USD Magazine Fall 2005

LETTERS TO THE EDI TOR

[ c o m e b a c k s ]

Beyond Textbooks As a parent of a High Tech Middle seventh-grader and a High Tech High tenth-grader, I was very happy to see the informative article in USD Magazine about current and past USD students who now teach at the school (“The High Tech High Way,” Spring 2005). Melissa Vincent ’03 (M.A.) is my seventh-grader’s advisor, and my older son had Janel Holcomb in

Close to You I continue to be impressed by the professional image presented by USD Magazine . Organizations of every kind send promotional materials to my office every day, but none done as well as yours. Your periodical exudes the spirit of campus life at USD. Clean, bright images of life on the hill entice the reader to enhance their relationship with students and faculty. As a BusinessLink USD member, it reaffirms USD’s com- mitment to be a viable part of the San Diego community. Thank you for bringing me a little closer to life at USD. —Deborah S. Condon Discover Infiniti A Hearty Chuckle I laughed and laughed over Tim Pickering’s comments in the Spring 2005 issue of USD Magazine (“Letters”). There are people who catch

is key that inactive alumni see what active alumni are doing to better their alma mater. But we must highlight the needs of the university as well. Recently, Georgetown University had a capital campaign to pro- mote the need to fund a new school of business. For issue after issue, their alumni magazine pro- vided excellent updates of the fund-raising efforts and how alumni were playing a role in helping to achieve the goal. If alumni can become more involved and support USD, current students benefit, the community benefits, and the publication benefits because it is doing something to fortify the school through its alumni. More stories of active alumni and alumni that are community achievers have to be accentuated. The series about current under- graduates is nice, but it really doesn’t appeal to me. I do hope the magazine begins transitioning into a true alumni magazine that will draw in alumni to give, support and participate. Truly, alumni participation should be the livelihood and essence of any private university. USD Magazine is the most effective vehicle to help make this happen. Write us ... We welcome letters to the editor about articles in the magazine. Letters may be edited for length and content, and must include a daytime phone number. Write: Editor, USD Magazine , 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110. E-mail: letters@sandiego.edu. —Arnie García ’91 USD Alumni Board, Communications Committee

Raffo Unpeeled The recent article about my play, “Nine Parts of Desire,” (“One Woman, Nine Lives,” Spring 2005) looks and reads gorgeously! I was blown away by the writing style, which made for a varied and exciting read that was full of lay- ers, and reflected so many of my influences. Also, the photos are the best ever taken for any story about this show. I laughed aloud at myself many a time; the writer brought great humor and fun to the piece. —Heather Raffo ’98 (M.F.A.) Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award, and won a 2005 Marian Seldes-Garson Kanin Fellowship. Her show also won the 2005 Lucille Lortel Award for both “Best Solo Show” and “Best Sound Design,” as well as winning a spe- cial commendation for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, which is awarded to the best play in English by a female playwright. The show runs at the Geffen Playhouse at the Brentwood Theatre in Los Angeles through October 16. The play will be published in book form by Northwestern University Press in January 2006. — Editor Since we last published, Raffo has received nominations for the

the ninth grade. My husband and I can attest to these two teachers’ competence, dedication and abil- ity to engage the students. The project based method is a perfect fit for students who need and want to be challenged beyond the traditional textbook style. Calling All Alumni Clearly, USD Magazine is the most potent vehicle to keep alumni connected with their alma mater. Because of this, it is vitally important that alumni be able to see not only what changes are taking place at the school, but also what the needs of the school are. For a private institution, USD has a very anemic gift rate from its alumni. Since it is vital for any great, private institution to have strong alumni support, it is impor- tant that the magazine highlight alumni as much as possible, and it — Carol Steslick

the boat, people who miss the boat and go home and people who wait for the next boat. And then there are those who jump overboard without any under- standing of what it is all about! — Joseph Nevadomsky ’64

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FALL 2005