UNO Magazine |  Fall 2010       Whole Health: Mind, Body, Spirit

Letters to the Editor

On Winter 2010

Dinner downer
To Dr. Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado: I am disappointed in the tone of the article, “Dinner with Fidel.” The continually cozy, first-name reference to the brutal, self-imposed dictator throughout the story proved unsettling. This man and his regime killed or imprisoned countless numbers of their fellow countrymen. His totalitarian government continues to murder and imprison any opposition. Why else would so many Cubans risk the dangerous 90-mile stretch of sea to set foot on U.S. soil?
B.J. Duis (’98)

Editor’s note: The article’s tone originates with its writer. Dr. Benjamin-Alvarado only was a story source and had nothing to do with its presentation.

The debate heats up
It does not matter whether you believe in global warming or not. The main point should be that fossil fuels (coal and oil) are filthy forms of energy in both their extraction and their use. In a society that will not tolerate cigarette smoke, why are we tolerating these pollutants? Scientists and others should stop squabbling over global warming and put their efforts into finding clean energy that does not kill or pollute.
Margaret Mainelli
UNO Mathematics Department

Your Point / Counterpoint global climate change feature implies a serious debate in the sciences whether the globe is warming as the result of human use of fossil fuels. There is not. Any serious commentary would take some space. Consider two points: Point one: The globe is warmed by greenhouse gases, claims Prof. Smith. True but irrelevant! The problem is not that the globe is already warm; it is that the globe is heating up. The current warming trend promises disaster if current rates of greenhouse gas releases continue. Point two: Water in the atmosphere has more powerful greenhouse effects than do carbon compounds, says Dr. Smith. True, but irrelevant! The scientific concern is that carbon compounds in the atmosphere contribute powerfully to warming, in part by leveraging increases in the amount of water in the atmosphere.
Andrew Jameton, Professor, College of Public Health, UNMC


Editor’s note: Dr. Smith requested that it be noted that he asked Dr. Jameton to debate global climate change.  Dr. Smith said the invitation was declined.

While both professors have nice lists about global warming, we should understand that neither is a specialist in the field by a long shot. Several thousand scientists have spent their lives on this subject and concur that the warming is caused by man’s work on this earth. One of my friends, a global warming scientist, has given up arguing with the opinion buffs, saying: “Skip the science and watch the melting, as warming does melt ice. Watch Greenland.” But the biggest questions for Dr. Smith: What if you are wrong? Or, if we plan and invest and invent, what is the great harm?
Richard D. Holland (’48)

Clean and classy
A word of congrats on the new UNO Magazine. I was no longer receiving it by mail — and was missing reading it — when it appeared in UNO’s blurb on Facebook. I downloaded it and finally read it this morning. It is so classy. Love the graphics and photos — a very clean and up-to-date look. I can’t wait for the next issue!
Ruth Manning

Rivals
Love this issue. My husband gets the Georgetown alumni mag and the UNO mag rivals it! Nice work!
Sherry Kennedy Brownrigg (’92)

Go Large
I found the summer edition of the magazine quite interesting in content, layout and variety of subject matter. As a “retired” illustrator and graphic designer, however, I cannot understand why so many times the choice is made for such small type throughout the publication. It is not “reader friendly” at all, particularly for older readers and those with less than 20/20 vision. Yours is not alone, in the world of publishing, to print so much material in a diminished size. … I particularly found the article “On Top Down Under” well-written and very interesting as astronomy is one of my favorite subjects.
Harlan Petersen (’53)

Re: UNO Magazine
I’m emailing to congratulate you and others involved in the magazine on its content, quality and the coverage of not only alumni topics, but those topics of interest encompassing a wider view of the university.
Ron Barnett (’54)

Business buzz
Thank you for the supply of magazines you provided to Information Services for John Fiene’s meeting this week. They added to our presentation and served as a wonderful promotion of UNO for the area business executives in attendance. John’s guests left with a positive impression of UNO that will carry out into the Omaha community.
Cathy Bosiljevac, UNO Information Technology Services

Letters to the Editor
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