Letters

I thought that [John Allen’s] article on Eric Gabriel [“Capitan Courageous,” Winter 2008 On Wisconsin] was superb — informative, well written, and fascinating! Thanks.
Bill Rock MS’89
Madison

Thank you for the exceptional cover story and amazing photos in “Capitan Courageous.” I have always enjoyed reading On Wisconsin from cover to cover; however, given that I am Eric Gabriel’s sister, this is by far my favorite issue! Many readers may not know that Eric’s top priority off the job is his family. He is a devoted husband and father of three children under the age of six. Their dad is a “superhero,” but to them he is Dad who takes them hiking and climbing. All three, like their father, love to climb every boulder they pass by.

Eric’s first major climbing feat was at age two. Our parents found him sitting up on the fireplace mantel. They had heard a crash and saw that the grandfather clock had fallen, but Eric was safe.
Jenifer Gabriel Novak ’88, MS‘93
Streamwood, Illinois

In the sidebar “Climbing the Walls” [“Capitan Courageous”], there is a picture of a person rappelling down the southwest tower of the Red Gym.

This appears to be an Army ROTC cadet performing an Australian rappelling technique. I practiced and performed this specialized technique, at this very location, as one of the university’s Army ROTC Cadets between 1974 and 1978.

I highly doubt that the Hoofers would teach this, since the usual way to rappel is with one’s back toward the ground. Rappelling forward takes all of your self-control and focus as you lean forward over the edge of the tower wall until you are at about 90 degrees and then you run down the wall. This style is helpful when you need to see where you are going with a potential enemy below and allows a free hand for your weapon.

About 1978, it was determined that the bricks on the tower were becoming loose and the use of the tower for rappelling was ended for safety reasons.
James Kedrow ’78
Zion, Illinois

Wow — your story about Eric Gabriel really enlivened On Wisconsin. I’ve known a number of NPS rangers over the years, but never realized how specialized their SAR teams are. Mr. Gabriel certainly is a great poster guy for others with the skill, fitness, and courage to tackle what must rate as one of the most dangerous assignments in our national parks system. Your story put readers up close and personal with the rescue folks who work El Capitan and other tough beats in our national parks system.
James A. Schwartz MS‘69
Altoona, Wisconsin

As a map lover, I was intrigued by the article “Shaped by History” [Winter 2008] and the explanations for how Wisconsin’s boundaries were established. As a geologist, I was surprised that there was no mention of the primary reason that the Upper Peninsula is part of Michigan and not Wisconsin: the native copper deposits of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Copper had been discovered there in the early 1830s, and when Michigan was set to become a state in 1837 (more than ten years before Wisconsin would), annexing the Upper Peninsula was a strategic economic move.

The copper was considered such an important resource that in 1844, the U.S. government established a remote army outpost, Fort Wilkins, at the very tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula (probably the safest army posting an enlisted man could have asked for). Even more incredibly, the boundaries of Michigan were gerrymandered to include copper deposits on Lake Superior’s Isle Royale, in spite of the fact that the island lies much closer to northern Minnesota.
Marcia Bjornerud MS’85, PhD’87
Appleton, Wisconsin

Regarding “It Doesn’t Add Up” in the Winter 2008 , I wish to comment on UW psychology professor Janet Hyde’s proclamation that it is her mission to change stereotypes and “as a scientist, [she has] to challenge them with data.” Give me a break — I didn’t know it was the role of a scientist to change the thinking of the populace. The role of a scientist is to perform research to solve the riddles of nature, and to have that research vetted by peers; changing the minds of the populace regarding so-called stereotypes is the role of politicians.
Paul Feng ’83
Irvine, California

Thanks so much for “Ballroom Basics” in the Winter 2008 On Wisconsin [Classroom]. I took Dance 041 in the fall of 1984 and remember what a wonderful time it was. My classmates and I had so much fun together learning the dances and going to the four required ballroom dances in the Great Hall at Memorial Union.

I still remember the last day — when the class was over, we all just sat around Lathrop Hall, willing it not to end. I don’t remember any of the names of my old partners, but I’ll always remember the feeling of being swept across the dance floor by them. Thanks for the memories!
Sandra Fischer ’87
Hartford, Connecticut

Thanks for your article about the ballroom dance elective offered through the dance department. My husband and I met in that class in Lathrop Hall in the fall of 2000. After a semester of dancing together in class and studying together at Grainger Library, we started dating. We were married in 2002 and were able to do a mean foxtrot as the first dance at our wedding!
April Klima Ueland ’02 and Justin Ueland ’01
Chanhassen, Minnesota

I had no idea then that ballroom dancing would come to play such an important role in my life. As I moved around the country for my graduate studies and career, I could always go to the nearest ballroom dance studio and find a welcoming community of friends. In fact, I met my husband at the University of Michigan Ballroom Dance Club in Ann Arbor.

On a related note, it was great to see Ben Wischnewski's profile of Jeff Nehrbass [{A Minister Who Dances — and Vice Versa,” Winter 2008 Alumni News]. I had the opportunity to dance with Jeff a few times when I lived in the Twin Cities, and it was indeed a pleasure!

I am grateful to UW-Madison not only for the fine education that has led to a rewarding career, but also for the opportunity to explore activities outside my major and develop a lifelong hobby.
Lynn Tuttle Gunney ’88
Pleasanton, California

“Ballroom Basics” [Winter 2008] brought back fond memories of teaching ballroom dance at the UW. When I entered the university in the late 60s as a graduate student in the dance department, there were no ballroom classes offered. With my department chair’s blessing, I developed the first sessions.

That first semester, I had to put announcements in every dorm to get enough students to enroll. By the time I got my degree, they were turning students away because the sessions filled up quickly.

It is wonderful to see that ballroom dance is still offered and that it is making another comeback in popularity.
Ellyn Kroupa MS’70, PhD’96
Madison

I can appreciate Armine Cuber’s concern regarding tuition increases [Letters, Winter 2008]. In 1952, tuition was raised from $50 to $60. We marched on the Capitol. After all, that 20 percent increase represented more than thirteen pitchers of beer at the H-T!
Nils I. Larson ‘58
Phoenix, Arizona

As my twenty years on the Wisconsin Alumni Association board of directors draw to an end, I want to attempt to express my sincere gratitude for the great opportunity it was to serve our 375,000 alumni, fans, and friends all around the world. What a high honor and distinct pleasure it has been for me to meet and connect with 100,000-plus of our fellow Badgers during that time!

Last year, when I served as WAA chair, my wife Mary Ann and I took 22 trips (perhaps surprisingly to some, mostly at our own expense) to Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Madison…and always back to Madison for wide variety of Badger events. We may have also traveled 100,000+ miles during this time; either by car, plane, or on board a Lake Michigan ferry….always running into more Badgers along the way.

The two of us will fondly remember getting to ride around town before home football games in the Bucky Wagon with the Spirit Squad, Bucky, and several college friends as we high-fived many of the cardinal and white fans around campus, up State Street, and around the Capitol Square Farmers Market. One of the biggest thrills for me was speaking at the December and May commencement ceremonies and, along with Chancellor Wiley, welcoming each and every new Badger alum as they walked across the Kohl Center stage.

I can report firsthand that our beloved alma mater is in excellent shape; certainly not without challenges, but with many outstanding faculty and staff people in the right places to continue the traditions and expectations of the Wisconsin Idea. Passionate alumni support from Badgers just like you and me will always be the difference in our University of Wisconsin continuing to be a world leader in learning, teaching, research, and growing tomorrow’s great minds.
Once a Badger, always a Badger!

Doug Griese
WAA 2007–08 Chair
Troy, Michigan

University Health Services (UHS) retains student health records for ten years after graduation, so the health records of alumni who graduated in 1998 are slated to be confidentially disposed of this year. UHS strongly encourages alumni to secure copies of their health records — even if they graduated recently. For more information, contact the UHS Medical Records Department at (608) 262-1676 or by e-mail at uhs@wisc.edu. Or you may visit www.uhs.wisc.edu for a consent form.

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On Wisconsin Magazine welcomes letters and reserves the right to edit them for length or clarity. E-mail comments to onwisconsin@uwalumni.com; mail them to On Wisconsin, 650 North Lake Street, Madison, WI 53706; or fax them to (608) 265-8771. We regret that we don’t have room to publish all the letters we receive, but we do appreciate hearing from you.