Yes, Your Letters Matter

As any writer or editor will tell you, nothing is quite so disconcerting as silence. When you spend a week working on a story, or four months working on a magazine, and then it gets sent out to the world, your singular hope is that somebody (or preferably, many somebodies) will read what you've put out there—and maybe take the time to respond.

Thankfully, Lehigh alumni are not shy in the least about having their say.

For our Fall 2015 issue, the editors of the Bulletin, along with a committee of other staff from around campus, spent months working to identify the 150 people, places, events, breakthroughs and traditions that have made Lehigh what it is today—one of the finest universities in the nation. We thought we did a pretty good job, and we were quite happy with where our list ended up.

But a few weeks after the issue was mailed out, the phone started ringing and letters started arriving, and our faithful readers informed us that, no, we didn't include everyone who needed to be included in our supposedly comprehensive list. You can read a few of these letters—as well as some others, addressing other recent Bulletin stories—on page 4. We are grateful to those who took the time to share their thoughts, and of course, invite everyone to weigh in on this issue of the Bulletin as well; it is, after all, your alumni magazine. We are merely its stewards.

Other highlights of the issue include the following:

In mid-February, New York City hosted the 2016 North American International Toy Fair, one of the biggest events of the year in the multibillion dollar toy industry—and among the hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs who attended the massive gathering this year, four of them were young Lehigh alumni. In her cover story for this issue of the Bulletin ("Toy Stories," page 22), managing editor Mary Ellen Alu speaks to Lisa Glover '13, '14G, Briana Gardell '14, '15G, Lauren Villaverde '14, '15G, Shannon Varcoe '15 as well as Keith Martin '13, '14G about their creations—and the hurdles they'll have to overcome to make it big in one of the most hyper-competitive markets in all of business.

By the time this issue lands in your mailbox, Lehigh alum Marty Baron '76, '76G, '14H may be basking in Oscar glory. Baron is the former Boston Globe editor (and current Washington Post editor) who was portrayed by actor Liev Schreiber in the critically acclaimed film Spotlight, which documents Baron's efforts at The Globe to uncover the Catholic Church's child abuse scandal. In an interview with Alu, Baron talks about his time at The Globe, his thoughts on the film, and his hopes for journalism going forward.

This issue also includes an interesting look at assistant professor of history and Africana studies Kwame Essien's new book about the Brazilian-African diaspora; a visit with Lehigh men's lacrosse captain Casey Eidenshink '16, who will be looking to guide the Mountain Hawks to a Patriot League title this spring; and so much more. We thank you again for taking the time to read this issue of the Bulletin. And remember, send those letters.