Alumni Association Home > Past Issues > 2007 > November-December 2007	Print View

I wanted to write you and tell you how much I appreciated my July–August issue of Minnesota. I don’t usually expect much from publications that come along with certain memberships, but Minnesota is a pleasure to read. I especially enjoyed the article on Dr. Steven Miles. You’re right, we should not look away. Thank you for making important information public.

It made me proud that someone from the U of M behaved like a true hero. I’m grateful you ran it, and I plan on sharing it with my friends.
Judith Spanberger (M.P.A. ’05)
Minneapolis

Return to the High Ropes

Editor’s note: In the September–October issue, Minnesota published a First Person essay by writer Jane Toleno in which she recounts her experience as a blind woman navigating a high-ropes course (go to www.alumni.umn.edu/toleno). Late this past summer, she climbed the ropes again and sent us an update on new insights gained:

In our culture, blindness—my normal— is abnormal. On the high ropes, everybody is abnormal or out of their element. Off balance, out of control, awkward. This summer’s lessons from the high ropes course: There are no limits about who can take risks; guidance and encouragement go two ways; your image will take care of itself if you’re doing what you need to do; independent accomplishments are more meaningful within community.

I see that these high-ropes lessons have just begun!
Jane L. Toleno (B.A. ’97)
Big Lake, Minnesota

Fond Football Memories

I especially enjoyed reading in the September– October issue of Minnesota magazine the story about the all-American from Minnesota, Bruce Smith. As a student at the law school in those heyday football years of 1939–42, I not only knew Bruce Smith as a great football player but also as a friend. He was a great one.

In particular, I remember the 1941 football game against Iowa at Iowa City. Bruce was injured at that time and unable to do much running. Nevertheless, Bernie Bierman used him as a decoy always in the lineup and always a threat to run. Incidentally, I saw Nile Kinnick, the great halfback from Iowa, who also played in that game.

The article by Tim Brady about Bruce Smith, Bernie Bierman, and the glorious football years of that day brought back some great memories. Many thanks.
U.S. Circuit Judge Myron Bright (B.S.L. ’41, J.D. ’47)
Fargo, North Dakota

Shining Light

Thank you for shining a light on muckraking Mother Jones editor and University alumna Monika Bauerlein [“Danger Grows in the Shadows,” September–October].
Mary Conlin (B.A. ’78)
Edina, Minnesota