Sally Baker's splendid article on Sid Farr captured the essence of one of Colby's finest people. On visits to Mayflower Hill, my wife and I always headed to see Sid. His welcomes were invariably a treat.
I actually met Sid through my wife, Bette. She was once associated with the Alumni Office of the University of Maine, Orono. Their conversations were punctuated with mutual remembrances of conferences and the ever-changing role of college life in general. To dust off my Colby philosophy degree; Plato observed, "The way to get things done is not to mind who gets the credit for doing them." That had to be a key to Sid's unusual success.
A happy, resourceful retirement to Sid and our many thanks.
Gilbert Y. Taverner '48
Concord, Mass.
I just finished reading your article regarding Sid Farr's deserving retirement
from Colby. However, I was rather disappointed that you neglected to mention
one very important volunteer position in which Sid served--coach of the Silver
Street Service Little League baseball team of 1975. Although this may appear to
be a minimal oversight to most people, it certainly is not to me.
During an era when little girls were encouraged to be "mother's little
helpers," and boys were encouraged to play competitive sports, along came Title
IX. After reassurance that the Waterville Morning Sentinel had not
made a typographical error, and yes, girls had to be entitled to a
tryout, I knew my little apron and rolling pin were about to be replaced by a
bat and ball! Within days I was notified that I had not only been assigned to a
baseball team, but that I had the dubious distinction of being the first girl
ever to make the league. The Sid Farr you wrote so highly about in your
article was the same person who challenged tradition by selecting a girl for
his baseball team.
One can only imagine the torment a little girl would encounter from other
players, parents, coaches and league administrators in the traditional male
setting of America's favorite pastime. It was not too long into the season
when I realized that most players' fun was at my expense. I recall my parents
calling Sid and explaining my frustration and desire to leave the team. "Tell
her she'll go down in history and pave the way for little girls!" he said. Now
I know why Sid has been so effective as a Colby development officer. How could
a 9-year-old girl quit after hearing those words?
Sid Farr is a class act. I haven't seen him in 20 years, but his words of
encouragement ring in my ears as if it were yesterday. Thanks for the great
article and bringing back such good memories of a fine Colby person.
Margie Arnold-Riley
Champaign, Ill.
A Few Feet Short
The Olin Science Center looks too big from the drawing to be only 10,000
square feet. Could it be 10,000 square feet per floor? With four floors,
40,000 would be the total square footage. In any event, it's an exciting
addition.
Richard Riemer '68
Cedar Grove, N.J.
The actual square footage is 37,150 . The article also should have said
that the $6.4 million gift by the F.W. Olin Foundation was the largest in
Colby's history. The article was corrected but an earlier version mistakenly
appeared in the magazine. Sorry for the confusion. --Ed.
The anatomy of the new design is a success. I can't remember when the magazine had a last makeover, but I like this result. The results that we all now see seem to me to have captured enough of the old to provide continuity and enough of a new style to enliven the format.
Permit me a general comment, which stems from your report that readers wish "for more news about the College." I also feel the need for more news of the campus and its faculty and student life. This issue has too little of that. I don't mean information about sports (keep that to two pages, as you did). And I don't look for more on us alums; you already have enough to portray how and where we have pursued our careers. However, if I want to find out what the faculty activities are, their research endeavors or the changes in instruction in their departments, I only find the page and a half of Faculty File. That is too little. We far from Waterville would like to know how the academic heart of the College is doing these days, by whom and how are our childeren being taught, what is the profile of the department of our own major, how are the library collections and services, the computer capacities and the labs--the teaching environment. I suspect those are the topics of which we out here would like "far more news." A full eight pages on "Hard Time" is only depriving us of news of the Colby we love!
David C. Weber '47
Stanford, Calif.
A Taste of Reality
I am writing a short response to an article in the January 1995 issue of
Colby that arrived today. The article, on page 6, is entitled
B.Y.O.B. It concerns the new Colby policy that allows local liquor
stores to deliver only kegs of beer to campus.
It was just a year ago, January 28 to be exact, that our Colby College son's
best friend left his dorm on the campus of Springfield College with his
buddies. They were headed to drink at a local bar. Springfield College doesn't
allow any alcohol deliveries though students can go to liquor stores and bring
it back to their rooms. Sometime during the evening he decided to leave the
bar. By himself. No one saw him go. It was an evening when the temperatures
were sub-zero, and few people were on the road and, frugal as he was, we think
he tried to walk back to the College. He never made it back. He collapsed along
the way because he had drunk too much hard liquor, and he died of hypothermia.
To this day we believe if he had stayed on campus and been around people, this
would not have happened. Someone would have saved him.
"The administration is treating the Colby population like mature adults by
instituting this policy" leaves something to be desired. Alcohol is alcohol.
The reality is, college students are going to drink. As a parent I would prefer
they do so in the confines of the campus we entrust them to and not out on the
streets of Waterville or beyond.
Pam Smith
North Bridgton, Maine