Letters et cetera

Letters

Surely with Virginia high schools’ long tradition of great Latin teaching (my Ohio students considered Virginia a powerhouse when we competed against
them at national conventions, once in Richmond), I’m not the only one to have figured out that John Smith did not call the James River “the Powhatan Flu”! Surely “Flu” is simply the mapmaker's abbreviation for “flumen,” Latin for “river.” Same for “the Patawomack Flu.” Excellent article, excellent project — but don’t let the historians and scientists forget their Latin, an essential tool for dealing with those times.

Dorothy S. Gibbs (MA, French ’64)
Estes Park, Colo.

I want to commend Professor Brian Nosek on his submission, “Uncomfortable Truths,” published in the October edition of the Arts & Sciences magazine. I think his article and, more broadly, area of research are wonderful! The article, in particular, is wonderful at a number of levels. First, it validates the experiences of people of color who are impacted, individually and/or collectively, by the outcomes of this implicit bias. Second, he and his colleagues are courageous in providing a race-focused interpretation of their findings — they could have chosen a different focus. Third, he serves as a model for others — in particular, faculty — by identifying a method for deconstructing one’s world view.

This research also provides an empirically validated proxy for studying not only white racial consciousness but racial consciousness in general. The research also provides a tool for identifying therapist bias and advancing the study of therapist-process variables that influence the psychotherapy process.

Perhaps, most important, his article, and ideas stemming from it, can potentially provide a firm starting point for deeper cross-racial dialoguing at the University. Maybe Professor Nosek, Professor Wilson and the Department of Psychology can take a lead role in addressing racial consciousness at the faculty level of the University. But this will take courage.

James C. Bruce Jr., Ph.D.
(Psychology ’80) Chicago, Ill.

While I greatly enjoyed your write-up about the long and distinguished history of the French House at U.Va., I do have one correction to offer.

Your article states that La Maison Française was the “first and oldest” language house established at U.Va. While the Barringer Mansion is the oldest building to house a group of student foreign-language speakers, the German House, established in academic year 1978-79, is the older organized house. The brainchild of then-student Chris Vierling (German ’81), the German House has “lived” in various locations before arriving at its current home in Bice House on Brandon Avenue.

Cora Schenberg (Ph.D., German ’03)
Adjunct Lecturer, German

Editor’s note: Martine Vedier Culbertson (Anthropology ’83), who lived in an official French house in 1982-83, its second year, also recalls that German predated French in the establishment of residences. Her daughter, Stephanie Culbertson (French ’08), lived in the French House last year and was named best student of the year. If you’re an early resident of one of the language houses, we’d love to hear about your experiences; e-mail us at .

Speak out

Arts & Sciences welcomes letters from readers, via e-mail at or by U.S. Mail at P.O. Box 400804, Charlottesville, Va. 22904. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, style and appropriateness.

Correction: Incorrect information about the founding of the Open House Hotline appeared in our October issue. The first organizational meetings took place in the mid-1970s. Known today as HELP Line, the student-run and student-operated program is now affiliated with the Madison House student volunteer center. An anonymous, confidential telephone service that strives to provide callers with an empathetic ear for any sort of issue they wish to discuss, HELP Line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the academic year. It serves residents of Charlottesville, Albemarle County and the University of Virginia.