Letters

I enjoyed reading Dean Schapiro’s article on the legacy of Justice Antonin Scalia (“Scalia More Quotable than Influential,” spring 2016). He notes that the Justice’s “originalism” never found a home at the Court and that the idea of a “living Constitution” was an “anathema” to Scalia. In fact, Justice Scalia’s majority opinion in the Heller case was more reflective of the latter rather than the former. The idea of a private right to own guns first appeared in the Jacksonian era and continued to develop, most recently with help from the NRA and conservative Republicans, into the 21st century. The Supreme Court never accepted this line of interpretation until 2008.

—Errol M. Clauss 61G 65PHD, Professor of History Emeritus, Salem College, Winston-Salem, N.C.

I enjoyed Kimber Williams’ article in the spring 2016 issue regarding the Conversation Partner Program (“Can We Talk?”). This program seems to be an effective method to help international students meet domestic students, develop friendships, and share cultural differences. However, when a law student admits he can only understand 70 percent of what is said in the classroom, it is clear that the desire for either cultural diversity or foreign full tuition has overtaken common sense and the primary goal of a university, i.e., education.

—Charles M. Ferguson 71OX 76M, Former faculty member, Emory School of Medicine, LaGrange, Georgia

I want to tell you I have had many people write to say how happy they were to see your article on our work on Samothrace, especially alumni from decades ago. I so appreciate all of your interest and want to thank you for a great article and a huge contribution to our cause. It makes all the difference.

—Bonna D. Wescoat, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Art History, Emory College

The cover photo (spring 2016) was apparently staged and composed by someone entirely unfamiliar with the process of vaccinating children, and I found the image amusing. Observations: 1. Vaccinations are not given with 1.5-inch needles, nor 18-gauge needles. The harpoon in the image would make any child tremble. 2. Vaccines are standardized to the extent that they are nearly always given in a 0.5 ml dosage regardless of age. The syringe in the photo contains approximately two milliliters of something (obviously not vaccine) and would be terribly painful if given as a single dose to a child that size. 3. The child’s left hand is not restrained at all, so somebody is about to get injured. It is irresponsible and ill advised to attempt to vaccinate an unrestrained child. 4. If you want to ensure noncooperation from a toddler, brandishing a large needle and syringe should do the job. 5. We can probably skip the routine one-year hemoglobin screen. No chance this kid’s anemic. Just look at those lips. Go easy on the Photoshop. I am a big fan of Emory Magazine and think you do a great job. Everybody deserves a bit of ribbing from time to time.

—Christopher Healey 88M, Castle Rock, Colorado

FYI, President Barack Obama was not selected as a Rhodes Scholar so is therefore NOT a Rhodes Alumnus (“A Storyteller and Traveler,” spring 2016). Otherwise I enjoyed your article.

—Gerard D. Grau 77MR, Fort Lauderdale, Florida