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LETTERS TO THE EDITORQuestioning and AffirmationAn excellent article by Margaret Hunt Gram ’05 on Arnold Beichman ’34 (January). He is exactly what Columbia (ought to) stand for: vigorous inquiry as well as unwavering patriotism. As Professor Wm. Theodore de Bary '41 said a little later in the issue, a rare combination of “questioning and affirmation.” I also enjoyed de Bary’s article on formulating an Asian Humanities course. Very interesting insights on how he and the department went about doing that. I also liked the fact that he wasn’t the typical West-bashing academic and evenhandedly affirmed Western as well as Eastern canons. He is one of the reasons Columbia enjoys its high reputation. Thanks for the enlightening reads. Jeanette Baik ’96
Your piece on the “anti-communist warrior,” Arnold Beichman ’34, is inaccurate in its representation of his oral exams. They could not have taken place "in spring 1968" if the panel of examining professors “asked him why he thought the Soviet Union had invaded Czechoslovakia,” for the simple reason that the Soviet Union did not invade Czechoslovakia until August of that year. Either Beichman’s exams did not occur when he said they did or he is conflating another incident with those exams. Whatever the case, and as a historian I am only too well aware that memory is an active agent in the reconstruction of the past, I could not let the mistake go without comment. Lewis Siegelbaum ’70
Word of PraiseColumbia College Today is so much better than Alumni News, of which I was an assistant editor in 1939! But we did our bit for Columbia. Thomas M. Jones ’37 Burlington, N.C. Whose “Night” Was It?In your January issue, a full-page ad for Columbia250 features Clement Clarke Moore, “1798 Columbia valedictorian,” who the ad says, “is best known today for the poem that begins, “Twas the night before Christmas...” On page 28 is a “Bookshelf” notice for the sixth edition of The Modern Researcher by Jacques Barzun ’27 and Henry F. Graff. Barzun and Graff’s book contains a five-page discussion of the poem’s authorship. Citing recent research by Professor Don Foster of Vassar College, Barzun and Graff conclude: "Foster’s detective work was done. Henry Livingston was the author of ‘ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.’ Moore had lived a lie that the world accepted for almost two centuries - and the public at large will probably continue to do so. But for good scholars and readers of up-to-date reference works, the record now has been set straight." Leo Wong ’68
That’s Carl Hovde ’50The Class of 1950 is most appreciative of having the name of its member, and former College dean, Carl Hovde, attached to a room in the Heyman Center, as reported on page 8 of the January issue. I’m sure the Class of 1951 is equally appreciative, as Carl is listed there as being a member of that class. Carl is a highly valued member of ’50. The Class of 1950 is as vigilant as ever even after 54 years, so we accept your apology and look forward to seeing a correction printed in the next issue of CCT. Ralph Italie ’50
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