Our place in the clouds
When Drs. Joe Britton and Gary Ferguson led the first tropical biology class to Isla de Roatan, Honduras, in 1975, I’m sure they never envisioned TCU having a real biological station there or anywhere else. I was part of that first group, as a junior. I returned in ’76, doing my thesis on material collected during that trip. Each time, we had only a week to get in a large amount of work. Just traveling to Roatan in those days was sometimes like an Indiana Jones adventure, and the work could be pretty tiring, but it was great fun. We always wondered what it would be like to have the luxury of spending extended periods there, doing all the things we thought up for which we never had time. Seeing TCU in a position to do that today is especially thrilling. I just wish Dr. Britton had lived to see it. It would be nice if the students and faculty who made the station a reality could somehow acknowledge the efforts of Drs. Britton and Ferguson in pioneering tropical biology at TCU over 30 years ago.
Rod Nunley ’77 ’79 (MS)

That “C” again
Lee Wagstaff writes that TCU should remove the word “Christian” from the university’s title because there is an alumnus who supports abortion rights. He wrote that, “The Christ I know will condemn those who practice and approve of ‘abortion’ when He returns. You are misrepresenting Christ and His biblical standards.” Mr. Wagstaff should leave the condemnation to “his” Christ. TCU may be affiliated with the Disciples of Christ denomination, but there are a wide variety of religious beliefs among the students and alumni. I find it appalling that someone would suggest that the University cannot continue to include the word Christian simply because a belief of one of its alumni defies someone else’s view of Christian morality. But more important to me, why did the editor even give Mr. Wagstaff a forum for his intolerant opinions when he is not even an alumnus of TCU?
Kathy Kindling Whelan ’91

All walks of life
As always, I was pleased to find the latest edition of The TCU Magazine in my mailbox this week. After skimming through the first few pages, a letter from a reader caught my attention. It was from a spouse of a TCU alum who questioned the “Christian” in Texas Christian University. I usually do not feel the need to send letters to magazines, but I could not put aside the feeling that a response from someone is necessary. While I can respect the gentleman’s adamant beliefs and his strong religious convictions, I feel they have no bearing on the name of the university. The presence of an article featuring an alum that campaigned for Obama and who is involved with any specific organization is hardly justification for calling for the university to change names. The name of an institution is not dependant upon the articles run in its alumni magazine. The TCU Magazine has a responsibility to feature alumni of all walks of life, namely because it is a reflection of the diverse student body, both past and present. I think it is important to note that “Christian” in the university’s name acknowledges a major part of our history. The school was founded by Campbellite ministers. A partnership with what would become the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was formed in 1889 and the university remains to this day historically affiliated with the denomination. TCU is the largest Disciples affiliated university in the nation. The school has since become a liberal arts institution, but we continue to hold on to the “Christian” in our name to honor that history.
Sara Blackwood ’05 ’07 (MA)
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Dorothy Willey
I just wanted to take a moment and respond to the article written about Dorothy Willey in the Winter 2008 edition. I loved the article and found it to be very encouraging and cheerful. How wonderful to know that a fellow TCU grad has led such a long, productive, full life. Thanks for keeping us informed of the pioneers who led the way and paved the road for future TCU students. I was touched by this story, I think, for my own pride in being a TCU graduate and my hope in a long, bright future. Dorothy is a true inspiration. I wish her much love and happiness, and many more years ahead. ??
Jenni Tittle ’95

Editor’s Note:  Apparently Dorothy isn’t our most senior alumnae — read about Lola Sherfesee, who is 104.

A new crop of Frogs
I returned home last night from teaching a journalism class at TCU to find the Winter 2008 issue of The TCU Magazine in the mailbox. While poring over its contents, I happened upon a cute picture of a little boy mugging for the camera with Horned Frogs linebacker Daryl Washington. It took me a moment to realize that the child in the picture is Nicholas, the adopted son of one my closest childhood friends, Jonathan Stewart and wife Tiffany Gardiner Stewart ’01. In the 1980s and ’90s, Jon and I often attended Horned Frogs football games with another neighborhood buddy, Lance Terveen, whose father is TCU Lettermen’s Hall of Fame member Dede Terveen ’75. Even though the Frogs didn’t win as often back then (it was the Jim Wacker and Pat Sullivan eras, after all), my friends and I always had a great time at Amon Carter Stadium. During halftime of a game this fall, I headed to a grassy area behind Amon Carter’s east stands to chat with Jon and Lance while their young sons played a raucous game of touch football. What a great feeling it was to see a new generation falling in love with Frog football and game day at Amon Carter. Thanks for the nostalgic trip down memory lane provided by a picture in your magazine.
Mark Wright ’07 (MS)