For you, Talker buys the D & C digital archives. And Noam Chomsky

We didn’t actually buy all of the D & C’s digital archives in their entirety. But for you, dear readers, for $30 we purchased six months of access. In 45 years ago when President Nixon visited Rochester. And 3 days later when East High School erupted in racial violence, you already saw what a great resource the archives are for the community. Kudos to the D & C for making the archive available at a reasonable price.

Some of what follows may appear indulgent, or worse, overdone — like the sentimental journey through the Brighton-Pittsford Post in Talker gets some Little League love from the Brighton-Pittsford Post. 

But — as in Little League love — there is a purpose. That purpose is to spark your interest in becoming more involved in our community magazine — with an emphasis on community. As I looked over the archives, I saw again the webs of relationships formed. And, especially, revisited the great work done by teachers in the RCSD.

Recently, we’ve had several pointed and informed contributions from George Payne who has become the conscience of the magazine.

And pungent observations from our “media critic,” Michael Nighan. 

And — soon to be free from her distracting duties as an educator of youth — wait till you see the whirlwind of summer adventures Of the Town envisioned by Shadi. 

And — of course — Dean’s “eulogy” in Celebrating the roses of Maplewood. But like Sam Patch, Talker is Gorged.

Join us!  Meet new Talker friends!

Now as for Noam Chomsky. Noam Chomsky’s recent visit to the University of Rochester — briefly mentioned in Audrey’s excellent adventure in Rochester — was my final use of the microfilm collection in the Local History room at the downtown Rundell library. The downside of going digital is most likely fewer visits to the Local History room.

Often there is librarian Jay Osbourne, an ever helpful researcher with a rich knowledge of local and state history. And across the street in the History Division is Stephen Nash who manages the Vietnam Learning Center. Both Jay and Steve have promised future contributions.

For Chomsky’s 2016 visit, at the microfilm desk I found an article on his last visit to Rochester at MCC in 1989 — that hopefully he would sign. The quality of the digital version of the article is noticeably superior to what can be found through microfilm.

My sister Leslie, visiting from California, and I went to Chomsky’s April 21st talk. Arriving late, I wasn’t able to get into the overcrowded Interfaith Chapel.

In line, I did meet several old guard Chomskyites. Dr. Judiana Lawrence,  UofR ’83 PhD in Renaissance Literature, was the only one who had been at MCC in 1989. Attorney Douglas Fisher had crossed paths with Chomsky in New England when both were active in Vietnam War protests. David Sperber, M.D. attended a few lectures by Chomsky at M.I.T in the early 80s. At the lectures, David was told the impressive fact that in all academic journals combined Chomsky’s work was cited the second most number of times, only exceeded by Sigmund Freud. All were eager to hear again one of their intellectual heroes.

Like me and a fair number of others including from as far away as Ithaca, Marina Vesty, from Germany and now teaching in the Rush Henrieta School District, was sorely disappointed there was not enough room in the Interfaith Chapel. Hopefully, Marina and the people who came from Ithaca will have another chance to hear and see Chomsky who Marina considers a major influence in her thinking when growing up in Germany.

Fortunately, after the talk I met Neil Grayson, a soon to be MFA creative writing student at Ohio State. Sitting in the front row, Neil kindly provided us with the complete audio of Chomsky’s talk.  (COMPLETE AUDIO, 4/21/16, Neil Grayson)

So, clipping in hand, I went early to the scheduled reception in the Eisenberg Rotunda in Schlegel Hall. Explaining my intention to have Chomksy sign the old article, the event staff thought, cool. But a problem. Following a recent norovirus outbreak on campus, Chomsky — an elderly man — was advised best not to shake hands or sign autographs. Foiled!

At the reception, I met — if recalling correctly — Carin Cole of the Simon School Office of Student Engagement. After explaining the predicament to Carin, she came up with a possible solution or back up plan: rubber gloves. Carin took me to the school’s cafe, The Buzz.

There, the staff gladly supplied the gloves, and said they would bring Chomsky a cup of coffee if he so desired. We had a lively discussion as to whether Chomsky would sign. A Simon graduate student from India — conversant with Chomsky’s work — admired Chomsky as an “outlier.” He said the outlier would sign. Another undergraduate student worker also thought Chomsky would sign, but had some worrisome news.

Her ex-girlfriend had some issues with Chomsky’s theory of universal language.  The ex thought Chomsky’s theory was inadequate in explaining sign language, as well as had racist implications.  Apparently, the woman planned to confront Chomsky at the reception and to “fight” with him. Now that would make a story.

At the reception, Chomsky immediately signed, chuckling when I showed him the Buzz gloves. We chatted briefly and his wife Valeria asked me to send her the clippings, saying if Chomsky was not over committed, he would answer a few questions about his trip to Rochester. Ultimately, Chomsky was over committed. But I got the autograph and photo taken by Leslie who much enjoyed the lecture. And there was no fight.

After reading the story, Chomksy wrote back: Thanks for this.  Good memories. Noam Chomsky. And for us too.

On to the archive, beginning with A for Athesia.

Our own Athesia has long been a darling of the D & C.  The 2005 Artist Spotlight appeared about when I first met A when we were teaching at MCC. I saw right away her not so hidden talents.

I told A only one clipping would be used, but smuggled in a picture from her D & C debut in a story on voluntary school integration. (Athesia graduated from SOTA.)

This year Athesia has worked tirelessly for the Bernie Sanders campaign, sometimes offering her message in the magazine.

In Athesia, Video Celeb turned Paparazzi, at the rally you can see her in action as Video Celebrity and Paparazzi.

Our own Athesia makes D & C print endorsement! (with our picture) you can read her Sanders endorsement solicited by the D & C.  Also sprinkled around the magazine is some of her art work.

Going back in time, the first significant piece is from our foreign correspondent, Dr. Bruce Howard Kay, from 1975.

You can already see evidence of Bruce’s devotion to scholarship as he carefully clips articles for school. Hardly surprising, Dr. Kay’s two major contributions,  A 1997 trip to deep Peru retracing the Shining Path. and From Tirana with love. And a dash of Pristina. are generally considered the finest in the magazine.

Next is a 1980 Letter-to-the-Editor by Eric Kemperman (we went to BHS and Brown University together) whose photography appeared in On the 22nd of October, 1844 on top of Cobb’s Hill. In the letter, Eric critiques what he calls “our archaic method of electing our president.” While I don’t disagree with Eric in principle, jettisoning the electoral college presents new problems.

On May 26th, 1981 wrote on Al Haig.

In 2012, I wrote a letter in response to Tom Golisano’s campaign to eliminate the Electoral College. I argue that Golisano has never once addressed the issue of how a national recount would be conducted. I even called the Diana Reems program during a show on the subject, but did not get an adequate answer.  But the Electoral College isn’t going anywhere soon, so sorry Eric and Tom.

Speaking of letters to the editor, our media man Nighan (see Is Public Input to the D&C a Dead Letter? by Michael Nighan) has had two.