The Schenectady connection
I recently saw part of an old 1940s war movie starring Errol Flynn called Objective, Burma. In the scene I saw, a war correspondent is interviewing a man in Flynn's unit. The young man tells the correspondent that he grew up on Crane Street in Schenectady and went to Union College. Thought you would be interested.
Ian MacDonald '55
Beacon, N.Y.
From the editor:
One of the screenwriters on Objective, Burma was Ranald MacDougall, born in Schenectady in 1915. His other screenwriting credits include Mildred Pierce and Cleopatra, and he directed a few movies in the 1960s. He died in 1973 in Los Angeles. Objective, Burma, released in 1945, was nominated for an Academy Award.
Readers who know of other Union and/or Schenectady references in the movies are invited to send them to us:
Union College magazine,
Office of Communications
Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. 12308 or magazine@union.edu
More on civil engineering
Union College could have had a strong Civil Engineering Department that interacts with other departments to develop engineers who could tackle the nation's infrastructure problems and develop land with an environmental and community conscience.
By working with the political science program, for example, our engineering undergraduates could understand how governments set policy and issue approvals for the development of new airports, highways, railways, and public transportation systems-issues that will become more critical as our nation's highways and airways become more crowded. Or biology and civil engineering undergraduates could have worked together on water quality issues. Here on the West Coast, storm water runoff from developed projects enters creeks with salmon in them. Since salmon are now an endangered species, providing clean water to them is critically important to ensure survival of the species.
Civil engineers are trained to solve technical problems, but they also need to communicate and work effectively with other disciplines and non-engineers to ensure that the best solutions are implemented. Union had the opportunity to create the civil engineers of the future, and I am disappointed that the College did not continue to maintain a strong Civil Engineering Department.
Kathryn A. Gardow '80, P.E.
Kathryn Gardow &
Associates, Inc.
Seattle, Wash.
The House System
Re the article on the new House System in the most recent magazine:
I have spoken with numerous alumni about the changes being implemented and have yet to meet one who truly supports Union's plan. I am hopeful, like others, yet I don't believe the changes will work or were necessary.
Once, there was hardly a
college in the country that could offer the education and social development that Union offered. Now Union wants to be like other colleges to achieve higher rankings. Changing Union to make it more statistically attractive is a mistake and negates what Union is about. The school should go back to concentrating on more than academics as a way of measuring itself and take stock in the successes of its alumni. The new plan is forced socialization, will never work, and should be repealed.
Douglas Wilk '87
Harrison, N.Y.
We welcome letters. Send them to: Office of Communications, Union College, Schenectday, N.Y. 12308 or
blankmap@union.edu.