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FALL 2011 . ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE 7
who names several religious “beliefs,”
including even atheism, represented
by students who are on the Student
Interfaith Council; however, he does
not mention Judaism.
I do not know whether this was an
oversight or a conscious omission by Mr.
Zaid; whether no Jewish students chose
to participate; or whether Jewish students
were consciously excluded. I cannot
believe that the latter is what occurred, but
the lack of mention of Judaism was rather
striking, particularly when atheism is men-
tioned as a participating religion.
Burton Litvack ’66
Alameda, California
University Chaplain Kathleen Buckley
reports that there are Jewish students on the
Interfaith Student Council. “In fact, one of
the leaders identifes himself as a HinJew -
he has Hindu and Jewish parents,” she says.
In our story, Abdulla Zaid merely ofered a
few examples of the many faiths represented
on the ISC. —NSB
Recipe for a Renaissance
In his eloquent “Open Letter,” St. Law-
rence, Summer 2011, Baylor Johnson has
captured the St. Lawrence transformation
of the past 15 years. Baylor was present
at the beginning of that era, possesses an
ample perspective of the preceding years,
and has personally contributed to the suc-
cess of the St. Lawrence renaissance.
Tese extraordinary outcomes are
the result of a collaboration that fused
together four components of shared
governance: two inspirational presidential
leaders; a Board of Trustees, generous
of time, talent and personal resources; a
dedicated, motivating and gifed faculty;
and a skilled administrative team perform-
ing at the highest level of professional
diligence. Tis cross-cultural collabora-
tion has benefted St. Lawrence with a
unique institutional balance of intellectual
Correspondence
Matters of Faith
While hardly shocked, I was surprised
that well over 60 percent of the Class of
’14 would have no religious afliation
or apparent preference (“Self-Identifed
Religious Preferences,” Summer 2011
St. Lawrence, page 25). While “None/
No Response” on the part of 374 class
members is not open to precise interpre-
tation—I have no way of knowing how
many indicated “none” as opposed to “no
response”—nonetheless it struck me that
such a high percentage could possibly be
unchurched is inordinately high. Had that
question been asked of my classmates,
back in the Dark Ages of the early ’50s, I
have no doubt the percentages would have
been reversed, likely lopsidedly so.
Mind you, some people might have
refrained from responding, feeling it was
a personal matter. Tough I must assume
few, if any, would be committed Chris-
tians. Yes, times change, but sadly not
always for the better.
Herbert W. Hallman ’54
Denver, Colorado
I have to wonder who proofread the
beginning of “Taking Diversity to the
Next Level” (Summer, page 22). Te frst
sentence contains an improper usage
of the term “Holy Grail,” particularly if
capitalized. Tis term refers to the cup
(possibly dish or plate) used by Jesus at the
Last Supper. Tat is by no means how it is
used in the context of this article.
Paul Rabeler ’75
Clifon Park, New York
At the outset, I want to tell you how
much I enjoy reading the magazine and
how much I value being a part of the St.
Lawrence family. In these circumstances,
I was quite disturbed by “New Student
Group Encourages Exchange of Views” in
the Summer 2011 St. Lawrence (page 6).
In particular, I refer to the quote attrib-
uted to Abdulla Zaid ’13 of Sana’a, Yemen,
vitality, teaching and learning excellence,
and high-performing governance stew-
ardship, all of the hallmarks of a classical
renaissance.
I would add another intangible out-
come, palpably present but difcult to as-
sign metrics to or even defne. It is that St.
Lawrence discovered, or rediscovered, its
self-confdence during those same 15 years.
In the vernacular, St. Lawrence moved to
an uplifing and credibly supported decla-
ration that “we can be the best.”
Hidden behind that transition were
deep cultural changes that touched in
equal measure faculty, students, adminis-
trators and trustees. Te most difcult and
challenging changes to accomplish in any
human enterprise are those that seek to
alter human behavior.
Certainly the St. Lawrence story
that celebrates extraordinary achieve-
ments must also chronicle instances of
imperfection, of not getting it right the
frst time. But those are sidebars that are
overwhelmed by the enormity of the
challenges that were met and the triumphs
that were scored.
Te foundation of governance collabo-
ration prepared St. Lawrence to confront
the new realities of a rapidly evolving 21st-
century higher education environment
that defes old paradigms and demands
new and creative solutions that over-
come obstacles so that the St. Lawrence
educational mission can be sustained with
excellence into the very long future.
Tank you to the widely diverse mem-
bers of the St. Lawrence community who
contributed to this compelling recent
history and who continue to serve and
support our alma mater.
E.B. Wilson ’53
Chathamport, Massachusetts