Letters to the Chronicle

United Way president lauds campus efforts

At the time capsule ceremony on Nov. 3, Chancellor David Scott read from a letter he addressed to the future chancellor of UMass in 100 years. Scott wrote, "The university stands and shines today. May it still be standing and shining ..."

Some people think that UMass stands and shines because it won the national championship in football. Some people think that UMass stands and shines because it won the Sudler Trophy as the top band in the land. Some people think that UMass stands and shines because it has the top polymer science program in the country.

While all of these are prestigious accomplishments, I believe there is one accomplishment that outshines them all. UMass Amherst received two awards at the State House this year for its generous support of United Way and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employees Charitable Campaign (COMECC). It received the award for being No. 1 in the state for contributions to COMECC. This past year UMass employees contributed more than $397,000 to support United Way and COMECC services. They were also recognized for their contributions since COMECC began in 1985, which have totaled more than $2.6 million.

On behalf of the 20 local United Way agencies and the 60,000 people served by agencies in Hampshire Community United Way, I salute Chancellor Scott and all UMass employees for standing and shining when it comes to helping people who are hungry, homeless, disabled, abused, unemployed and sick.

As George Eliot said, "What we have done for ourselves dies with us. What we have done for others and the world is immortal."

JOHN F. SHEEHAN
president,
Hampshire Community United Way

Safeguard intellectual property

As part of its new distance-learning project the University is planning to offer training and consulting services to local businesses (umass@work). In fact, I proposed this idea to Chancellor Scott in 1996, and afterwards (at the request of Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Royster Hedgepeth) sent a copy of my position paper to the University Advancement Council.

Now my idea has been quietly lifted and the credit placed elsewhere. I have received neither thanks nor acknowledgement. Faculty concerned about the University's attitude toward their intellectual property may feel cautioned by my experience.

MICHAEL EGAN
professor,
English Department