had defined rock music. It was an image nical matters I would like to correct. The Guralnick had of a young, pimply faced Memphis boy sitting at the soda counter drum- “drilling equipment” you spoke of is known ming his fingers, waiting for his cousin, waiting for his life to unfold. That made the in the industry as a “tunnel boring machine,” story worth telling. and the head on this machine is 8.5 feet in Many of us who came of age in Memphis had diameter, instead of 8.5 inches. The article our Elvis stories, and I was no exception. I grew was fun to read. up within sight of Graceland, and have memories George David Waller III, BE’62 of standing in the front yard with visiting relatives Nashville as my mom and dad pointed out Elvis’ barn to our delighted guests. Later, when I picked up a guitar and Clear Channel dreamed of music fame myself, I joined a band with Look, I understand your article [Spring one of Elvis’ stepbrothers. We practiced in a shed that 2005 issue,“Signal Strength,”p. 38] focused bordered Graceland’s stone wall, and joked about rehears- on the accomplishments of [Mark] Mays, ing in the shadow of one of rock’s major figures. Then but the whitewash of the controversies of one afternoon, as the final chord to one rock standard Clear Channel’s influence peddling, screw- or another echoed away, a voice spoke: “You boys are ing artists who don’t toe the line, etc., was pretty good.” disappointing—not a single interview or It was Elvis. comment from any of their adversaries. Mak- He stood in the doorway for a few seconds, then was gone. Of course, we weren’t ing Clear Channel look like a white knight “pretty good.”We weren’t even average. We were 17 years old and uninspired musi- is truly disgusting. What’s next? Let the the- cians. But from that day, we had something few, if any, musicians (and I might add ologians write about “Intelligent Design” here, editors) could claim. We were blessed by Elvis. without any comments from the scientists? I was “pretty good”; the King had spoken. I’m thinking that an Elvis pronounce- Jim Hayes ment isn’t time-limited, so I’m hoping some of what Elvis saw in me has rubbed off Via e-mail on Vanderbilt Magazine. Pull a chair into the shade, and spend some time with this issue. Take a look at “Greetings from Vanderbilt”; you might want to use it to plan that I read with interest your article titled next vacation. Dip into “One Chocolate at a Time,”and contemplate the meaning of “Signal Strength” about Mark Mays and Clear your life without Katrina’s truffles. Channel Communications in the March issue Go ahead. It’s summer. The dog days. The season when Elvis left us, and a time when of Vanderbilt Magazine. I thought you would we all deserve to be blessed. be interested to learn that there are two other Ken Schexnayder Vanderbilt connections with Clear Chan- nel—myself (Law ’74) and Chris Robbins (Law ’97). I have served as FCC regulatory counsel to the company since 1990. Robbins Vanderbilt Magazine 5 VMagSmr05_pg4-7.final 7/25/05 4:17 PM Page 6 assisted on the account for the last six or seven your magazine, which reflects the goals and What I loved about Vanderbilt was its years, devoting most of his time to obtaining objectives of Vanderbilt University. It is time rich traditions. To change the name of Con- FCC approval for the radio acquisitions for you, Mr. Editor, to speak up and tell us federate Hall is political correctness gone described in your article. He is now a mem- alumni what your intentions are for this mag- awry and a slap in the face of those who con- ber of the legal staff of the FCC’s Audio Ser- azine. Is it to keep presenting the far-left polit- tributed to Vanderbilt. vices Division, which oversees the radio ical bias, as Mr. Feehan calls for, or are you Erica Dorwart, BA’90, MEd’92 industry. So all bases are covered! going to try to be “fair and balanced”? Tulsa, Okla. Richard J. Bodorff, JD’74 Carl W. Conner, BE’62, MS’64 Washington, D.C. Rockville, Md. I was gratified to see that you featured the letter by Jack Walker as to polling the Fair and Balanced Confederate Hall alumni for the disposition of renaming Con- In our previous letters to you, several I am indebted to Mr. Jack D. Walker, federate Hall. You published my letter in oppo- of us noted that your magazine presents a A’49, for suggesting a poll of Vandy alumni sition to its “renaming” a year or so ago. politically left bias in its articles and we urged on the subject of [renaming] Confederate I hope the poll will reveal that graduates you to present a more “fair and balanced” Memorial Hall on the campus of Peabody of Vanderbilt will rise above the political cor- view. Now Mr. [Patrick] Feehan has urged [Spring 2005 issue,“From the Reader,”p. 6]. rectness mentality that seems to pervade our you to stay where you are, citing a “freedom I am very happy to express my opinion. society so much and recognize that history is of speech” argument [Spring 2005 issue,“From I have sharply differed with the vice chan- just that and is not the relabeling target of the Reader,”p. 5]. Sure, you are free to pres- cellor for public affairs in years past about those wanting to “feel good”! ent any view that you like, just as we alum- attempting to rewrite history because some Paul E. Tanksley, BE’54 ni are free to support any university that we overly sensitive students were offended. Dallas, Ore. like. It is not a matter of “freedom of speech”; Every dog has his day, and I am having my it is a matter of the goals and objectives of day now. I have just received word that the I am writing in respect to your fea- steely-eyed Tennessee Court of Appeals has tured letter in the Spring 2005 magazine just handed the Vanderbilt lawyers and the regarding Confederate Hall. I believe that Gee team a lesson in contract law. I now hope building was donated in good faith by the that this insane work to destroy the embed- Daughters of the Confederacy with the under- ded Southern Heritage at Old Vandy will cease standing it would be named “Confederate and the administration will get on with the Hall” in remembrance of fathers, husbands, work of making the University an even bet- uncles, etc., who died during the Civil War.