ROTC Opportunity

s a 20-year war veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and Army, I enjoyed seeing the article about ROTC (“’Cane Cadets,” winter 2006) in Miami magazine. Although I received a direct officer appointment, I have always wondered why more students don’t take advantage of the wonderful things they can obtain by enrolling in ROTC. Even if they opt not to pursue a military career, the lessons in leadership and history offer a rich insight into the U.S. military culture and provide for a very enlightening and enriching experience.

While I was at the University of Miami, people started arguments with me simply because I was getting ready to deploy for the Gulf War. It is nice to see the military getting exposure especially during these times of conflict.

Steven Alvarez, B.S.C. ’92
Via the Internet

What about Army ROTC?

ice article about Air Force ROTC. What ever happened to Army ROTC? The day I graduated from the University of Miami, I was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army, thanks to the ROTC program. While I was at UM, the Army ROTC was the first to offer flight training to students through Embry-Riddle at the old Tamiami Airport. I find it ironic that the Army was teaching flying before the Air Force.

In addition to my degree and commission, I also had a private pilot’s license. A long career in the military and civilian aviation followed. I owe a great deal to both the University and Army ROTC.

Fred Sass, B.B.A. ’59, LTC, USAR ret.
Panama City, Florida

Editor’s note: The University of Miami does indeed have an Army ROTC program, which operates through the College of Arts and Sciences. The “’Cane Cadets” story focused on the Air Force ROTC because the University of Miami is the training hub for all Air Force ROTC cadets in the South Florida region, including students from Florida International University, Barry University, and Florida Memorial University.

Keeping the Faith

fter reading the article “Divine Inspiration” (fall 2005), I felt the desire to respond. As a certified thanatologist and grief counselor who specializes in older adults, I have witnessed the effect the spiritual dimension has on individuals. Stephen Sapp, my former professor and one of the scholars featured in the article, has been my inspiration to follow the path of spirituality, aging, and end-of-life issues. My thesis, Devotion to the Virgin Mary among American-Nicaraguan Women, included a study of 125 women and their relationship with the Virgin Mary. My findings showed a significant positive correlation between subjective well-being and prayer.

We cannot deny that although many people are still skeptics about religion, many people do turn to prayer and faith when everything else has failed. The power of faith and the power of prayer is, for many of us, the source of hope for this life and beyond.

Ligia M. Houben, A.B ’98, M.A. ’04
Coral Gables, Florida

Remembering Wilson Hicks

thoroughly enjoyed your article, “Meet the Press” (fall 2005), once I got over not being selected to be interviewed (ego doesn’t diminish with age). It brought back some of my fondest college memories, including my time spent with Wilson Hicks, our student advisor and former senior executive with the Associated Press and Life magazine. He was as much responsible as anyone for Life’s spectacular World War II photo coverage, and he directed a team of award-winning photographers the likes of which hasn’t been assembled under one roof since.

Mr. Hicks also initiated an annual photojournalism conference on the campus that earned international acclaim and got him into Who’s Who in America. His stories about the early days of Life, covering the Wylie Post and Will Rogers plane crash (first use of telephoto), the feud between Al Capp (Li’l Abner comic strip) and Bud Fisher (Mutt and Jeff strip where the character of Li’l Abner first appeared), and more mesmerized the Hurricane staff many an afternoon.

N. John Garcia, A.B. ’59
Isle of Palms, South Carolina

Early Excavators

n 1958 Colonel Bill Royal, Dr. Eugenie Clark, and I were the first to scuba dive in Little Salt Spring (“Little Salt Springs Forth,” winter 2006). At a depth of 210 feet, we found many fossilized human bones. In nearby Warm Mineral Spring, Colonel Royal found a skull still holding a brain that was determined by carbon dating to be about 10,000 years old.

William M. Stephens, LL.M. ’74
Maui, Hawaii

First Words

Branches of Leadership

t its grand tenth anniversary celebration this January, the Wellness Center pulsed with more than 40 years of living history. Seeing UM President Donna E. Shalala flanked by former Presidents Edward T. Foote II and Henry King Stanford wowed guests in the William Butler Atrium, where Butler himself enjoyed reminiscing with many of the administrators and students he encountered during his 32 years as vice president for student affairs.

As this relatively young University continues to extend its roots and add rings of maturity, branches of leadership change. It’s a natural function of time, but the truly amazing part is the length and depth of service demonstrated by so many leaders throughout the University’s 80-year timeline. This year the Miller School of Medicine bids farewell to its leader of the past decade, Dean John G. Clarkson, M.D. ’68, whose professional career at UM began in 1975 at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

The University is diligent about recruiting new generations of leaders who will contribute as much direction, innovation, and strength to this institution as prior generations. “Leadership is all about judgment and character,” noted President Shalala in the October 2005 special issue of U.S. News & World Report, in which she appeared alongside Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Colin Powell, and others on its prestigious list of America’s Best Leaders. With the arrival of new stars—like Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D., former chair of the Department of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center, who succeeds Clarkson as senior vice president for medical affairs and dean—it becomes obvious that the University’s present reputation and promise for continued growth are factors in attracting renowned candidates from the broad academic community.

And like Bill Butler, a regular visitor on the Coral Gables campus, former generations of UM leaders never really leave. They simply leave their branches for others to build upon.

— Meredith Danton, Editor

Letters:
We welcome your letters. All letters must be signed (your name will not be printed if you so request in writing) and may be edited for clarity and space. Address letters to:

Meredith Danton
Miami magazine
P.O. Box 248105
Coral Gables, FL 33124
E-mail: mdanton@miami.edu