Letters to the Editor
Photo courtesy of K. Ross Toole Archives, Mansfield Library Montanan Spring 2007
Devil Wears Prada Redux?
The editors of the Montanan should have read or seen The Devil Wears Prada before publishing Brianne Burrowes' article "Staring a Dream in the Face." Given the popularity of the movie it is difficult to believe no one noticed the similarities. The parallels are really too obvious to ignore. In fact, I believe the turning point for the book/movie's heroine came during a similar "you remind me of me" moment with the demanding boss. Coincidence? Plagiarism? Either way, the article's inclusion added nothing to the publication. It would have been more at home in the pages of, perhaps, Teen People.
Ali Bovingdon '95, J.D. '98
via e-mail
[Editor's note: Sharing the experiences of current students is an important element of this publication. Writer Brianne Burrowes was living the experiences as the movie came out last summer, and her struggles were widely publicized on Jossip and Page Six. The Montanan staff is confident in our colleague's ethics and honesty. She is, after all, a University of Montana journalism school graduate.]
Suspicious Of Skating
My roommate and I (both freshmen in 1961-62) lived in Craig Hall the winter of '61-'62 and traversed the Oval daily. Neither of us remembers the Oval being flooded nor any skating on the Oval.
Is this picture perhaps taken in the late fall of 1962? We both lived at 333 University Avenue that winter (1962-63). We still do not remember the flooded Oval!
Was the Oval flooded artificially or was there a freak rain followed by a freeze?
Is the 1962 date correct?
Darrel Choate '65, M.A. '67
Bozeman, Montana
[Editor's note: We checked the date of the photo referred to above with UM's K. Ross Toole Archives, and it was taken on February 5, 1962. There also is a photo in the February 6, 1962, issue of the Kaimin of what appear to be the same skaters.]
Aber Day Reminiscence
As you noted in the Letters column in the winter issue, you had a big response to Rick Tobin's letter in the fall issue. I concur with his opinion, and I assume you've thought of it already, but I bet thousands of grads would love to see a long article on the Aber Day kegger--the history, who played each year, attendance, photos, and its eventual demise, if I remember correctly, primarily due to the efforts of one county councilwoman in 1979. I am sure many people would be happy to write of their own memories, and you could publish the best ones on paper and put the rest online. And I bet there's a market for someone to reprint the posters advertising the event! I would love to have one or two or three. . .
Rick Kolb '79 Geology
via e-mail
Prey Dismay
I was really enjoying your winter issue, impressed with the articles, layout, design, and photographs until I got to page 31 and saw the picture of alumnus Richard Venola '88 posed proudly beside the gemsbok he shot in Africa. That picture is disgusting and only points out the callousness and insensitivity of individuals who must prove their manhood by shooting defenseless animals. Couldn't you have just printed his name and a statement about him rather than showing that photograph of him gloating over his prey?
Wallace Danielson '50
San Diego, California
