Speaking Out
Perelman Quad OrnamentsPerelman Quadrangle: once a somewhat shabby, but inviting and much used urban green space. Alas, now a shadeless, uninviting stretch of pavement, eerily reminiscent of some more famous high-modern ceremonial spaces. Riefenstahlerplatz, a local pundit has aptly named it. And that gigantic logo looking down upon us like Big Brother's eye, and those self-advertisements for the "first university" now sprouting everywhere. The one thing one might say for such ornaments is that no other Ivy university has them. But then, perhaps those institutions are self-confident enough to feel no need. Have our Leaders and their Architect never heard of Jane Jacobs or William Whyte? Or asked us what we want in our campus environment? --Robert Kohler, History and Sociology of Science Speaking Out welcomes reader contributions. Short, timely letters on University issues can be accepted, by Thusday at noon for the following Tuesday's issue, subject to right-of-reply guidelines. Advance notice of intention to submit is appreciated.
--Eds. Almanac, Vol. 47, No. 4, September 19, 2000
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