Mick, Mack memories

Your January story on Mick and Mack brought back many fond memories. I met my husband, Jon, in the basement of McMicken Hall where I was campaigning for the Arts and Sciences Tribunal in the spring of our freshman year. He offered to take me to lunch at the Lambda Chi house if I accepted his promise of a vote. Often over the following four years, we met at the feet of Mick and Mack on our way to a coffee date or a beer at Shipley's.

My father-in-law, Wilber Meese, a noted Hoosier watercolor artist, painted the enclosed picture [at right] of the front of McMicken Hall for us as a gift. Your article reminded me of those wonderful times. My husband died last summer, but the many memories live on.

Ann Robisch Meese, A&S '60, MA (A&S) '61, Ed '62
Columbia, Mo.

Best explanation

I've just finished reading the January "Cincinnati Horizons" cover to cover. This single issue is one of the best explanations I've ever seen of how UC functions administratively, culturally and academically. Congratulations.

Kevin Grace, MA (A&S) '77
UC archivist

Alice, Nippert questions

This magazine gets better and better, particularly to someone who left Cincinnati in 1978 and graduated in 1943.

The story on Alice the Bearcat [April '04] was new to me, not exactly the same as was passed on to me by my father, who studied civil engineering at UC around WWI. His take was that a star UC back named "Teddy" Baehr ran wild during a big game -- probably UC-Miami Thanksgiving contest -- and it was written up in the next day's paper as: "UC weren't just wildcats yesterday, they were Baehr-Cats." And Bearcats they remained. Frankly, I never heard of a binturong.

Another item to catch my eye was the Nippert Stadium photo on page 29. It brought to mind the seating expansion done in the 1930s when the field was excavated and the lower tiers of seats installed. The two tiers are easily visible, and also noteworthy were the boards on the lower tiers, which were a lot more comfortable than sitting on the cold concrete of the original stadium.

Since the photo was from 1969, I wonder how it looks today.

Sam Willis, Bus '43
Arlington Heights, Ill.

Editor's note: Sam's dad had the story mostly right. The team name Bearcats did spring from UC football star Teddy Baehr -- at a game against Kentucky in 1914 when a UC cheerleader started the chant, "They may be Wildcats, but we have a Baehr-cat on our side." The student newspaper picked it up next.

Alice, however, was a real bearcat from the Cincinnati zoo and a popular campus visitor before her death in late 2003. Bearcats, Arctictis binturong in scientific terms, are members of the civet family. Unlike other kinds of civets, however, the binturong has a loud howl and makes chuckling noises when it is happy. When provoked, it bites viciously. An endangered species, it is most common in the dense forests of Southeast Asia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

In regard to the stadium, no concrete seats remain today, and the turf has recently been replaced to display the new athletics and Big East logos.

Questioning art

As a Christmas present, my sister-in-law gave me a set of what appeared to be framed, color lithographs, which she had picked up for a dollar at a garage sale in Austin, Texas. (Yes, she is a big spender.) Upon further inspection the prints actually turned out to be framed, plastic placemats. They were titled "Fountain Square," "Historic Mt. Adams," "Cincinnati Skyline and Riverfront Stadium" and "University of Cincinnati."

The last one was of particular interest to me because it depicted a view from the south looking across the student union bridge toward the now defunct Old Tech Geology Building and the back of McMicken Hall. As a geology grad, I fondly recall my days spent inside the condemned (literally, for years) building and was wondering if you could tell me anything about these prints. The artist's name on the mats is James McBride. Any help would be appreciated!

Bruce Raabe, A&S '75
Cincinnati

Editor's note: Kevin Grace, the university archivist, has also seen such placemats, but doesn't know much about them. He did offer some information on the UC illustration. The building, which was generally known as "Old Tech," not only housed the geology department, but also a "modest geology museum where Old Chief, the stuffed elephant, was on exhibit for years," he says. "Originally the building housed the Cincinnati Technical School, which was a manual arts trade school for high school and middle school students operated by the university."

Little green hand

I wanted to let you know that I contacted alumnus inventor Don Poynter ["Cincinnati Horizons," May '02] for tips on repairing one of his inventions.

I came across one of his old "Thing" banks, which no longer worked. It's a great bank with very fond memories for me. My grandma had one, and she would show it to me as a little kid -- maybe 3 or 4. I was scared to death of the little green hand because I really thought a little man lived in the bank.

Anyway, I talked to Don, who is a very nice guy and who had some great tips on how to repair the bank. After replacing a few gears (and spending way too many hours on it) I did get it to work! I love it.

Brian Stephans
Principal, Ariba Solution Strategy
Lisle, Ill.

City's lack of concern

This is not a question or a gripe, but rather an observation from attending the university off and on since 1984. (I have changed my major three times.)

I have seen the College of Applied Science, which I was in, relocated, renamed and, eventually, restructured. I think that the new buildings on the main campus are fantastic, although I do question the need for some of them. Great strides are being made to change the campus in Clifton.

However, the University of Cincinnati will always have that "thug" label because of the neighborhoods that surround it. Many things have been done to improve the quality of the experience at the University of Cincinnati on campus, but nothing has been done by the city of Cincinnati to improve the surrounding areas.

The lack of concern by the city of Cincinnati is normal. If it's not between the river and Central Parkway or Broadway and Central, it doesn't exist.

Jeff Bryant, CAS '97, Bus '99 Cincinnati

Editor's note: To improve the neighborhoods of Corryville, University Heights, Fairview, Clifton Heights, Clifton, Mount Auburn and Avondale, the Uptown Consortium was formed two years ago with the area's five largest employers: UC, the zoo, Children's Hospital, the Health Alliance and TriHealth. The nonprofit organization is collaboratively addressing the economic and physical needs of the neighborhoods under the chairmanship of UC President Nancy Zimpher, whose strategic plan for the university, "UC|21," places a strong emphasis on community partnerships.

Even before the consortium was organized, UC had helped the surrounding areas create neighborhood development corporations. Furthermore, the university has used its endowment to provide more than $50 million in loans to the corporations for projects such as new housing, retail, parking and public spaces on Calhoun Street, Jefferson Avenue, Martin Luther King Drive and Clifton Avenue. In all, some $300 million in community redevelopment is already underway in "Uptown Cincinnati."

Filled with awe

It has been a long time since the days when I attended UC, but my visit to campus last year meant a great deal to me. While we were staying at the Kingsgate Conference Center, I took several campus tours. I was filled with awe to see the metamorphosis taking place. The campus was huge compared to my memory. The athletic facilities being built and renovated were magnificent. It won't be long before UC will become a world-class physical campus for a variety of sports with a strong academic reputation.

Maurice Shigesato, Ed '51
Honolulu, Hawaii

Rifle Team plaque missing

I have a question about something from the past. The university used to have a Rifle Team many years ago. In 1955, while in Michigan for a match, the team was involved in an automobile accident. The coach, Percy Morris, and the captain, my brother, Stanley Meyer, were killed in that accident. The university dedicated the rifle range in their memory.

I was only 11 at the time, but I seem to remember the range being in the Physical Plant building at the open end of Nippert Stadium with a plaque in their honor placed at the entry. I was wondering what ever happened to the plaque.

Bill Meyer, Eve '70, Bus '73, MBA '80
Los Angeles

Editor's note: The story is documented in UC's 1955 yearbook, where a caption for a rifle team photograph reads, "The UC rifle season was marred by an auto accident which claimed the lives of coach Percy 'Lucky' Morris and captain Stan Meyer while enroute to the National Intercollegiate Gallery Rifle Tournament at Ann Arbor, Mich. 'Lucky' was not only the coach of the rifle squad but also a strong booster of all UC athletics. Stan was the top shot on the team."

Although the Physical Plant has been demolished, the university architect's office attempts to preserve significant architectural memorabilia. Those items not reinstalled elsewhere are inventoried for storage. Landscaping project manager Len Thomas was unaware of the plaque and talked to the engineer who oversaw the building's demolition in an attempt to locate it, but reports no success.

Three corrections

Thank you very much for the coverage that "Cincinnati Horizons" gives to the College-Conservatory of Music. In looking through the January issue, I can't help but notice CCM mentioned throughout, with stories on our faculty, performances and even our costume shop.

I do have to mention one correction to your "Secrets to Share" article. You note, "Springtime is the busiest season at CCM, with as many as 10 performances a week." Actually, we may have as many as 10 or more performances a night at some points during the spring. In addition to our theatrical productions and ensemble concerts, many of these are recitals of solo or chamber music by our students. On any given night, you might be able to choose between a studio drama, wind ensemble, piano duo, string quartet and solo vocalist.

That said, please accept my compliments on a thoroughly enjoyable and well put-together publication that never fails to increase my knowledge about and interest in all things UC.

Brian Anderson, Bus '96
Scheduling manager, Web coordinator
College-Conservatory of Music

I am an alumna of UC and read with interest the article about alumni collegiate presidents. As an employee of Sinclair Community College, I was amazed to learn that Dr. John Henderson was shown as having "served as president, Sinclair Community College."

Dr. Henderson was a vice president at SCC years ago, but he did not hold the post of president. There have only been five presidents in the college's history, so that naturally caught my attention.

Thanks for a very interesting issue!

Marcia Farren Miller, Nur '64
Dayton, Ohio

Editor's note: You're right; we're wrong. John Henderson was president of Wilberforce University, but was VP at SCC. We apologize for the mistake.

Sander was imploded on June 23, 1991 -- not July. I know this because I attended the implosion, and unfortunately, my father passed away that same day. I came home from watching the implosion and was called to return to Dayton to be with my family.

Bobbi Marshall Sundeen, A&S '93
Charlotte, N.C.

Letters to the Editor policy
Letters to the Editor must relate to the university, be signed and include addresses, colleges and years of graduation, when applicable. The editor reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity or factual accuracy and to reject letters of unsuitable content. Letters may not criticize other letter writers. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Cincinnati.