Brandeis Magazine

I was delighted to read the article “Brandeis and the Soul of American Political Activism,” by Alex Green ’04, in the Summer issue. In 1962, I was the chairman of the Brandeis Committee Against the House Un-American Activities Committee. Since Eleanor Roose­velt, a staunch foe of HUAC, was teaching at Brandeis, my committee decided to ask her to speak to the university community on the subject. I met with her, and she agreed. The photo shows Mrs. Roosevelt and me shortly before I introduced her to the audience.

This particular issue was filled with articles of great interest to me. The article “Sickened by Toxic Politics” [Brief Perspective] resonated because I am currently listening to Stephen Fry’s magnificent “Mythos: The Greek Myths Reimagined.” The article “The Darkness at the End of the Tunnel” appealed because I have an abiding interest in astronomy. And of course, as a physician, I enjoyed the Inquiry articles, which told me how Brandeis researchers are responding to COVID-19.

Keep up the excellent work.

Alan L. Rubin ’62
Tiburon, California

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I enjoyed reading Alex Green’s piece on Brandeis and political activism, which featured several favorite professors from my era.

I also appreciated the lovely In Memoriam remembrance of my personal mentor, Robert Preyer, the longtime professor of English and American literature. I wrote him a letter of appreciation in 2000 when I began serving as dean of Allegheny College. I reminded him of the supportive advice he offered when I was a senior seeking his recommendation and deciding between grad school and law school.

He responded to that letter promptly, avowing that he remembered me and reporting my grade on the final exam in Victorian Literature in spring 1966.

Lloyd Michaels ’66
Meadville, Pennsylvania

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I was saddened to hear of Professor Preyer’s death, although heartened that he lived such a long, productive life. I have a memory that very few can share. I was taking Professor Preyer’s Words­worth seminar in fall 1963 when President Kennedy was shot. The funeral was Monday, and our class was the next day. Although the day after that was the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday break and most students had already gone home, I and a handful of others attended the class. Professor Preyer prepared a special lecture on elegies, one that was so profound and moving that I have thought about it many times over the years.

Many other teachers dismissed class or did something inconsequential. He went above and beyond, as he did in so many other ways.

Charlotte Glazer Baer ’64
Washington, D.C.