From the Editor
If you’ve read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, or if you’re intrigued by the idea of the multiverse and parallel universes, you may have pondered the question of whether there’s a parallel you, living life on a slightly different trajectory in a parallel universe. I’ve pondered that idea endlessly. And in one of my lives, I’m sure that I’m a librarian.
Librarians, said novelist Anthony Doerr in a recent CBS Sunday Morning interview, are “the caretakers of human knowledge.” That’s why Doerr, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All the Light We Cannot See, dedicated his new book, Cloud Cuckoo Land, to librarians.
In our feature story about URI’s alumni librarians, assistant professor of library and information science Mary Moen, M.L.I.S. ’03, Ph.D. ’15, says, “Librarians are unsung heroes. The stereotype that persists is that we’re just the keepers of the books. We’re so much more.”
Doerr would agree. Librarians are keepers, shapers, and caretakers of human knowledge, culture, history, and social consciousness. They are also truth-seekers and fact-seekers. Contrast librarians with another keeper and curator of the culture—social media—which gives users content they will click on, with truth being, at best, a secondary concern, and the importance of librarians shows up in stark relief.
I hope you are inspired by our URI librarians, as well as by student Tyrone Thomas whose podcast aims to resurrect the lost arts of listening and civil conversation, and Tim Rosaforte ’77, who forged an outrageously successful golf journalism career by leading with integrity and trustworthiness. In this issue, you’ll meet many other equally admirable and inspiring members of the URI community. We have a lot to be proud of.
—Barbara Caron, Editor-in-Chief
From URI Magazine Readers
We welcome and encourage letters to the editor. Write to us: urimag@uri.edu
Gratitude for ROTC Training
Well written article (“Leaders in Training,” summer 2021). I was a 1965 Distinguished Military Graduate and chose infantry in Hawaii with the 25th Division. I attribute my survival as a 2nd Lt. platoon leader fighting North Vietnamese Army regulars in the Central Highlands of the Republic of Vietnam to my ROTC training at URI. Proud to have served with volunteer Hawaiian soldiers led by heroic noncommissioned officers. And we were young.
—Capt. Peter C. Ewing ’65
Staying Connected
URI Magazine is my favorite piece of mail to receive. The images and stories are captivating, and I love how connected I still feel hundreds of miles and several years after graduating. Can’t wait for the next edition!
—Gina Sloman ’13
Making a Difference for Students
Reading “The Justice League of Education” (summer 2021) brought back great memories and shows how academic and personal advising, student organization participation, and caring faculty all make a difference in the lives of our students. Excellent article.
—Tom Dougan, longtime URI vice president of student affairs (retired, 2016)
Toxic Critical Race Theory
Equity? Social justice? “Justice League of Education”? (summer 2021) More duplicitous code words for the divisive Marxist Critical Race Theory that is tearing this country apart. Indeed, academia, business, government, big-tech, and the media are bending over backwards to pander to the corrosive, nonempowering agenda of victimology. These reeducation efforts are beginning to rival those of Communist China.
—Kendall Svengalis, M.L.S. ’75
Galilee Glow? Nope. That’s Jerusalem.
You, Rhody readers, are on your toes! Us? Not so much, it seems. The photo by Rich Epstein ’91 (summer 2021), which we titled, “Galilee Glow,” was from the vantage point of Galilee, but actually shows the sunset over the village of Jerusalem, which is across the breachway from Galilee. Our apologies—especially to Rich Epstein—and thanks to our readers for clarifying this.
I have been thoroughly enjoying all the articles in the summer 2021 issue of URI Magazine! However, I would like to make a correction. The photo on pages 54–55 is actually a picture of Jerusalem, in South Kingstown (not Galilee, and not Narragansett, as the caption said). Only the rocks in the lower left corner are actually in Galilee.
—Judy Everett ’72
The caption is misleading. Although the picture was taken from the vantage point of Galilee, the actual view shown is of the village of Jerusalem, on the opposite side of the breachway.
—Walter T. Burrows III ’76
I was doing a final read of the summer 2021 issue of the University of Rhode Island Magazine when the photo on pages 54–55 gave me pause: Is that Galilee, or is it Jerusalem, located on the west side of the breachway? Thank you for a great publication!
—Scott Massoni ’81
Feedback Guidelines
University of Rhode Island Magazine welcomes letters to the editor addressing topics covered in the magazine. We do not publish letters containing obscenities, potentially libelous statements, personal attacks, or known false statements. All letters must be signed. Letters may be edited for style, grammar, typographical errors, content, and length. The submission of a letter to the editor does not guarantee its publication. Views expressed by readers in the Feedback section are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the University of Rhode Island or University of Rhode Island Magazine. Please send letters via email to urimag@uri.edu.
Social Snap
@rhodyfootball
Thank you to Mr. Kraft!
Editor’s note: In October, Patriots owner Robert Kraft surprised the URI football team with a lift to it’s game against Towson in the Patriots plane. Wide receivers Paul Woods (#10, junior) and Ivory Frimpong (#84, senior) show their team’s excitement on the tarmac at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, R.I.
Once again you have produced a magnificent magazine, digital and hard copy. It is a monument of professionalism and a credit to URI and generations of alumni, which in our case goes back to 1941. And to 1969 and, to me, in 1975.
We are proud of you and of URI.