Letters to the Editor

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BOB
To say Bob Cassilly is a visionary is a monumental understatement ("There He Goes Again," RFT, Sept 13). Bob is almost the Aristotle of our time!

What better place to rejuvenate the area than the old Portland Cement plant? Almost right next to where the Chain of Rocks Amusement Park used to exist. Literally on the new bike trail along the Mississippi River, just down from I-270, with plenty of parking. Wow!

Just think what he could have done with the Arena on Oakland Avenue! Has anybody talked with him about the Old Post Office?
David E. Hutchings

I loved your article on Bob Cassilly and his ideas for developing the old Portland Cement plant located partly in North City and in North County.

I am an alderman for the city of Bellefontaine Neighbors, and we were all very excited about the project in the article. The plant is located on the border of our fair city. In the beginning, when it was built, the plant was a state-of-the-art facility, but that old cement plant was also a prime source of pollution. In the most recent years since it has been shut down, it has been a breeding ground for mosquitoes and an eyesore. Indeed, it is an important part of our history, and some of that history will stay alive with the new project, which will bring education, entertainment and interest to our little corner of the world.

Many thanks to Bob Cassilly for seeing the potential for the old plant and also for having the faith in North County to make a commitment. Thanks also to the RFT for passing on the word. Too often, the North County area is passed over. Plans for projects like this, the StreamTeach project, the Highway 367/I-270 industrial court, the I-370 shopping and entertainment area and many other projects are all testimony that North County is still alive and well and getting better all the time!
Shirley D. Paro

ROCKET SCIENCE
I would just like to point out that our album isn't quite as "clumsily titled" ("Radar Station," RFT, Sept. 13) when you actually quote the title correctly!
Brian of Rocket Park

FIT OF PEEK
Mr. Tom Markowski, I find it very disturbing that you would boast your ignorance in a public forum ("Letters," RFT, Sept. 6). I do not choose to discuss your opinion on the matter of Tom and Suzi Wahl; whether I agree with you or not isn't the issue. What I find incredible is the uninformed, incongruent argument you present. Did we receive different copies of the RFT? Did you even read the article? "Choose to file criminal charges against people because of their sexual behavior behind closed doors"? If I'm not mistaken, the media, along with their audiovisual equipment, were invited to make this a public event. You are worried the police are "peeking into" your bedroom? Again, I don't know what article you read, but the media were invited to peek. I enjoy reading the letters to the RFT editor; however, I am hard-pressed to remember such an uninformed, unintelligent responder. If you'd like to express your opinion, I for one would certainly welcome the opportunity to read it -- but have one, a cogent one.

I would also be interested to know exactly how far your education went down yonder in Booger Holler. Men marry women for sex and women marry men for financial reasons? First I laughed, then I thought I would advise your wife to run for her life. Then I realized, you have just accused me and every other married women of prostitution -- i.e., of being whores. I know of no other name for trading sex for money. I know of no other name for someone of your level of intelligence but completely and utterly clueless.
Beth Woods

GROANS OF ACADEME
Thanks to The Riverfront Times and writer Jeannette Batz for a wonderful and timely story on Lindenwood University's leadership ("The Talented Mr. Spellmann," RFT, Sept. 6). The low point of Lindenwood's history wasn't when the college was offered to the local community-college district for a dollar. It was when that offer was refused. The fine private college I attended would have died that day. But at least an institution might have emerged of genuine public service, some public accountability, meaningful state regulation, some respect for quality over quantity and respect for the rights and privileges of the faculty. Instead, we have ... well, your story had it right.

It's too late, I think, to revive anything meaningful from the Lindenwood legacy. I'm afraid the current deedholders will continue to trade on the name if it still has $100 of market value to be milked. But I'd really rather that they delivered the coup de grace and renamed the place Spellmann University. That way, a lot of alums could feel proud again to have the Lindenwood name on our résumés.
Marc Cutright
Baltimore

There are plenty of giant money-machine universities to choose from. There are plenty of egotists who build buildings in their own names. There are few colleges that stand for something more elusive and certainly less profitable. Lindenwood used to be a college that produced individuals with thoughts and goals that were perhaps not mainstream but valuable nonetheless. It is a shame that Lindenwood could not have been guided by a finer visionary who could have marketed its strengths instead of disemboweling it. I'm sorry Lindenwood College is dead, replaced by one more vast institution. Business is business, and it does prevail. This is clear. Dennis Spellmann is a man of small dreams. He has mistaken wealth for money, and so have those who follow him.
Laura Gould
Class of '74
Yorktown Heights, N.Y.