Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | fall 2002

FALL 2002
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Cover Story:
The Knoll

Feature Story:
Two voices

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LETTERS

Honoring kindness
You can’t imagine how great it was to see the article about the Martin family in the latest issue of VISIONS (“The Martin house: Honoring kindness,” Summer 2002). Another name that should have been included was the Shipp family. I happened to live on South Sherman, just a few blocks from the Shipp and Martin families. We all played together, ate together, and went to school together, from the time we were born until we started graduating from Iowa State, and I can tell you there never was, nor will there be, a finer group of people. Living on the “south” side of the tracks in those days was a challenge, but we all stuck together – there was no black or white to us, and the Martins and Shipps were an inspiration to all of us. Thanks for paying tribute to a great family.

— Richard Cox, ’54
Fort Myers, Florida

It was Christmas Eve (about 1924) when I delivered the Des Moines Capital to President Pearson in person. He was standing on the bottom step of the south entrance to “THE KNOLL” under the horse and buggy passageway and he gave me a BRAND NEW $1 bill. The only paper-boy tip I ever received.

I don’t know anything about Archie Martin except that he was two years older than my grandfather and had a tailor shop in downtown Ames. My folks moved into 531 Welch Avenue in 1914, the year I was born, and among my first memories were that Nancy Martin was the cook for the Alpha Delta Pi house next door. She was always good for a carrot or cookie if I came to her side door. Mom paid her a bit to babysit me if she was gone in the daytime, but I enjoyed being an “ankle biter,” following her around in the big sorority kitchen. The Martin rooming house was reported to have 12 student rooms. I’m pretty sure it was her oldest son who was president of the Ames High class of 1940.

— Bob Blumenschein, ’35
Omaha, Nebraska

The faculty
I really appreciated the article several issues ago (“The faculty: Adventurers. Innovators. Superstars,” Winter 2002). One of my former instructors, Lois Tiffany, was truly an inspirational teacher. Her classes were informative and exciting – hands-on lab work, which is rare these days. Dr. Tiffany was also one of the few women teaching graduate courses. Other favorites were Adela Elwell and John Dodd.

— Jan Keithly, ’68
Albany, New York

Faculty stories would be incomplete without more about Dr. O.R. Sweeney, Chemical Engineering Department head from 1920 to 1947. He was a magnificent teacher and character whose lectures could not be forgotten.

He told about his first presentation to a faculty meeting when he came to Iowa State. While studying in Philadelphia, a professor gave him a pure calcite crystal to use as a standard in some of his chemical analyses. Sweeney in appreciation offered to do something for him.

The professor then asked Sweeney to do a check-up analysis of Philadelphia air to determine any changes after a test 20 years before. Quite a task.

Sweeney said the major changes in the air were 1) more carbon dioxide and 2) less horse manure. Sweeney conjectured that man couldn’t live with horses for such a long time without getting some good from being around them. His clincher was that “air-borne horse manure contained molds such as now are used to produce penicillin.” So he said, “You see, I was right all along.”

Dr. Sweeney never forgave the head of another department at that faculty meeting for poking fun at his very serious Philadelphia air story.

I recall many of his stories from 1946 used, as he said, to “orient you boys in time and space.”

— Richard H. Thompson, ’47
Bettendorf, Iowa

Diverse paths
I was disappointed that Christianity was not included in the “Diverse Paths” article (Summer 2002). As our culture becomes more secular, there is more confusion about what it means to be a Christian. This article assumes everyone knows. This is not true.

— Lois Heckert, ’75
Story City, Iowa

William F. Buckley, conservative editor and commentator, is quoted as saying “his liberal friends always insist they welcome opposing views, but are then shocked to discover there actually are opposing views.”

I was reminded of this quote after reading the series of articles entitled “Diverse Paths” which appeared in the slick cover magazine called VISIONS, Summer 2002 issue, published by the Iowa State Alumni Association. My initial reaction after several readings was extreme, to say the least. In fact, I initially reacted by composing a letter to the Editor of VISIONS, Carole Gieseke, by stating “the only words that first come to mind after reading “Diverse Paths” are: UNBELIEVABLE; INCREDIBLE; UNREAL; STUPID; ECTETC”! After further thought, and a night’s sleep, I decided to address my reactions to “Diverse Paths” to a broader public than the staff of VISIONS.

I decided to write this broader public because Iowa State University is a public, tax-supported institution that receives its financial support both from the general public and from alumni gifts/endowments.

Whether Ms. Gieseke, editor of VISIONS, and Karol Crosbie, author of the “Diverse Paths” article, ever anticipated responses to their unevenhanded presentation, only they will know. However, as an Iowa State alumnus, I feel the following questions and comments are warranted:

• Are there no meaningful Christian churches represented on the ISU campus?
• Why the inclusion of secular humanism by Hector Avalos in the article?
• Will there be a follow-up article in VISIONS to present the other side?

Iowa State has an enrollment of approximately 27,000 students. Are we to believe that the majority of students on campus follow one of the beliefs expressed in “Diverse Paths”? Since VISIONS is a publication for alumni of Iowa State, and not the student body, what is the justification for not including a Christian message in “Diverse Paths”? It is my belief, and I may be wrong (but I don’t think so) that the number of Christians represented in the alumni community far outnumber the combined total of alternative beliefs covered in this story “Diverse Paths”. And I feel a poll of the student body would also show approximately the same results.

The most frightening aspect of this presentation to me is that the “fourth estate” of a large American campus, “my campus,” feels it has the right to publish an article in an alumni publication dedicated to a minority view of beliefs without giving the majority’s beliefs a fair hearing. As for the inclusion of “secular humanists,” it is my sincere feeling that this was totally uncalled for, because if it can even remotely be called a religion, and I don’t believe it qualifies, it is a “church of unbelief.”—in other words, a dichotomy, defined by Webster’s as “division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups.” Are we, the alumni, to believe that Iowa State encourages the promotion of secular humanism on campus?

Hector Avalos was introduced in his section of “Diverse Paths” as an “ISU associate professor of religious studies.” Further, “in 1999, he founded ISU’s atheist and agnostic society”. And finally, in his remarks, he is quoted as stating “he believes that religion has done more harm that it has done good”!

Apparently, Hector is not aware of the incalculable good being done every day by the millions and millions of Christians in the United States, not counting the good works of the vast numbers of Christians in the rest of the world.

My concluding remark to Carole and Karol is this: Christians are being persecuted every day in many of the countries in the world where the religious beliefs expressed in “Diverse Paths” are predominant. At least in America, the people expressing diverse paths are not being persecuted for their beliefs.

Although not a graduate of Iowa State, my wife, Phyllis, has long had a strong belief in and respect for Iowa State University. However, she shares my deeply felt concerns about “Diverse Paths” and agrees that a rather serious future gift planned for Iowa State in my will, will be re-directed to a more deserving educational institution.

—William E. Postma, ’54
Las Vegas, Nevada

A member of my congregation shared the summer issue of your fine magazine with me this week. We were interested in the article in the section “Looking Back.” Pauline and Norman, two of the Martin descendants, attend our church.

While I had the copy of VISIONS, I took the opportunity to look through it. VISIONS is clearly a very well thought out, professional publication that you should be proud of.

I was disappointed, however, in the article by Karol Crosbie entitled “Diverse Paths.” Obviously a great deal of time went into research and interviewing the people from those different faiths.

The article begins with opening lines suggesting that incoming students should expect to meet alternative philosophical and religious views when they come to Iowa State University. Respect is rightfully encouraged, citing “a world torn apart by conflict that is often driven by religious differences.” It is clear that the six philosophies offered in the article are intended to be considered as possible alternatives to Christianity. My disappointment comes from the glaring omission of an equally succinct description of Christianity and thoughts from any one of the many current ISU students who have chosen that way of believing.

If fairness and openmindedness were the intent, then an article calling for tolerance and respect for alternatives should at least offer that same level of respect and tolerance for the belief system it challenges.

— Lynn Elrod, pastor
Calvary United Methodist Church
Ames, Iowa

I understand the message you were trying to convey – that ISU is more diverse than people may think. To illustrate this point, six mainstream religions were highlighted, with one glaring omission – Christianity.

You assume that most students and faculty know all about the Christian faith, but the truth is this nation (including Iowa) is fast becoming a post-Christian society where many young adults have never set foot in a church or read a Bible. It was an injustice not to give equal press to someone on campus who travels the “spiritual path” of having a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Mormons are not considered Christians as they do not believe that Jesus is the only Son of God or that salvation is only possible through faith in him. I enjoy your magazine very much. It is very well done. I am also a college alumni magazine writer, so I understand the publication process well.

— Jane Davison Provorse, ’78
Whitewater, Wisconsin

The article on religion is so well done – the first thing I’ve ever read on religion that is clear and brief. I’m keeping it.

— Nancy B. Olson, ’57
Lake Crystal, Minnesota

Your collection promoting five false religions – including Buddhism, Hinduism, Secular Humanism, Mormon, and Islam – lacked balance. To achieve balance, you need to next do a collection on such religions as Southern Baptist, the Evangelical Free Church, Missouri Synod Lutheran, Campus Crusade for Christ, Navigators, and the Presbyterian denomination which includes D. James Kennedy.

One approach to creating this next collection would be to ask each to explain their view of the Scripture verse John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

Other verses your “balance” article might explore are John 3:16; Acts 4:6 and Romans 10:9. Your careful consideration of this recommendation to achieve balance is appreciated.

— Thomas Houvenagle, ’57
Boynton Beach, Florida

Editor’s note:
“Diverse Paths” was a story about Iowa State students and faculty who practice religions that fall outside the mainstream of Midwestern U.S. culture. It is no secret that Christianity is the predominant religion practiced on campus. We did, in fact, feature a Christian Denomination – the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This denomination was chosen because its beliefs are not widely understood. It was not our intent to slight the many beliefs (both Christian and non-Christian) that were not featured, nor was it our intent to promote the featured beliefs as alternatives to Mainstream Christianity.