Class news: 2005

******************************************************

The Class of 1952: Supporters of Education

Two recent items of note indicate the dedication of members of the Class and their families to education.

Adela Wilmerding has brought our attention to an article from NewsSmith, the Smith College newsletter:

New Teaching Award Honors Smith Faculty:
Four faculty members were named the first winners of the Kathleen Compton Sherrerd '54 and John J. F. Sherrerd Prizes for Distinguished Teaching. The new Sherrerd Teaching Award is to be given annually to Smith faculty members in recognition of their distinguished teaching records and demonstrated enthusiasm and excellence. The winners of the first Sherrerd Teaching Awards are David Cohen, professor of mathematics; Shizuka Hsieh, assistant professor chemistry; Mahnaz Mahdavi, associate professor of economics; and Vittoria Poletto, senior lecturer in Italian language and literature. The four faculty members were honored at a presentation of the award on April 21.

And devotion to education continues to the next generation, as witnessed by this article from the October Tiger E-News:

Murley family donation to fund tower at Whitman College
An alumni couple has made a significant gift to the Whitman College complex to commemorate their 25th wedding anniversary and the start of undergraduate coeducation at Princeton 35 years ago. The gift from Charter Trustee Robert S. Murley '72 and Mary Pivirotto Murley '76 will fund construction of the imposing gothic tower that is among the new college's most prominent architectural features.

More information about the generous contribution to Princeton from Dick and Mimi's daughter and son-in-law and about the donors themselves can be found in an article at http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pwb/04/0927/1a.shtm, which notes that "The family’s ties to the University span four generations."

********************************************************************

[Ed. note: A recent Playbill reports that "Extraordinary support for the arts was a way of life and a labor of love" for our classmate, hotel entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Jay Sharp (1930-1992). Bob Lovell spotted the following that shows that his philanthropic spirit and devotion to the arts live on.]

Endowment Doubles for Brooklyn Academy
By FELICIA R. LEE

New York Times, October 5, 2004

As the Brooklyn Academy of Music prepares to unveil its $8.6 million exterior restoration, academy officials say the long-struggling institution's turnaround has been strengthened by two major gifts totaling $30 million, more than doubling its endowment. With its fatter pocketbook and face-lift, the 143-year-old academy is poised to become "the quintessential urban arts center of the 21st century - with music, dance, theater, opera, film and a large education program," Karen Brooks Hopkins, president of the institution, said recently.
A $20 million pledge from the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, which supports education and cultural endeavors; a $10 million gift from two supporters, Richard B. Fisher and Jeanne Donovan Fisher; and other contributions have increased the endowment to more than $50 million from about $18 million, said Ms. Hopkins and the academy's executive producer, Joseph V. Melillo.
The pledges and contributions do not mean that the institution can cut back on fund-raising in an era of general economic uncertainty and dwindling foundation, government and corporate support for the arts, Ms. Hopkins said. The Sharp Foundation money, for instance, will be delivered over five years.
And while the Brooklyn Academy's comeback has been widely lauded in recent years, Ms. Hopkins said that its place in New York culture would depend on factors beyond money and edgy programming, factors like the fortunes of Brooklyn.
Academy officials are betting that a revived Brooklyn reflects the institution's future. They are in preliminary negotiations to buy the Salvation Army building on Ashland Place, which is next to the academy. The building would be used for education and community purposes, and include classrooms, small theaters and meetings spaces, Ms. Hopkins said.
Now, the endowment money buys some breathing space for long-range planning amid the hectic pace of fund-raising, Ms. Hopkins said. For years, the academy was so busy surviving, she said, that it was not until 1992 that it had an endowment.
Endowments are "increasingly critical to the survival" of nonprofit institutions during tough times, Kate D. Levin, the New York City cultural affairs commissioner, said.
"Endowments don't mean much to the average Joe but it definitely is a kind of institutional solidification," Ms. Levin said. "What it means long-term is enormous. It's got to make funders more confident."
Some of the premier arts organizations have huge endowments. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, for instance, has an endowment of well over a billion dollars. Carnegie Hall's endowment is $150 million, with $51 million more in uncollected pledges and gifts.
Given institutions' different missions and operating costs, comparisons are wasted motion, but a healthy endowment signals a certain stability and a financial cushion, Ms. Levin said.
For the Brooklyn Academy, the endowment news rides the wave of a renaissance in housing and the arts in Brooklyn. The academy has recorded a 40 percent uptick in attendance from five years ago. Its audiences are younger than those that flock to institutions like the New York City Opera, and 65 percent come from Brooklyn, compared with the predominantly Manhattan audiences of the past.
The academy began its first season in 1861 in a Brooklyn Heights building, which burned down in 1903. It opened its Beaux-Arts building at 30 Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene in 1908 and for years has been a microcosm of a changing Brooklyn.
Things were so bad in the 1960's that there was talk of turning the building into tennis courts, and by the 80's crack had moved into the neighborhood. The academy has since distinguished itself as the home of the Next Wave Festival of contemporary performing arts and, in an area with one of the largest black populations in the country, for culturally diverse programming and audiences.
For instance, the 22nd season of the Next Wave Festival, which begins today, features "Othello" from the London-based Cheek by Jowl theater company; the Polish director Krzysztof Warlikowski's American debut with "The Dybbuk," taken from Jewish folklore; and an all African-American cast in Flaubert's "The Temptation of St. Anthony," with music and libretto by Bernice Johnson Reagon of the a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock.
Also on the calendar will be the Oct. 24 celebration of the restoration of the academy's building. The name "Peter Jay Sharp," carved on either side of the building, will be unveiled.
"They're an institution for the future of New York," Norman L. Peck, president of the Sharp Foundation, said of the decision to contribute to the academy.
"Having a strong, solid BAM out there is not only good for Brooklyn and Fort Greene but all of New York," Mr. Peck said, because of the city's shifting demographics.
The foundation commissioned a study to understand how the academy drew young audiences, with an average age in the mid-30's compared with the upper 50's at institutions like Lincoln Center and City Opera, he said.
"It's a combination of programs that attracted a youthful audience, but the youthful audience was coming to Brooklyn anyway to live," he said. "They couldn't afford to live in Manhattan."

******************************************************

Some pre-season football intelligence from Ray Close'51, via Paul Mueller.
.
"I was watching the first football preseason workouts this week and was accosted by an old geezer who said he was the grandfather of Jordan Munde, a freshman running back (#34) from Palos Verdes Estates, California, a graduate of Peninsula High School. According to Grandpa, Jordan broke all the rushing records established some years ago at that high school by a guy who went on to became a big star at USC (sorry I don't remember the name). Jordan was recruited by Stanford, Penn, Yale, Dartmouth and Harvard, but "liked Princeton best". The Class of 2008 roster says he's 6'0" and weighs 200 lbs, but my new informant tells me he's 6'2". I also learned from the garrulous old fellow that Jordan is an A student and has a brother at Annapolis. His father is a motorcycle cop in Los Angeles, and his mother is an airline pilot who can get him free tickets back and forth to LA. Here's an excellent baseball player (1st baseman), but plans to devote all his energies to football. His girlfriend is also entering with the Class of 2008. She's an All-State water polo player. And here's another minor piece of TOP SECRET intelligence volunteered by the proud old Grandpa, who never even asked my name: Jordan and his girlfriend are both virgins. They're into religion, said the old boy with a wink. (What would those kids do if they knew he'd said that to me, a total stranger?)
So there you are, guys. I may have been a lousy spy in the real world, but as a sports reporter, I should get a medal, don't you think?
Question for Bob Varrin: Last Spring, when we were sitting at the same table with Roger Hughes at the annual football awards dinner, I remember that Roger said something about having some terrific (unnamed) running back in the incoming freshman class, but neither of us could figure out later exactly who this kid might be. I guessed at the time that it might be Jake Staser, from Alaska (225 lbs), who got a number of rave press notices when he first accepted to come to Princeton. But maybe it was Jordan Munde. Do you have any new information on that? (With Jon Veach and Brandon Benson, we should be in pretty good shape when it comes to running the ball.)
Princeton is going to end up much better than 6th in the league. More like 3rd.
Note we scrimmage Yale in the pre-season. That should tell us something.
September 18th will be the first game."

Dickinson College Awards Honorary Degree to Hal Saunders

Following is the text of the citation for the honorary degree Dickinson conferred on Hal Saunders on May 21:

"Come, let us reason together." This bible verse is ideally suited for a citation in honor of Harold H. Saunders. At a time when our nation seems inextricably mired in conflict, your extraordinary career testifies to the power of sustained dialogue. You served your country for over two decades - as an Air Force officer, a Foreign Service Officer and a member of the White House Staff in the National Security Council. An expert on the Middle East and South Asia, you helped to mediate five Arab-Israeli agreements and to lay the groundwork for the Camp David Accords, the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty and the release of the U.S. hostages in Tehran.

Since leaving government service, you have intensified your personal efforts on behalf of conflict resolution and reconciliation in Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, the Middle East and within the United States. You currently serve as Director of International Affairs at the Kettering Foundation and as Chairman and President of the International Institute for Sustained Dialogue. Your published works are an indispensable resource for both academics and practitioners involved in negotiations, and you are also involved in cultivating the next generation of problem solvers and peace makers at selected colleges and universities, including Dickinson College.

You are the recipient of the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service - the nation's highest award for civilian officers. You have also received the State Department's Distinguished Honor Award, the "excellence in career" award from your Alma Mater, Princeton University, and the "Search for Common Ground Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Academy of Diplomacy. You also have the distinct honor, and good fortune, to be married to Carol Saunders, a distinguished Dickinson College alumna.

Mr. President, I am honored to present to you Mr. Harold H. Saunders, an engaged academic and an informed and principled practitioner, who personifies the values that Dickinson seeks to instill in all of its graduates, for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of International Relations.

*******************************

Gerhard Andlinger '52 gives $25 million to university

In a move that sends Princeton's anniversary campaign over the $1 billion mark, Gerhard R. Andlinger '52, an investment banker, has given $25 million for new campus projects. Andlinger is the chairman and founder of Andlinger & Company, Inc., a private investment firm.

Andlinger, who grew up in Austria, in 1948 won an essay contest sponsored by the New York Herald Tribune and came to America. A year and a half later, he arrived at Princeton with a scholarship and $8 in cash. He earned an M.B.A. at Harvard and after serving in the U.S. Army began working at the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. He founded his company in 1977.

This is not Andlinger's first major gift to Princeton. In 1991 he established the Gerhard R. Andlinger '52 Professorship of Social Sciences, held by professor Robert J. Wuthnow.

Two of Andlinger's five children attended Princeton, Merrick '80 and Nicole '91.

*****************************

ITALIAN SOJOURN
'52 Equestrians Hit the Tuscan Trail

by: J.C. ("Chips") Chester

As usual, the three intrepid Class equestrians, consisting of Messrs. Collins, Jiranek and the author, embarked on our annual horseback ride-- this time in rural Tuscany. Of all of our rides in exotic foreign lands (there have been 9 in toto), this one clearly ranks as the most luxurious: No more sleeping in sleeping bags, as in Mongolia and Iceland; instead, we had private rooms with showers in a refurbished castle just 20 miles south of Siena. The estate was owned by an Italian financier, Signor Vittorio Cambria, and consisted of the castle complex, extensive farmland, and a stable full of horses. Unfortunately, we never met Mr. Cambria, as he was hospitalized for tests during our week at his Castello di Tocchi.

An unusual aspect of this Equitour program was a continuing cooking course-- under the leadership of Giancarlo Gianelli, a prominent Italian chef, who had just published a new cookbook, entitled: "The Taste of Memories" (which we all purchased). The cuisine was, of course, superb. This time we had several non-riders in our group who spent some time each day in "cooking school" and then drove out to meet us for luncheon on the trail.

Other innovations: Both Bob and Arthur produced brand new "state-of-the-art" digital cameras, which seemed to represent the same level of difficulty as locating the Class web site. After much study and mutual consultation, however, the cameras began to function. This was in distinct contrast to Arthur's also brand new "state-of-the-art" watch, which was supposed to sound off at regular intervals to remind him to take medication. However, this wonder of modern technology never managed to function at all. My idiot-proof Olympia camera, which I purchased in South Africa in 2001, produced photos from 4 rolls of film which I consider of good if not superior quality. However, like its owner, the camera is old and out of date.

But let me start from the beginning: We spent our first night in Florence with our '52 classmate, Douglas Gorham, and his family, who invited us for dinner at their attractive villa in Settignano, a Florentine suburb which is located high on a hill with a magnificent view of the city. In the early fifties, just after completing service in the Navy, Douglas married Janny Bruggisser, a Swiss national whose family had lived in Florence for generations. He has lived there ever since (and also has a chalet near Gstaad, Switzerland). Like most of us, he is now retired as the former Italian representative of Bally shoes. He was succeeded by his son, Alex, who also happens to be my godson. In fact, I suddenly realized that the last time I was in Florence was in 1958 when I was a "young" Vice Consul in Munich-attending Alex's christening. He is now 45 years old, has 3 adorable children, and runs his own export-import business. His younger brother, Tommy, was also on hand. with his Japanese-born fiancée; both work for Proctor and Gamble in Geneva. After a full evening of Gorham hospitality, Douglas showed us some important Florentine landmarks the following morning and then sent us off to Siena after luncheon.

Everything in Siena, we discovered, is old, preserved just as it was centuries ago, and of historic value. The town still looks medieval-- with narrow winding streets which are restricted to traffic (except for buses and a few taxis).

The main piazza is called "Il Campo" and is famous for a kind of free-for-all horse race which takes place on July 2 and Aug. 16 of each year. This has been going on for almost 300 years-- since 1721. It was originally designed to compensate Siena for losing a war with Florence in 1559, but has since become an all-absorbing local competition. Horses representing 17 districts or neighborhoods of Siena are originally entered in the race, although the number is eventually reduced to 10. The jockeys (mostly pros from Sardinia) ride bareback and flail each other with whips. A horse does not have to have a jockey on his back to cross the finish line and win. The whole contest resembles Britain's Grand National Steeplechase in that only a few are left standing at the finish.

We sat in an outdoor cafe in Il Campo on the night of our arrival and noted that the entire piazza race course was composed of hard stone. Evidently, the stone is covered with sand just before the race, but one wonders just how much cushion that temporary substance can provide. On the next morning, we returned to Il Campo and witnessed a nearby exhibition of falconry and eaglery (if there is such a word). As expected, it was a spectacular performance.

That evening we were picked up at the train station by van. (Siena has a station but no trains that go south to Rome and Naples. For those destinations you have to either change trains or be driven to a town called Chiusi, about an hour away. Siena, it seems, is resistant to change and perhaps that is its charm.) From the station, our driver took us to our Castello, which was to become our headquarters for the next week.

HORSES: As usual, our 7 riders (altogether) were provided with locally bred and trained horses. Bob and I drew a Tuscan - breed called "Maremmano". It was essentially a "warmblood", which means a cross between a draught and a thoroughbred. My mare was named "Damigella" which means "lady-in-waiting" in Italian, and she took good care of me (and my steel and plastic knee which was being put to the test for the first time since my operation last November). She had very smooth gaits, and I was able to sit to the canter, which helped considerably. Arthur rode a stockier horse representing a breed called "Murgese" from the south of Italy.

Our companion, Dr. Bill Stephenson from East Texas (where they hunt coyotes on horseback), was even assigned a genuine Lippizaner named Pluto. As you probably know, this is a very rare breed which was rescued from Eastern (now "Central") Europe after World War II by General George Patton; the handsome stallions (mostly) now perform with the Spanish riding school of Vienna. Pluto was a fine animal, but he had not been taught to dance or perform the cabriole in mid-air.

SCENERY: The Tuscan landscape -- at least where we rode for 5 days -- is remarkably wild and rural. We rode up small mountains and across fertile valleys-- only occasionally crossing paved highways. There are many ruins of castles and large villas, but no sign of the developers who have ruined so much of the rural scenery in Northern Virginia. (Note: Arthur is also a developer, but he specializes in urban renewal and revival, which is a different concept than building endless row houses in the countryside).

A number of the ruins have been purchased by wealthy individuals, who have restored them, but always in keeping with the original architecture. After riding 6 hours in the rain on the first day, we headed home on Tuesday from the Cannucio Horse Center, where the horses had been left for the night. En route we passed a 17th Century watch tower and numerous 18th century villas. Finally, we reached the former monastery -- the Augustine Hermitage of Leonardo at the Lake -- which is now a renovated private residence. During our stay at the Castello, we were treated to a wine-tasting at the factory and estate owned by Count Strozzi and his wife, Irina, a Russian Princess in San Gimignano near Siena.

Another major highlight of that week was a visit to a sheep farm, owned and run by a Sardinian family. We were shown the intricate process of cheese-making and the afternoon milking of some 200 sheep. Each female has to be milked twice daily -- beginning at 4:00 A.M., and she only produces one liter of milk per day. It is a notably hard way, to make a living!

Our final ride was to a very quaint medieval town named Monteciano--and from there another half hour to the highly impressive ruin of the Abbey of San Galgano.

Galgano was a knight who gave up his title and duties to devote himself entirely to God. In the nearby hermitage-church of Montesiepi, the knight's sword implanted in a stone base (representing the end of knighthood) has been preserved for posterity. While the church is quite small and modestly attractive, the abbey is an immense shell of a ruin, which nevertheless suggests a momentous history. By this time it had started to rain, so we galloped all the way back to Monteciano for lunch.

Finally, we departed the Castello on Saturday for Chiusi, where the train took us to Rome and then Naples.

There a driver picked us up and took us to Sorrento -- our headquarters for the following week's visits to Pompeii, Capri, Positano, Ravello and Herculaneum (or Ercolano in Italian -- a smaller version of Pompeii). However, that is another story.

A final note: At this stage in history, many have gained the impression that Americans are not all that popular around the world. Whether that widespread assumption is correct may be debatable. We can only say that in Italy, tourists-- whether equestrian or pedestrian-- remain most welcome.

Tourism is a mainstay of the Italian economy, and the natives are invariably friendly. Only be sure to bring sufficient funds -- in the form of cash or credit -- as the dollar-Euro exchange rate is currently quite unfavorable to Americans.

Arrivederci and warmest regards to all classmates.
IN FONDO

************************************

Attendance at '52's Washington Mini-reunion Wins a Pair of Trophies

President Hal Saunders has received the news from Adrienne Rubin of the Alumni Council that the excellent attendance at 1952's Mini XVIII in Washington, DC, May 1-4, 2003, has won the Class the 1928 and 1898 trophies for the 2002-03 year. Here is what Adrienne had to say:

Congratulations to you and your class! You have won the 1928 Trophy. The 1928 Trophy is given to the class with the largest number of its members attending any gathering outside of Princeton during the year between Reunions. You have also won the 1898 Trophy. The 1898 Trophy is given to the class with the largest percentage of membership attending any gathering during the year between Reunions. You won both awards for your Mini-Reunion in Washington, DC.

The awards will be presented at the annual Alumni Council Luncheon on Friday, May 28, during Reunions weekend.

A nice recognition and reminder of a fine event in the Nation's Capital!

For good reason, the Spring 2004 issue of the Smith Alumnae Quarterly has selected Tink Bolster, wife of our outstandingly active Classmate Joe, as one of three Smith graduates over the age of 70 who prove the adage that "exercise does a body good." In the process, the magazine says, " they're redefining conventional ideas about aging and its limitations."

You can read the full article at http://www.saqonline.smith.edu/ (click on "Hitting Her Stride," under her picture), but, for the benefit of all, we repeat here "Tink's tips" contained in a sidebar to the article:

Tink's Exercise Tips
Start slowly. "You never want to jump into an exercise program, especially if you’re training for a triathlon. You need to get your body used to the level of exercise, the movement. Don’t be afraid to take your time.”
Pay attention to what you eat. "I try not to eat too many fats, but that doesn’t mean I’m averse to putting a pat of butter on a muffin. I eat moderately and don’t fill up on sweets. I eat one big meal a day—breakfast—and then have a light lunch and dinner. That tends to be enough for me.”

Good advice! But read the full article to get the full story of how Tink stays so fit.

And thanks to the Smith Class of 1950 for its gift to Princeton '52!

The Johns Hopkins Magazine for February 2004 features our Class Associate Grace Brush on its cover and in a report on Grace's pioneering research into the causes of environmental damage to Chesapeake Bay. (Click here to read the article.) Grace, who earned her Ph. D. in biology at Harvard in 1956, has been connected with Johns Hopkins since she and her late husband Lucien '52 arrived in 1969. Lucien was a professor of hydraulics and hydrology there, and Grace is a professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering. Her work will be recognized this spring with the award of the Matthias Medal given by the Maryland Sea Grant, Virginia Sea Grant, and Chesapeake Research Consortium.

For members of the Class of 1952, a highlight of the Alumni Day proceedings February 20 was the announcement that the annual award named in honor of Harold H. Helm '20 was given this year to Joseph L. Bolster, Jr. '52. The award recognizes "exemplary and sustained service to Annual Giving." Harold Helm's son John '52 was present to help celebrate the memory of his father and the well-deserved ("long overdue," the presenter noted) honor to Joe.

********************************************************************

Dick Riordan, Retired as LA Mayor, Takes State Post

John Peak has brought our attention to an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune about Classmate Dick Riordan's appointment to the cabinet of Governor-elect Schwarzenegger. Dick was named California Secretary for Education. According to the article, the appointment led to the resignation of the California teacher's union member of Schwarzenegger's transition team, but it added that "analysts said Riordan's reputation for bipartisanship and bringing new ideas to the table should serve the new governor well." For more, click here and read the Union-Tribune article.

Equestrians in Iceland Click here for Chips Chester's Report

*******************************************************************

BERLIND THEATRE DEDICATION

Class members who attended the dedication of the Roger S. Berlind '52 Theatre (next to McCarter) on Monday, September 8, included President Tilghman, Bill and Mary Murdoch, Dan Duffield, and Bob Lovell, as well as the donor. Bob steered us to the report of the dedication (click here), including Roger's confession that he had discovered "a streak of 'Trumpishness'" in himself (referring to the naming of the theater) and expressed appreciation to Brook and their son "'while I proceeded to decimate their inheritance' to make the donation possible."

Click here for an earlier description of the project
— but ignore the University's misstatement about Roger's Class.

ALUMNI DAY AWARDS

The Class of 1952 was well represented in the awards at the Alumni Day luncheon February 22. The following citations are from the printed program for Alumni Day.

The Class of 1926 Trophy

Established by one of Annual Giving's legendary classes and first awarded in 1978, the trophy goes to the class that raises the largest amount in each year's campaign. This year's winner [no surprise - ed.] is the Class of 1952, which set a new all-time record for any Princeton class with a total of $6,047,713 in their 50th Reunion campaign. They were led by Class Agent Donald M. Malehorn of Morristown, N.J., and Special Gifts Chair Joseph L. Bolster, Jr., of Princeton.

The Jerry Horton Award

Given for the first time in 1982, the award was named in honor of Arthur J. Horton '42, a former Director of Annual Giving, Director of Development, and Recording Secretary of the University. The award is presented to a regional Annual Giving committee in recognition of their successful efforts to expand dollar and participation totals. The winner this year is the regional Annual Giving Committee of Houston, Texas, chaired by David Kingman Smith '52.

*******************************************************************

SUSTAINED DIALOGUE AT THE CLASS DINNER

Classmates who braved the continuous downpour of Alumni Day on February 22 to attend the Class Dinner — the handsome walkways all over the campus were either ponds or rivers — were rewarded with presentations from three articulate young Tigers involved in the program of sustained dialogue to improve race relations on the campus. [For a fuller report of the discussion, click here.] Participants in sustained dialogue meet regularly in discussion groups of about ten. The program on the Princeton campus began nearly four years ago as one of our ’02-’52 activities and has grown to about a dozen groups.

In introducing the discussion Saturday evening, Hal Saunders noted that Princeton students have been instrumental in getting sustained dialogue programs started at the University of Virginia and at Dickinson College, and the Class of 2003 is exploring expansion of the program to other campuses. He suggested that Classmates, wives, and associates might identify other places where the program could take hold. Janet Dickerson, the University’s Vice President for Campus Life, followed Hal with a warm endorsement of sustained dialogue, calling it a "stealth program” for its unexpected impact on the University.

The three young speakers were Teddy Nemeroff ’01, David Tukey ’02, and Ambika Kapoor ’04. They spoke of the situations that led them to form or join dialogue groups, typically because they found sustained dialogue valuable as an approach to overcoming the problem of minority students who felt uncomfortable at Princeton. The students believed that they had achieved and contributed to better understanding and acceptance of differences based on racial identification.

Groups have sometimes been able to affect developments on the campus beyond the sustained dialogue program itself. A case cited was that of retired New York State Supreme Court Justice Bruce M. Wright, who was made an honorary member of the Class of 2001. In 1939, Justice Wright, son of an African-American father and a white mother, received a full scholarship to Princeton, but because of his race he was turned away when he arrived for registration.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The New Afghanistan: Year 2
By Robert Oakley

The Washington Post, Friday, January 3, 2003; Page A19

A year after the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan's future, there is considerable ground for optimism about that country. Living conditions are still harsh for many people, and episodic violence continues. But at the same time substantial progress has been made in Afghanistan, thanks to patient, persistent efforts both inside and outside the country.

With leadership from the United States, al Qaeda forces and the Taliban were defeated, relief was provided for the population and some 2 million returning refugees, and a start was made on developing sustainable Afghan self-governance. Barring a reversal by either the Afghans or their international supporters, the stage is set for much greater progress over the next year, although serious problems will remain. But if U.S. leadership falters, so will other international efforts, with potentially disastrous consequences not only for the Afghan government, but also for the campaign against al Qaeda and the future of neighboring Pakistan.

The United States had a wise initial strategy for avoiding the sort of fatal mistakes the Soviets made in Afghanistan in the 1980s. By establishing a broad political coalition, including Muslim countries, and using small Special Forces teams to fight alongside Afghans against al Qaeda and hard-core Taliban, the United States avoided being seen as occupying Afghanistan or going to war against Islam. This was reinforced by large-scale relief for the destitute population and the political empowerment of Afghans by the Bonn Conference and the country's loya jirga, or national assembly. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan and the European Union set up the Afghan Reconstruction Steering Group, which includes the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank and is becoming increasingly effective. The United States, France and Britain have begun a multi-year program to train a new Afghan national army. Germany has done the same for the police, with U.S. help. The threat from al Qaeda and the Taliban has been reduced to manageable levels in much of the country, and the International Security Assistance Force has helped establish the security that is vital for Kabul. The U.N. Assistance Mission for Afghanistan and Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi have won the confidence of all parties with low-key advice and coordination for donors and the new government.

Starting from zero a year ago, the administration of President Hamid Karzai has achieved many attributes of a responsible government. It has a long-term national development framework and budget, worked out with the World Bank, the United Nations, the United States and other donors, and is carefully applying it to ensure that donor proposals meet Afghan realities. A central bank, fiscal discipline and a new national currency have been established. Construction of the large-scale Ring Road program has begun; large-scale community development projects will soon follow smaller efforts. An Afghan Defense Commission (including senior "warlords") has reached agreement on the size, makeup and training of the new army and the demobilization of local militias. This will take time but will ultimately be the Afghans' own solution to their endemic security problems. Prudence has proven to be better than prematurely deploying unready international peacekeepers (with inadequate resources) to remote areas. The violence that would have followed such deployments, involving al Qaeda, the Taliban and warlords, would have seriously disrupted both the war against terrorism and the process of gradually stabilizing the country.

As it stands today, the process of building the new government at the center appears to have readied it for the next decisive step: becoming effectively operational in the countryside.

For this to succeed, the flow of international assistance, which has recently accelerated, must continue. This includes the Bush administration and Congress actually funding the four-year, $3.3 billion Afghanistan Freedom Support Act, as well as training the country's army -- actions vital both for the badly needed resources and for the strong signal to all parties of a long-term U.S. commitment. It will also require that international donors and nongovernmental organizations reorient their programs outside of Kabul in order to enhance the operations of the government ministries rather than the prestige of donors and regional power centers.

Obviously, all this cannot happen without security. The United States and President Karzai have agreed on a new plan to shift the priority of coalition efforts from combat to stability operations for most of Afghanistan during the next year, creating eight or more joint regional teams with civil and military membership, including coalition forces and small Afghan army contingents. These teams will have enough capability -- with on-call backup -- to provide increased security for reconstruction by the Afghan government and international donors.

The achievements of the first year augur well for the long-term future of Afghanistan. But should the United States falter in its leading role, so would the coalition. This would create dissension within the Afghan government and with the provinces, reigniting ethnic and regional rifts. Worse, it would reinvigorate al Qaeda and the Taliban, which could shift back from Pakistan for a major assault in Afghanistan. Backing away would also have a devastating effect on efforts by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf to uproot al Qaeda and the Taliban, neutralize their supporters and bring political, economic and social reform to that country. And it could have serious negative repercussions on Kashmir and India-Pakistan relations. Given the potential that still exists for a political-religious explosion in Pakistan, with its nuclear weapons, and the prospect for increased tensions stemming from Iraq, this could have incalculable consequences for the entire region and the United States.

The writer is a former ambassador to Pakistan and a visiting fellow at the National Defense University.

© 2003 The Washington Post Company
*********************************

Classmate in the Press:

George Dean continues his good work on behalf of women in politics. The following is from the New York Times Book Review section on November 17:

To the Editor:

Richard L. Berke's review of Thomas E. Patterson's book ''The Vanishing Voter'' (Oct. 20) suggests that the major reason Americans are voting at declining levels might be the lack of scintillating, attractive candidates. All anyone has to do is look at the United States Congress and the state legislatures to see that they are essentially clubs for middle-aged white men who routinely get re-elected over 90 percent of the time because of fund-raising advantages, high name recognition, staffing and party support.

Until the Republican and Democratic parties recruit, encourage, train and support more women and minority members to run for winnable elective offices, our government will not reflect the diversity of the nation, and voter interest in the good old boys' club in Washington will continue to decline.

Term limits could help by opening up seats to new faces and by encouraging representatives to take stronger stands on important issues. As it stands now, however, the political experts estimate that only about 5 percent of Congressional elections are even competitive, and that doesn't attract voter interest and participation.

George A. Dean
Southport, Conn.

Princeton '52 in Savannah's Service!

Walt Culin reports that W. Park Callahan '52 is the new President of the Princeton Club of Savannah. More than 30 members of the club met at the Chatham Club in Savannah November 1 to install new officers and to hear Dr. Norman Itzkowitz, Professor Emeritus of History and Near Eastern Studies at Princeton. Dr. Itzkowitz spoke about the situation in the Middle East, from historical and psychological viewpoints. Classmate Larry Austin is also a member of the Club and attended the function.

In addition to Park, the Savannah Morning News reported that new officers include Walt as Treasurer. Vice President and Secretary are Lee Ann Aldridge '89 and Wilson Morris '61. Directors are Gene Buttle '49, Fred Coffman '53, Tom Kane'53, Charles Mikell '63, Dick Miller '48, and Gere Williams '62.

**************************************

Fiftieth Reunion Album Copies Available

Additional copies of the Class of 1952 Fiftieth Reunion Album are available. It's 40-plus pages of great memories — worth sharing with family and friends!

To order an extra copy or copies, send classmate Ansel Gould a check for $10 payable to Princeton Class of 1952 for each copy. Ansel's address is 4636 Sunflower Drive, Rockville, MD 20853-1750. You can e-mail him at avgould@alumni.princeton.edu for information on the status of your order.

******************************************************************

Longer articles may be accessed by clicking on the article title below

**********************************

60th/50th Reunion: Former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz '42 (1982-1989) encounters former U.S. Secretary of State Jim Baker '52 (1989-1992). Courtesy of Bob Doherty '52

Equestrians in Estonia -- '52 Riders also visit Baltics and Poland

Cliff Barr is a paradigm for Classmates who still have important things they want to accomplish and the discipline to stay the course. Cliff writes the following: "On March 14-17, 2002 at what might seem to be a hostile venue, I played in the United States National Squash Championship at Yale. I am very pleased to report that I again won the National Championship in my age group, which you all know is 70 plus." Congratulations Cliff from the Class of 1952!