Lyons, tuggers and elephants, oh my
The story about the Lyons Hall An Tostal elephant was historically
inaccurate. In spring 1972 Lyons was a very "live and let live"
type of place, with a lot of creativity and fun but not a lot
of very large, strong people suitable for a tug-of-war team. So
one night a few guys drinking wine hatched the elephant idea,
and soon we had elephant rallies, elephant wapatoola parties and
elephant raffles. We raised enough money and found the elephant,
which came in a moving van and was draped in a Lyons Hall banner
and marched, along with about 250 of us (many in festive attire
"borrowed" from the theater department), to the tug-of-war field.
We were totally stoked.
The other teams couldn't believe it, and for the final tug-of-war
the rules were relaxed so the other team could add more people.
Initially the elephant backed up toward the water- and mud-filled
pit and the other team thought it was winning. Then, as the elephant
neared the pit, his trainer tapped lightly on the right front
leg and the elephant took off like a locomotive, pulling about
20 people into the pit. It was awesome.
Kevin Finan '74
Houston, Texas
I was dismayed that the Lyons Hall portrait misrepresented true
Lyons lore. Lyons had acquired a reputation as the "Hall of Anarchy"
and we entered the elephant (paid for with appropriated hall funds
and not a special collection) as an anarchistic joke, not to dispel
the rumor we were nerds. In fact, Lyons was considered the home
for hippies. We were the hall that gave the campus King Kersten.
We were the hall that paraded the "Hot Chili Is Groovy" banner
at football games as a direct slap at the nerds who flew "Go Irish,
Beat (Opponent Name)" signs. We were the hall that flouted campus
authority so much that, the year after the elephant won the tug-of-war,
we were designated as the next women's dorm.
I am fearful that our attitude has now been eradicated from
campus. We should never stop asking our authority figures, "Why?"
Kurt P. Bottjer '74, '82Ph.D.
Jacksonville, Florida
Both Sides Now
The article on the Palestinian/Israeli situation by Arie Kacowicz
brought back memories of my sabbatical semester at Notre Dame's
Tantur Institute in Jerusalem. Although the author's residence
in Gilo was only a short distance from Tantur, he makes no mention
of the daily realities of that area -- for example, the bypass
road (for Israelis only) that passes through Gilo and travels
through Palestinian confiscated properties. I still remember flinching
at my desk every time Israeli road engineers dynamited their way
past Tantur. Nor does he mention the Israeli checkpoint adjacent
to Tantur where I daily witnessed the humiliation, detention,
arrest and beatings of Palestinian travelers by the Israeli Occupation
Forces (IOF). The same IOF soldiers periodically terrorized the
Notre Dame compound at 6 a.m. with AK-47s drawn and helicopters
whirling overhead as they tried to apprehend Palestinians who
snuck through Tantur to avoid the checkpoint because they lacked
the "proper travel documents." Each Palestinian must have prior
approval (often denied) to go to work and school, get medical
care, see a family member, attend church or mosque. Nor does the
author mention the Palestinian homes and orchards demolished by
the IOF with U.S.-made bulldozers in the same area (instant homelessness).
Rather the author focuses on suicide bombings. But I always
wondered why there were not more bombings, considering the daily,
grinding, brutal treatment that sadistic young soldiers wreak
upon an impoverished population. Palestine has become one huge
prison. This is nothing short of genocide.
Finian D. Taylor '77Ph.D.
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Those who follow the news are continually bombarded with the
truly terrible living conditions and dangers faced by Palestinians.
Yet Neve Gordon felt it necessary to remind readers that all is
not well in the Holy Land. Since 1948, when Israel was recognized
by the United Nations, the Israeli government has tried many approaches
toward peace with the Palestinians and their Arab neighbors, but
nothing short of bloodshed has been effective. This tiny nation
with fewer than six million Jews is outnumbered more than 40 times
by its Arab neighbors, is greatly outnumbered militarily and nearly
devoid of natural resources.
The Saudis, Egyptians, Iraqis and Syrians have contributed little
more to the Palestinians than armaments and anti-Israel and anti-Jewish
rhetoric. A tiny percent of Saudi oil revenues would greatly ease
the pain of daily living for their Palestinian brothers and sisters.
Mandell S. Ziegler '44
Massapequa, New York
"I Was Abused . . ."
I would like to thank John Salveson '77, '78M.A. for baring his
soul in his horrific abuse story. For almost two years newspapers
have recorded the stories of sexual abuse by priests, but because
John shared his personal tragedy with us, the impact is infinitely
stronger. I praise him for his candor and his courage. I am yet
re-sickened and re-shocked at how the church has mishandled this.
I remain loyal to the Catholic church because I know that there
are many, many more wonderful priests than those fiends who have
marred the bodies and souls of innocent children and severely
tarnished the title "Father."
Deborah Rudy '87
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
The magazine received dozens of letters, e-mails and phone
calls in response to John Salveson's account of his abuse. To
read more letters to the editor, go to the magazine's summer
ReactOnline site and to the web extra letters.
(October 2003)
