As a member of the proud Class of ’51, I was and remain a humanist and write in praise of Old Nassau’s leader and the July 11 President’s Page. I majored in classics (Latin and Greek) and remember mentors like Robert Goheen ’40 *48, F.C. Bourne, Antony Raubitschek, George Duckworth ’24 *31, and John V.A. Fine, under the presidencies of Harold Dodds *14 and then Goheen.
Budget constraints led SUNY to pare down “dead” and other languages, music, arts, drama, and many sports. While funds may be lacking, I pray this pruning will not stand. The erudition displayed by Dr. Tilghman is admirable. I confess, while I read PAW from cover to cover, I usually pass over the President’s Page; more’s the pity.
Words matter: 1951’s motto is “Carpe diem.” Wellesley’s “Non ministrari sed ministrare” (“Not to be served, but to serve”) and Madeira’s “Function in disaster, finish in style” aptly capture essential things. So do “Going Back” and “Old Nassau.”
Thank you, Dr. Tilghman, for your hail to humanism.