Sic Transit Gloria Querci

Well, I have good news and bad news. Bad news first. Chris “Lexiphanacist” Hall, Senior Oak Leaf Editor, has elected to retire and enter the halls of Editors Emeritus. Ha! Halls. Get it!? The good news is that his decision has to do with the arrival of his second child, daughter Caroline Noelle, born December 19, 2000 (I don’t have the stats on her weight and length). Congratulations Most Grand to Chris, mommie Janie, and big brother Whitman.

More bad news: I don’t have a photo. I know why, though, so there is some small consolation. Why? Because Chris knows I would have printed it immediately (as immediately as printing an Oak Leaf gets, anyhow) and, as I believe I’ve told you in the past, he can’t stand it when I do that for fear you, dear readers, will assume he has exerted Senior Editorial Prerogative (and vanity) and insisted on its publication. I can tell you now (and forever) that it just isn’t so. Every publication of a young Hall was my idea and mine alone. (Please, Chris, send us a picture of Caroline ... now you’ve got nothing to worry about. You’re not an editor anymore!)

I will miss Chris’ thoughtful editorials as, I’m sure, will you. Moreover, I will miss the time we spent at The Pub in Berkeley talking about our early experiences with Nu Alpha Phi. I will miss sharing what the Oak Leaf meant to us while we were still actives and how that meaning changed, and deepened, after we graduated. Thanks, Chris, for the guidance and tutelage.

Chris now joins the following distinguished Editors Emeriti: Paul Dudley '25 #30, Chan Hale '23 #9, Chuck Shelton '35 #144, Doug Buckmaster '54 #388, Dennis Rodkin-Hunt '83 #903, and Jack Shelton '41 #220.

More good news. Chris has promised a final editorial, and, of course, I’ll run it as soon as I get it. Until then, and for the foreseeable thereafter, I am assuming the full responsibilities of your humble editor.

Apologies to those whom I shocked with the sad news of Charlotte Andersen’s death ... in e-mail no less ... last year. I mistakenly assumed you all would have seen the announcement in Pomona Magazine. Forgive me! I have a few comments and memories people have been kind enough to send in and a wonderful, wonderful memorial written by Kelly McDonald ‘89 #1001. Charlotte’s family wrote me and asked for additional remembrances. Please send them a note with some fond feeling or memory that thoughts of Charlotte bring to mind.

[Please e-mail me to request their US Postal Service address. –Ed.]

Eric Olson ‘62 #585 has all but completed the reincorporation of Nu Alpha Phi. At this point, in fact, it may be a done deal. I do know that I, at least, still must sign some papers and return them to him to be filed with the official articles. I suppose there may be a few others who must still perform this task. Regardless, Cheers and Huzzah. Thanks for your effort, Eric. I am greatly relieved we are official again.

Chuck Carpenter ‘54 #389 wrote to say that Bob “Amblin’” Nigbor ‘78 #794 agreed to extend his tenure as Acorn Amble Organizer Extraordinaire for one more year. Exactly how much arm twisting or guilt tripping Chuck laid on isn’t clear. I wouldn’t put it past Bob to have been bitten by nostalgia while he wasn’t looking. The point is, folks, that if no one steps forward to organize this event in the future, the twenty-three year tradition of NAF sponsorship will end. Don’t let that happen! Please contact Bob or myself for details.

As a result of a meeting held in May 1999 regarding, among other things, memorabilia, I have arranged with Ken Smith ‘33 #138 to borrow the many items he has collected, catalogued, and otherwise organized. To that end, I will be driving down to this year’s Alumni Weekend (stay off of I-5!) rather than entrusting the goods to our friends at Southwest Airlines. Upon returning home, it will be my mission (I’ve already chosen not only to accept it, but even to beg for it :) to document and record the papers, pictures, and objects. That will be a project and three quarters.

Due to the perpetual lateness that surrounds the Oak Leaf, some materials I will simply have to address very briefly here. I promise to expand in our next issue, which I also promise, will have a 2001 date on it.

Chuck Carpenter managed to have (with some help from Cruiser) the Cabin’s electrical system upgraded and safefied. Chuck’s e-mail can be found somewhere in the Network section. Pictures to follow in the next issue.

Unfortunately, you will be receiving this issue after Alumni Weekend—those of you who attended already know—but Jack M. Peck ‘56 #446 will MC the Nu Alpha Phi Sunday Brunch.

Colleen MacDonald, our contact in the Office of Financial Aid, has moved on to a new job at CalTech. Her replacement, Christopher Michno, sent me information on this year’s scholarships. He writes that Pomona has awarded Regan Douglass, Erica Kim, Grace Kim, Janne Olson, and Grayson Schaffer with one of the Nu Alpha Phi (or Nu Alpha Phi alumni) scholarships. Detailed introductions in our next issue.

Gina Maranto ‘77 #807 is now quoted in American Heritage's latest edition, supplanting William Harvey.

The Oak Leaf, which really means yours truly, will begin tracking the mailing addresses of anyone not normally found within the Pomona College Alumni rolls for the purposes of Oak Leaf delivery. This includes honorary members, non-Pomona spouses of alumni who have passed away, non-Pomona alumni, and anyone else who falls into this category.

Pomona spouses of alumni who have passed away can, of course, receive the Oak Leaf. The easiest strategy to ensure delivery of the Oak Leaf to this group, and the strategy we’ve used in the past, is to ask the Pomona College Alumni Office to designate these people as members of Nu Alpha Phi.

So, if you do not receive the printed version of the Oak Leaf (and want to) and you are anything but a “normal” Pomona College Nu Alpha Phi Alumni or staff, please send or e-mail me your snail mail address. When the next Oak Leaf comes out, I’ll make sure you’re sent a copy of the Oak Leaf.

I still don’t have a way for you to opt out of the Oak Leaf. I haven’t figured this one out yet.

I’m still thinking about the title of this, um, editorial. Is it possible to use a quote from the classics without generating a note from Stephen Glass? No. That would be my bet. Of course, I’ve hedged it a bit with this taunt. One day I’ll publish all of his e-mails, though, and take my revenge!

Well, I can see now that I made the correct choice by not introducing and announcing and categorizing my voice. Would have been a waste of time. Anyhow, you’ll be bludgeoned with it, now, for some time to come. Do any Delta Smiley’s circa 1985/86 remember my Dorm President’s letters? Ha!

Until the next issue, which is late already, you can find me here.

Paul Nagai '88 #978