Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | fall 2009

FALL 2009
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LETTERS

The chimps of Fongoli
You and Jill Pruetz (“The chimps of Fongoli,” summer 2009) gave the readers of VISIONS a superior treat of first conducting unusual research in a very different place, and then reporting it in a complete and interesting manner.  I have heard three different
versions of Jill’s oral-visual presentation, but only now do I have a full grasp of the enormity of what she has accomplished.

John Pesek*
ISU agriculture professor emeritus
Ames, Iowa

Same-sex marriage bias?
The VISIONS story on same-sex marriage (“Iowa Staters react to Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage,” Around Campus, summer 2009) could find feedback “nothing but positive” as also reflected in the article. I can’t believe that among the thousands of alumni, students, faculty, and staff that 100% favor the Iowa Supreme Court ruling. I don’t. How about presenting a more comprehensive
analysis of a divisive subject?

Palmer Holden**
’69 animal science, Ph.D. ’70
Ames, Iowa

The only quotes in the article were by people favoring the ruling. Also, the third paragraph equates civil rights with same-sex marriages. Many ISU alumni like myself do NOT agree with same-sex marriage and do NOT equate it with civil rights. This article makes it sound like all Iowans and ISU alumni were for the ruling. As you very well know, that is not true. I was so disgusted by the bias in the article that I quit reading the magazine and threw it away. The Alumni Association should be representing ALL members, especially on such an important issue. Your personal bias came through and offended me.

Susanne Scott**
’91 computer science
Newton, Iowa

It appears there was only one opinion at ISU. Were there any others that may not have been given any print space? Writer’s comments seemed way too politically “correct,” not entirely honest observation on what I believe is probably open to debate AND conflicting opinions ....even on a public university campus! Would suggest that writers show less obvious bias. Thanks for listening.

Bonnie (Miller) Lohry*
’74 dietetics, MS ’78
Dakota Dunes, S.D.

Tradition of the zodiac
I just read the brief about the April first “study” of the tradition of the zodiac in the north Memorial Union entry (“A powerful sign,” Around Campus, summer 2009). My parents, who met while working at the MU during WWII, always told us the real reason to walk around it was in respect to those students who died in the first World War, for whom the Union is dedicated. That was always a much stronger reason to comply. The test-flunking reason/tradition was a later bit of silliness.

John R. Carroll, M.D.**
’75 zoology
Carroll, Iowa

Iowa State’s biggest donor?
Last fall the ISU Athletics Department and The Meyocks Group, the advertising agency where I work, honored the 65th anniversary of Jack Trice’s death with a limited edition commemorative poster.
Many ISU alumni know the story of Jack Trice – but not all, I learned. Jack Trice was Iowa State’s first African-American athlete, and he died in 1923 of injuries sustained during his second college football game. On the evening before the game, he sat alone in his hotel room and wrote a letter to himself:
“The honor of my race, family & self is at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will! My whole body and soul are to be thrown recklessly about the field tomorrow. Every time the ball is snapped, I will be trying to do more than my part….Be on your toes every minute if you expect to make good.”
In 1988, a statue honoring Trice – paid for by student funds – was erected on campus between Carver and Beardshear halls. I played a bit part in the dedication ceremony by helping unveil the statue with one of Trice’s relatives. Later, the statue was moved to its current location at the football stadium, which was re-named “Jack Trice Stadium” in 1997. Today, Iowa State features the only Division I stadium named for an African-American.

When the poster commemorating Trice was printed last fall, our firm distributed copies to a group of alumni and donors – and to some student leaders and other individuals who played a role in gaining recognition for Trice. We received a number of appreciative notes from poster recipients. Perhaps the most gratifying response was from my 9-year-old nephew, who asked his parents if he could read the Jack Trice letter at prayer time.

We also received reactions from a number of folks who were obviously hearing the Jack Trice story for the first time. People who didn’t know of the character of Jack Trice and how he embodied everything we should want in an ISU student-athlete (or ISU student for that matter). People who didn’t know of Trice’s letter – or how it had inspired students and faculty decades later. People who didn’t understand Trice’s contributions to his race, his team, and
to the entire university.

One alum told me, “I didn’t know who Jack Trice was. I thought he was just a big donor.”

Maybe the biggest.

Doug Jeske**
’89 ag journalism
Johnston, Iowa