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The F-Word
I was heartened to read “Sexual Politics” in the summer issue. For me this is a marked change in how women respond to ugly remarks. My mother believed ugly comments should be ignored but I felt that silence lets people get away with offensive comments. My mother graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1943 and worked as a chemist during World War II. as the only female professional in a TVa steam plant, she learned to stand her ground but rarely considered comments to be worth fighting for.
I am proud to see President Spar bringing ugly comments out into the daylight. I am also proud that my daughter refuses to be silenced. Her college essay, “Daring to Use the F-Word,” was what got her into her first-choice college.
—Jean anthony ’79
New York, NY
She’s Ours
I was reading the latest issue of the Barnard magazine and noticed that the magazine accidently put Yael Lewin as the class of 1971—instead of 1991. You had a beautiful photo and write-up of her—but it was in the wrong spot in the magazine’s Class Notes. Many people in the Class of ’91 might not...realize she is one of our classmates.
—Diane Rein ’91
Kings Point, N.Y.
Editors’ Note: We’re delighted you reclaimed her, and we do regret the error.
Making a Choice
Hang your head in shame, Barnard! I always found the College’s hyperventilating about women’s issues a bit overstated, but the circumstances surrounding Obama’s giving the commencement address reveal just how empty words are. I understand that Jill Abramson, the first woman executive editor of The New York Times, was originally invited to give the address and then was asked to step aside in favor of President Obama. Following the example of the Democratic Party in ’08, the College chose a cool black guy over a woman of proven competence.
—Carol Crystle ’62
Via e-mail
Editors’ Note: Jill Abramson has graciously agreed to speak at the College at a later date.
