A Fair Dinkum Mate

Thanks so much for publishing the article about Andy Colligan (Colby spring '02). Andy was my first cousin. Being nine years older, I can say with pleasure that Andy was one of the few people that I knew well from the day he was born until his tragic and untimely death. I enjoyed his company at every stage of his life. He was a tremendous person and one of my favourite relatives. You should have seen him as a kid. He was like a maniac with limitless energy and exuberance.

I wish that I could have contributed to the picture that you painted of him. The one thing that made Andy so special--and his most distinguishing characteristic--is that he genuinely liked himself and liked being himself more than anyone I have ever met. This shaped the way he went through life and created the popularity that he enjoyed with both the boys and the girls. He was loyal, smart, tough, funny and generous, a fair dinkum mate as they say here in Australia. We will all miss him terribly.

James Gill '85

Brisbane, Australia

What Colbians can become

This weekend I had an interesting revelation. It came to me after dining at 71 Clinton Fresh Food (the Manhattan restaurant founded by chef Wylie Dufresne '92) and taking in "21 Dog Years Doing Time @ Amazon.com" at the Cherry Lane Theater (the one-man show by Mike Daisey '96). I realized it is moments like watching Mike's production and eating dinner at "71" that conjure up fond memories of school and stand as a testament of what it means to have gone to Colby.

I spent time talking with Mike after the production. What is amazing to me is that Mike grew up in northern Maine and is now performing his show in New York City. To me that is the perfect example of why Colby is great. It is the interesting people you meet there, but more importantly, it is the wonderfully diverse and interesting people that we all become.

Corley Hughes '98

New York, N.Y.

Maisel's Contribution Underplayed

Most schools of Colby's stature emphasize the outstanding work of those on the cutting edge of learning, research and publications. I feel Colby recently missed an opportunity to highlight the important efforts of one of its own.

In the latest issue of the Colby magazine, Professor L. Sandy Maisel's latest book, Jews in American Politics, has been relegated to essentially sidebar status.

Instead of firsthand quotes from Maisel about his book and its meaning, which has more political relevance than ever before, we are given a synopsis of his work and selected excerpts from the text.

Would it have been so hard to get in contact with Maisel and get a first-person account of the book and its importance?

This oversight is unfair coverage of Maisel's work and a missed opportunity to heighten the College's prestige on a nationwide level.

JAC Coyne '94

Iowa City, Iowa

Tempus Fugit for '05

The spring issue of Colby was its usual interesting self. It may also have been a reminder of time passing by. I saw reference to someone in the Class of '05 and thought, "Gerry is reaching back for that one!" But then I realized . . . it was Class of 2005--not 1905. . . . Oh well . . .

Win Clark '50 (1950 that is)

Plymouth, Mass.