Last March we visited the campus with our daughter Sara, a first-year student, who at the time was planning to attend Lafayette.

She wanted to learn more about the cheerleading program. We received a most gracious welcome from Kimmy Nash '04, squad captain. This wonderful young woman spent most of the afternoon sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge about the program and the college.

On our trip home, Sara was filled with anticipation and excitement about cheerleading and college life. We were extremely impressed with Kimmy, particularly her willingness to give up a Saturday afternoon to an incoming student. This experience reaffirmed our belief that Lafayette is the perfect choice for our daughter.

Terri and Michael Jay
Oceanside, N.Y.

Champion of Liberty

I found "Champion of Liberty" (March 2002 issue), fascinating. Although I am sure most people know about the major accomplishments of the Marquis de Lafayette, I was personally unaware of his role in obtaining the involvement of the French armed forces in the Revolutionary War. The Marquis' family roots certainly explain why he became a champion of liberty.

I can only imagine what it must have been like to be a member of Congress when the Marquis addressed that body and later prevented what would undoubtedly have been a constitutional disaster by ameliorating the situation between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. Reading this wonderful article made me prouder than ever to have graduated from our wonderful institution.

Jay N. Abramowitch '64
Hamburg, Pa.

Although George Washington thought of the Marquis de Lafayette as a son, there was really no family resemblance.

As a member of the American Friends of Lafayette (www.friendsoflafayette.org), I was excited to see our great general profiled in a Lafayette College publication. The problem is that the wrong painting was used. To see the difference just go to the House of Representatives and look toward the rostrum where the two great generals' portraits are featured. If you can't make it to D.C., go to http://clerk.house.gov/histHigh/Virtual_Tours
/Artifacts/portraits.php. Let's have an article at least once a year on our College's namesake.

John S. Wynn Jr. '50
Gladwyne, Pa.

I want to take issue with some of the left-liberal pronouncements in the March 2002 Lafayette Magazine. Professor Arnold Offner ("Arnold Offner Challenges Truman's Cold War Policies," p.24) was wrong to dump on President Harry Truman, an authentic American hero who made so many good decisions immediately following World War II. As for Ron Devlin's claim ("Champion of Liberty," p. 19) that the rich in France, like the Kennedys, were converted to liberal values: if Jack Kennedy were alive today, he'd be considered a conservative. As for Papa Joe, his political and social values were slightly to the right of Attila the Hun.

Hilton Dutch Rahn '51
Bethlehem, Pa.

Meeting Every Expectation

I was thinking about my daughter Haley's graduation and how grateful I am that she attended such a wonderful school-a college that lived up to all our expectations. Everything we read in the brochures was a reality.

As a single (widowed) mom, I was nervous about my oldest daughter going across the state, but from the moment I brought her to campus, I knew she was in the right place. Everyone was welcoming and professional. I had so much confidence in the school. You never proved me wrong.

Haley's experiences at Lafayette brought out the best in her, including making the dean's list. She had excellent internships including one at a public relations firm in London and with Time magazine in New York. Haley had the confidence to find these on her own, and I attribute that to Lafayette. She also worked in the art gallery and edited a newsletter for a professor. Even with a full schedule, she seemed to balance her life well. As a junior, she was an officer in her sorority, and her social life sounded fun too.

Haley and I were sad and excited on graduation day. She is enlightened with knowledge, blessed with genuine friendships, and filled with a great sense of pride at graduating from Lafayette.

Betsy Sarsfield
Pittsburgh, Pa.