Volume 28 · Number 3 · Spring 2011
Letters
Music at the CoHo
1979 El Rodeo yearbook photos show, from left, Tim Weisberg and a Devo band member, performing at the Coffee House.
After reading the "Aggies Remember" article in the winter issue about the Coffee House, I was curious if the current student body is aware of the indelible stamp the old Coffee House left on musical history. Do they know that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played there? How about Elvis Costello? The Police? Dire Straits? Devo? Joe Jackson? Greg Kihn? Back in the '70s, UC Davis was on the cutting edge of rock music. The Coffee House was perfect to see these bands in the most intimate setting — it held only 250 people. I'm sure I am forgetting many others, but the Coffee House was known for more than great food and coffee!
Dave Cianchetti '81
Claremont
Class of 1968
The first group of baby boomers, my generation, is turning 65 this year. Many of us graduated in l968 or later — [experiencing] the Vietnam War, the beginning of the women's movement and the civil rights movement. We were all touched by what took place. . . . In l969, I did face the draft and chose enlistment. We faced other challenges. After the election of Ronald Reagan as governor . . . we dealt with the issue of college tuition, and some of us, including me, marched to the Capitol protesting increases in fees. While students now face thousands of dollars in increases each year, we faced simply hundreds.
There were indeed changes. I can recall as a member of the then-Legislative Assembly proposing that women be able to join the Aggie Band, [which was all-male during 1961–73]. Truly people have come a long way. . . .
As for me, I am still working, marking my 42nd year of government service and recognizing that age is merely a number — and my number is the class of l968.
Howard Egerman '68
Oakland
An admitted 'geezer'
I agree in principle with all those published letters supporting student protest — and disagreeing with my antiprotest letter:
1) I grieve at the funding cuts.
2) There are legitimate and needful reasons to protest.
3) I am a geezer and did not have to deal with the exorbitant and escalating cost of higher education as it exists today.
Regarding funding cuts, when the state is more than $25 billion in debt, it seems patently obvious that there is no money! We might just as well demonstrate against the sunrise. The allocation of funds is always debatable but when the protesters imply that their needs trump everyone else in the state who is hurting, that seems very selfish. I think it's fair to say that the regents "would if they could, but won't cuz they can't."
Regarding geezerhood: It is true that I graduated about the time history began. I agree that administrative costs are out of line. (Some make as much as the football coach!)
Bossy Cow Cow!
Go Aggies!!
Sprigg Dix Davis '57
Escondido
Correction
A class note in the winter 2011 issue misspelled the name of Jennifer Stith '76 and omitted one of her occupations. In addition to being a physical therapist at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., she is a psychotherapist at the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute.