Cinderella Story
I ENJOYED reading about the Cinderella from Beijing. I studied for eight years under Tom Hilbish and now am taking 50 singers to Beijing in June 2003. I direct the Arizona Arts Chorale, which I founded seven years ago, and have actively pursued a very busy performance schedule with the Phoenix Symphony. We are an auditioned community chorale based in Scottsdale, and perform from Sept - May. I am going on my own to Beijing this May 13 and would like to discuss possible opportunities in Beijing with Tom.

I'VE JUST finished reading the true Cinderella story in Michigan Toda by Leslie Stainton and would like to know when the performance of the School of Music's La Cenerentola is. Looked all through the article and could not find mention of the date of performances.

Chip (Mannheim Steamroller) Davis
I ENJOYED the article in the spring issue about Chip Davis. I am curious, though. You detailed how the country group C.W. McCall gained popularity for its commercials for a regional brand of bread. But you failed to mention that Mannheim Steamroller's popularity was due, in part, to the group's music being played as bumper music on the Rush Limbaugh radio program. This is where I first heard Mannheim Steamroller. I hope the omission was merely an oversight and not a political statement.

WHEN I saw the current issue, I can't tell you how exciting it was to read. I am a big fan of Mannheim Steamroller and to read the article on Chip Davis was interesting from start to finish. I also enjoyed the recycling article. We've been buying the recycled notebooks for a while and trying to get bigger industries to follow this lead. Great issue. I enjoyed it immensely.

JUST FINISHED the latest issue and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the story on Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller. The first time I heard Fresh Aire was in a stereo shop while looking for a sound system and I was hooked. Almost every year my daughter gives me their latest Christmas album.

A Suite of Sixteen
WHEN MY husband, James W. Nunn, attended his 50th reunion at the U of M Medical School graduation in 1994, he was awarded a prize for having the most family members to graduate from the University. Starting in 1907, we have documented our family's U of M history, and found that in four generations (from 1907 to 1993), we have 14 graduates with 21 degrees, and two current students in Ann Arbor due to graduate in 2005.
We think this a notable family tradition (as recognized at the Medical School reunion) and thought it might interest you.
U-M GRADUATES - MCKINNON-NUNN LINE
Jennie G. Newcomb '07 RN
John D. McKinnon '08 MD
William R. McKinnon '14 BSE, '18 MD
Harley Newcomb '35 BSEE
Jean McKinnon '37, '38 MS
Margaret McKinnon (Nunn) '38, '40 MBA
James W. Nunn '40, '44 MD
Jennie E. (Nunn) Nelson '64
Johann Colburn (Parker) '66 BSN, '68 MSN
Susan L. Nunn '67
Barbara J. Nunn'68 BS ED, '69 MS
Gordon J. Tans '73, '76 JD
Margaret M. Nunn Tans '75 BSN
Michael Nelson '93 MHSA
Brian J. Krieger 2005, COE
Scott M. Nunn 2005, COE
Margaret McKinnon Nunn '75
And Barbara Nunn Krieger '68
Birmingham, Michigan

Mixup: Virgin Queen With Child
OUCH, OUCH, ouch! I wish the compositor who stuck the Virgin Queen in Eleanor of Toledo's place had gotten the right picture, my favorite out of that magnificent exhibit. At least YOU knew which one to feature.
Tish Lehman
Email

YOUR "Women Who Ruled" article in the Spring 2002 magazine contains several errors. In the first place, the woman in the portrait is Queen Elizabeth I of England, not Eleonora of Toledo. In the second place, the word "museum" is misspelled on the credit running up the right side of the picture. In the third place, I believe it is the "Detroit Institute of Arts," not the "Detroit Institute of Art" as stated in the article. Lastly, given the animosity between England and Spain in the 16th century, I suspect neither woman would have found much humor in the switching of their likenesses. Off with your heads!!!!

The correct painting is now on our back cover after our deserving decapitation.-Ed.

Critiques of Michigan Today
IN REPLY to Mr. Roy F. Deng Jr.'s letter in the spring 2002 issue about Michigan Today: The editing and general operation of Michigan Today are superb and need no further comment. However, Mr. Deng's suggestions effectively would upgrade the magazine's appearance and features. To achieve any and ultimately all of these improvements, which the editor might deem significant, a fund contributed by the readers could be established.

I DISAGREE with Roy F. Deng Jr.'s criticism of Michigan Today. I enjoy the articles and don't feel, as he does, that they're "drifting into the feel-good issues of the 1960s." Also, I happen to like the "tired and tattered" newsprint as he calls it, and I'm not bothered by the "fuzzy" photos. The entire newspaper, including the non-slick graphics by Sherri Moore, has a wonderful informal quality that should be maintained. "High quality ads," as he suggests, should be the last thing that's incorporated.
When I came to NYC in 1960, the Village Voice newspaper was eight pages, interesting to read and an important "voice" in the city. Now it is almost 200 pages and has totally lost its uniqueness.
As they say: If it's not broken, don't fix it.

I DISAGREE with my classmate Roy Deng Jr.'s criticism of the format and content of Michigan Today. The articles are current, stimulating and easy to read, even with my trifocals. I always look forward to the Letters section. My wife and I receive enough glitzy catalogues and magazines. You have a good publication. Keep it simple, please.

EVER SINCE I graduated, I have enjoyed receiving and reading Michigan Today. Despite the careful redesign of your publication some years back, I am still not too fond of the large-page-size format, the choice of newsprint material, or the small-and-thin typeface. However, I do want to say that the topics discussed are often quite fascinating, the editing is consistently well-done, and the writing itself is always outstanding!

JUST WANTED to say how much I enjoy your publication and to thank you for including a "Letters" section.

JUST A brief note to let you know that I always enjoy Michigan Today. The John Rich story was especially fun.

Emerging Submerging Sport
I HAD trouble understanding a few things in your article "An Emerging Sport" by Sarah Skow re: synchronized swimming. What significance is there, if any, to being designated an "emergence sport"? If NCAA recognition is necessary for giving varsity status to synchronized swimming, how come it was a varsity sport prior to 1983, when, you said, it lost its varsity status? How could the Wolverine Invitational have drawn "varsity and club teams" if the NCAA doesn't recognize the sport?

Synchronized swimming coach Rebecca Twombley replies:
According to the NCAA an emerging sport is one "intended to provide additional athletics opportunities to female student-athletes. Institutions are allowed to use emerging sports to help meet the NCAA minimum sports-sponsorship requirements and also to meet the NCAA's minimum financial aid awards."
Essentially, this means that once the number of varsity collegiate programs has reached a certain threshold nationwide, the NCAA will sanction a championship for that sport. Currently this threshold is 40 sponsored programs. From the time it is first so designated, an emerging sport is limited to a 10-year period during which it must become a championship sport.
U-M had a varsity synchronized swim team until 1983. Prior to the early 1980s, the NCAA did not administer women's athletics. By 1983, the NCAA had instituted 19 women's championship events, of which synchronized swimming was not one. The NCAA now administers 87 championships in 22 sports. NCAA recognition is not required , however, for a school to recognize a sport as varsity
The Maize and Blue Invitational at Michigan attracted both varsity and club level teams because the current national rules for collegiate synchronized swimming permit varsity and nonvarsity programs to compete against each other. Both varsity and club teams, including ours, compete in the US Collegiate National Championship held each March, where we placed 22d.

Taubman Gift
THIS LETTER registers my protest over U-M's decision to retain A. Alfred Taubman's $30-million donation to the then-College of Architecture and Urban Planning (now the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning). Taubman's donation preceded his recent conviction for price-fixing during his tenure as chairman of the board at Sotheby's.
As though the University did not have enough scandals to contend with, former U-M President Bollinger issued a statement announcing the University's decision to keep Taubman's money.[See Spring 2002, Letters-Ed.] This position is paradoxical to the U-M's claim of being a leader in higher education. It appears to me that leadership is better demonstrated by other colleges and universities when they have decided not to accept donations that may jeopardize their ethical standards. In my opinion, the University has chosen not to be a leader but a follower of A. Alfred Taubman, at the risk of alienating alumni such as myself.
I am of the opinion that the decision to keep Taubman's donation is nothing more than a blatant attempt to turn a blind eye on his illegal activity. I strongly urge the University to reconsider its actions over Taubman's donation. In so doing, the University will demonstrate that even those who give large sums of money should be held to high ethical standards.

Alice Inglis of the Labadie Collection
WHAT MEMORIES came back to me over half a century since I was privileged to do research with Miss Agnes Inglis in the Labadie Collection in 1949! According to "Keeping Anarchy in Order" (Spring 2002), it has moved up the academic ladder since we were lonely scholars in the fugitive left-wing documents there. I was then a socialist myself, and the Labadie Collection was my refuge from the capitalist world.
My research topic was the anarcho-syndicalist faction in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War. A copy of my seminar report is in the Labadie Collection, but I doubt that anyone has read it in decades. Miss Inglis was more helpful to me as a young scholar than most of my professors. Thanks to my Michigan degree and passable Spanish, I later got a fellowship to pursue a PhD in Latin American history at the University of Florida. I retired from teaching to earn my law degree at Florida State 15 years ago.
I may have been one of the last students to benefit from Miss Inglis as a mentor. I remember two stories from that time. It was said that Agnes Inglis was related to (a sister of?) Laura Inglis Wilder. And that Jo Labadie, the "gentle anarchist," was employed by the US Post Office as a letter carrier. Could Julie Herrada confirm or deny these rumors?

Labadie Curator Julie Herrada replies:
I have never heard that Agnes Inglis was related to Laura Ingalls Wilder (the correct spelling of her name). Agnes was from a wealthy Detroit family, whose name is known in these parts as benefactors of the University of Michigan. There is an Inglis House on campus which was donated (not by Agnes, but by her older brother, David ) to U-M many years ago.
Jo Labadie never worked for the USPS. There is a story about a run-in with the Post Office inspector, though. Labadie used to put "little anarchist stickers" on his envelopes before mailing them, and their messages apparently offended Post Office Inspector J.J. Larmour. In 1908, Larmour refused to accept Labadie's mail unless he ceased using the stickers. Public and press outcry in support of Labadie came from all over, locally and nationally. Even Eugene V. Debs sent him a letter of support.
For more of Labadie's adventures, I highly recommend All-American Anarchist: Joseph A. Labadie and the Labor Movement by his granddaughter, Carlotta R. Anderson (Wayne State University Press, 1998).

Alternative Medicine
HAVING SENT a long letter to you praising your journal for articles like the one on the Institute for Social Research ["They've Got Your Number, Fall 2001-Ed.] we did not overlook that Judy Steeh's piece "Scientific Medicine Examines the Alternatives" is of opposite quality or intend to let you think it went down okay.
This misleading article keeps talking as if evidence is forthcoming or already exists, for any of the practices, especially those for which no physical and biological basis is possible. In fact close reading shows zero evidence cited for any of them. Aside from recent unwise big federal funding pushed by certain ignorant senators, claims have been made for decades that studies are being done and reliable evidence is forthcoming. This will be the trend for the future.
We are certain that none of these "alternatives" will be shown to have any real effect on health (except possibly for a few plant-derived herb substances, as has always occurred since many were refined and adopted into regular medicine). We also say that we know from wide experience that mainstream medicine is highly flawed (up to 80% unproven guesswork) and barely does more good than harm in many cases. Can't fit all article's errors here. Ask ISR about the statistical tricks. We'll just note that sprouts (always partly green) are normal food and that attention from pretty gals will help almost anyone. Female = Nature. Shame on MD's shown taking public money needed elsewhere!

The Joys of Copy Editing
AS A FORMER Daily staffer, I, too, winced at the "illicit" [for "elicit"-Ed.] error which Barry Silverblatt wrote about in the letters section of the Spring 2002 edition. But you can't blame sleeping proofreaders, because there aren't any proofreaders left. Proofreaders compared the original manuscript with what the typesetter produced. If there was an error in the original copy, the proof should have had the same error. The proofreader's motto was "follow the copy, even out the window."
It is the job of the copy editor to catch errors. The more copy editors a story goes through, the greater the chance of finding and correcting errors. Today the writer using a computer is also the typesetter, and there is no proof. Errors have to be caught first by the author himself, and then his editor. Even fact checkers used on magazines should only check facts, not non-factual writing errors.

Priscilla-not Patricia
PRISCILLA Hodges Johnson '46 of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, was a classmate of mine in chemistry, and I would love to reestablish contact with her. (Incidentally, you mislabeled her in one of her two letters in the most recent issue as Patricia H. Johnson but later in the same issue she is her proper name, Priscilla Hodges Johnson.
George-Anne Oliver Kelly '46

TWO LETTERS in the spring issue are very interesting to me and I would like to contact each writer. The letter "Smeaton's fine nose" from Priscilla Hodges Johnson, takes me back to 1944 when I became a novitiate Instructor in the Chemistry Department and worked with Dr. James Hodges. I would like to write Mrs. Johnson to tell her of my many memories of working with her father.
The second letter, "Lessons from diversity" from Bob Greene, makes reference to Gene Derricotte who was also a friend of mine back in those days and with whom I kept in contact up until a few years ago. I would very much like to be able to contact either or both Bob Greene or Gene Derricotte if possible. Thank you very much for any help you may be able to give me. My email address is: sbeac@acadia.net

We misread Ms. Johnson's handwritten signature but got it right in the Email version.-Ed.

U-M Leads in Care of Environment
CONGRATULATIONS to Patrick Cunningham ("Better Use of Fuels and Feet," Spring 2002) for working toward a better environment for U-M. I just bought a Toyota Hybrid Prius and I know it can make a difference not only in the environment but in my pocketbook as well (40-plus miles per gallon). I am doing my best to spread the word among my friends and maybe if enough of us make the switch, we will be able to be less dependent on OPEC.

P.S. I read this issue from cover to cover. One of the best.

Many Ways of Getting to '6'
I CAN'T resist engaging such puzzles as the one in the sidebar of the "He's Positively Logical" article on Prof. Layman Allen (Spring 2002 issue). If one goal is to think outside the box, within the rules given I thought of many more than the proposed 12 ways to combine the numbers and mathematical operations "1 2 3 4 x / / - -" and any number of parentheses to form 6. For example:
2 x 3
(2 x 3)/1
((-2) x 3)/(-1)
(2 x (-3))/(-1)
(-2) x (-3)
((-2) x (-3))/1
(4 x 3)/2
((4 x 3)/2)/1
((-4) x (-3))/2
(((-4) x (3))/2)/1
((-4) x (3))/(-2)/1
(((-4) x (-3))/2)/1
(((-4) x (3))/(2)/(-1)
(4/2) x 3
((4/2) x 3)/1
((-4)/(-2)) x 3
(((-4)/(-2)) x 3)/1
((-4)/2) x (-3)
(((-4)/2) x (-3))/1
(4/(-2)) x (-3)
(4-2) x 3
(4-1) x 2
etc.
(Some might carp at the use of "-" as a unary operator, but the instructions say only "mathematical operations.") Thank you, Michigan, for a great education.

THE TABLE below shows 15 solutions that meet the criteria described in the article, "He's Positively Logical," by Rachel Ehrenberg in the Spring 2002 issue. The problem/game description states that there are exactly 12 solutions. Why can't puzzles be Positively Logical? What's the catch? Did I cheat? Puzzles often confuse those who think too hard! [The writer presented 15 solutions that we could not reproduce here.-Ed.]
I think there might be a legal trick that Prof. Allen points out if he won't accept three of my solutions. That would further fuel my distrust of lawyers and their maneuverings! I wouldn't state that there are exactly 12 or exactly 15 solutions unless I could prove it! If a bright kid finds more, he may just become confused about why adult rules are sometimes illogical! That could be counterproductive to his incentive to solve real problems in life within the stated rules.

Prof. Layman Allen replies:
Thank you both for your interest and comments about the Math-Science Quest 1E puzzle, and congratulations on your achievement in finding eight of its 12 different solutions. That was more than virtually all the other persons who sent along sets of solutions. Although the puzzle deals with elementary arithmetic, the startling fact is that virtually nobody finds all 12 different solutions without assistance. It turns out to be extraordinarily difficult to apply abstract ideas to practical situations, and the Math Science Quest puzzles are much like such application. However, experimental science can help in making such problems as simple as most folks expect such use of arithmetic to be. That's what MSQ is really about.
The statement of the 1E puzzle in the article did clearly stipulate that the minus sign was to be interpreted as indicating subtraction. Several of your proposed solutions used the minus sign as a unary operator and, thus, do not qualify as solutions to the puzzle. You can find the four missing solutions by engaging in a program of experimental research as described at the following Internet site: http://alf-learning.org/Exper-1E.htm
To actually do such research on 1E and explore other such puzzles, have a look at: http://thinkersleague.law.umich.edu/files/alf/msq-ind/msq-inta.htm
Although the vast majority of folks who have written to me abut the puzzle have requested to have the 12 solutions provided, I am sure that you can understand my reluctance to do that.

Inspiration From 9/11
DURING THE past few months, we've heard quite a few stories about the "September 11 effect" on the US economy and on the performance of specific businesses. However, I think that September 11 is being blamed for a lot of things that it has nothing to do with.
Case in point: On January 4, 2002, my father, William Retallick ('48 BSChE) and I visited Ground Zero. Dad didn't want to spend three hours in the viewing stand line, so we wandered around Manhattan instead. The viewing stand line went several blocks down the west side of Broadway. On the east side of Broadway, the sidewalks were full of people going about their business. They were not gazing across the street to see what was going on Over There. Their resolve and sense of purpose was impressive, and we saw this all over town. Many NYC store windows displayed a small poster with the following quote from Winston Churchill:
Never
Never
Never
Give Up
If the New Yorkers can show this kind of spirit, so can the rest of us.

Wish To Update Your Files?
The Career Planning & Placement office conducts a regular review of reference letter files that have been inactive for ten years. Files that have not been used since 1992 must now be updated by July 31, 2002, to remain active. After that date, all inactive files will be deactivated and subsequently destroyed. File deactivation affects only reference letters. Transcripts and other academic materials will not be affected by the deactivation of reference letter files.
To maintain an active file, students or alumni/ae must have conducted one or more of the following transactions since 1992:
1) requested to send reference letters as part of an admission or employment process,
2) added new letters to their file,
3) submitted updated personal data in writing (e.g. current address, telephone, or newly acquired degree).
Please contact Career Planning and Placement's Reference Letter Center at (734) 764-7459 or by e-mail at cp&p@umich.edu for specific questions about a file status or the update process in general.

Lifetime E-mail Forwarding is now available to all U-M alumni/ae. The service, officially launched by the University in late 2001, automatically forwards to the e-mail address you designate, any messages sent to your personal @umich.edu e-mail address.
To use the service, you must have a U-M uniquename and password.
For those who already have both (and remember them), simply go to http://login.www.umich.edu to sign on. The same on-line address will guide you if you've forgotten your uniquename or password, or don't yet have either.
A good Q & A is available on the School of Engineering Web site at http://www.engin.umich.edu.
The Office of the Provost provided the funds for the start-up of Lifetime E-mail.

Dear Readers: For almost 20 years Michigan Today has served as a window on the world of the University of Michigan for all U-M alumnae and alumni, as well as for non-alumni friends of the University. We cover U-M personalities and progress; report on campus events and controversies; and keep alive University history and traditions. We give voice to our students and graduates to reflect on current events and reminisce about their days on campus. We profile outstanding students, graduates and professors in the humanities, arts, social sciences, science and the professions. Our readership survey a few years ago indicated that 88 percent of you are reading Michigan Today. We believe it is an important link between you and the University, and we would like to continue sending it three times a year free of charge to all U-M graduates and others who care about the University of Michigan. But at a time when budgets are tight and all in higher education are being asked to do more with less, we must take special steps to meet rising costs, especially those for postage and paper. In addition, while the majority of our readers indicated they are satisfied with the appearance of Michigan Today, we would like to be able to improve paper quality and readability. Accordingly, we are asking you, our readers, for your help. We are asking you to contribute $5, $10, or whatever you feel you can give. Your voluntary subscription will help ensure that Michigan Today can continue to reach a wide University audience in the most appealing manner possible. Please send your tax-deductible donation to Michigan Today, University of Michigan, 412 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1399. Thank you for your generosity and, as always, your comments about Michigan Today are welcome. I can be reached at (734) 647-1838 or via fax at (734) 764-7084 or e-mail at johnwood@umich.edu. Sincerely,   John Woodford Executive Editor  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Please print out the following form and send to: Printable form Michigan Today University of Mihcigan 412 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1399 ____ Yes, I want to support Michigan Today Here is my gift of $____ (Thank you!) I have enclosed my (or my spouse's) employer matching gift form. My check is made payable to the University of Michigan Charge my gift to: MasterCard Visa AMEX Discover Acct. Number _____________________ Exp. Date ___________________ Name: Address: City: State: Zip: U-M School(s)/College(s):   Year(s) of degree(s) Comments?