Bridge

“Sail on silver girl, sail on by

Your time has come to shine”

         “Bridge over Troubled Waters,” Simon and Garfunkel

 photo by Jacob A. Riis, circa 1889

In 1970, while I was finishing my PhD dissertation at the University of Maryland on urban reformer Jacob A. Riis, Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Waters” was a big hit.  Perhaps under its influence, I titled the fruit of my labors “Bridge to the ‘Other Half’: Jacob A. Riis and the American City.”  My publisher, Kennikat Press, perhaps wisely used only the subtitle. Even so, writings by the crusading Danish-American, such as “How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York” acted as a bridge connecting the general public with the plight of the urban poor.

 Lowe and 2013 retiree Sam Flint, receiving a clock

Chancellor William J. Lowe visited the Calumet Regional Archives to discuss a one-week “Bridge” session for incoming IUN students that will be held later in the month. Under the auspices of History professor David Parnell, it will include an Archives component, as students will conduct research on women from Northwest Indiana and, with guidance from personable Performing Arts professor Mark Baer, participate in a dramatic reading at week’s end.  I suggested Vee-Jay Records founder Vivian Carter and Latina matriarch Maria Arredondo as possibilities, and Steve mentioned former chancellors Peggy Elliott and Hilda Richards.  Lowe will talk to students about the history of the university, beginning a century ago when the first IU “extension” classes were offered in Gary.  Steve suggested he consult Paul Kern and my history of IUN, “Educating the Calumet Region,” for details.

Making the case for the importance of Vee-Jay Records, I produced the Steel Shavingsissue (volume 46) with Vivian Carter on the cover, eliciting a quip from Lowe about my blog.  I reiterated that I was a staunch supporter of his; in fact, I have refrained from criticizing him in print.  My only quibble with his stewardship is that he generally leaves academic policy matters to subordinates.  That was probably a sensible decision when he came on board from an urban campus in Minnesota; but, unfortunately, at times it has enabled an “Old Boys” network of entrenched faculty to make policy decisions that fail to take into account community engagement and need for racial and gender diversity that, in my opinion, were inimical to the long-term interests of the university.  

 Charles Stewart Parnell and David Parnell

Because Lowe pronounced David Parnell’s name with the emphasis on the first syllable, I told him I had always said Par-NELL.  The Chancellor admitted that most people, including David, probably say Par-NELL but, being an Irish historian, he favored the pronunciation used by Irish politician Charles Stewart Parnell, a Protestant and advocate of Home Rule.  Allied with William Gladstone’s Liberal Party during the mid-1880s, Parnell was a controversial figure detested by, among others, Catholic prelates.  Parnell's influence diminished after revelations surfaced of his long adulterous affair with Kitty O’Shea. Lowe pointed out that Parnell’s mother Delia was from New Jersey and the daughter of Admiral Charles Stewart, commander of the USS Constitutionduring the War of 1812. Lowe mentioned attending one of Parnell’s classes on Roman history.  I told him I’d audited his  Crusades course. We were both very impressed with his knowledge and classroom skills.

While we had Lowe's attention, Steve brought up the Archives’ need for more space. I asked whether the university intended to replace retired gallery director Ann Fritz in view of the fact that Corey Hagelberg had been assured that the position would be his until David Klamen returned from a two-year leave-of-absence and countermanded the offer.  Lowe seemed unfamiliar with those facts but agreed on the need to fill the position.

 above, Corey Hagelberg on ladder at Gary Heat, Light, Water Co.; below Puerto Rican dancers in 2017

Hammond librarian Amanda Aguilar visited the Archives to acquaint herself with our holdings and discuss areas of cooperation between the two repositories.  A few days ago, East Chicago Public Library held a two-hour program, “Catch the Rhythm of the Island,” celebrating Puerto Rican heritage that featured music, dance, exhibits and ethnic refreshments.

 IU Vice President James Wimbush

Former IUN Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Mark McPhail stopped by to report that IU Vice President for Diversity, Equity  and Multicultural Affairs James Wimbush recently appointed him to produce an all-campus study on diversity.  Wimbush was formerly a Business Administration professor and IU Graduate School dean. A year ago, when asked to assess McPhail’s complaint to the IU Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity that he had encountered a hostile campus work environment due to his being African American, I wrote that shabby treatment emanated not from his superiors, such as Lowe, but from underlings among the faculty who undermined efforts to implement university policies set down by John ., Applegate, IU Executive Vice President for University Academic Affairs. I concluded:

  McPhail is particularly upset that his unhappy year at IUN has hindered his career goal of being in an administrative position where he could make good use of his considerable talents.  I would hope that President Michael McRobbie or Vice President Applegate might find some role for him to be of service to IU in an advisory capacity.

Perhaps somebody was taking notice or, more likely, independently came to the same conclusion.

 Reid brothers of The Jesus and Mary Chain

All week WXRT has been giving away tickets to Lollapalooza after-shows for performers such as Jack White, Arctic Monkeys, The National, and Greta Van Fleet.   No sign that either of my favorite bands, The War on Drugs or The Head and the Heart, will be anywhere near Chicagoland. I’ve been playing CDs of theirs, “Slave Ambient” and “Signs of Life,” on heavy rotation and added such Nineties Lollapalooza headliners as Soul Asylum, Sonic Youth, and The Jesus and Mary Chain.

A chapter in Richard Russo’s “The Destiny Thief” recounts a 2004 Colby College graduation address where he cited “Russo’s Rules for a Good Life.”  The first was to search out the kind of work that you would gladly do for free and then get somebody to pay you for doing it.  Others were to find a loving life mate, have children, and nurture your sense of humor if you have one.  Like Russo, I was on a path toward a profession in a field that no longer excited me when I quit law school to follow my desire to become a teacher. Married 51 years with two great sons, six grandchildren, and a decent sense of humor, I agree with his sentiments. As Roots author Alex Haley put it, “In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, bridge to our future.”I have never been invited to deliver a commencement speech. Sadly, most area high schools prefer ministers to academicians; but if such an offer ever happened, I’d mix in Russo’s rules with quotations from Kurt Vonnegut, perhaps “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.”  Or, “What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously.  But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”  If not cured, I’d add, at least ameliorated.

from Twain's "Life on the Mississippi" (1883)

A comic writer, Russo considers the world around him grist for humor. His world view is akin to that of humorist Mark Twain, who once said, “There was never yet an uninteresting life.  Inside the dullest exterior, there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy.” “The Destiny Thief” contains this anecdote: after Jimmy, his ne’er-do-well Old Man, died and was cremated, the family hosted a memorial in a funeral home. While it was in progress, Russo noticed a wizened geezer walking from room to room and even upstairs to off-limits private quarters before someone stopped him and gently but firmly escorted him back downstairs.  Before reaching the bottom, the stranger loudly exclaimed, “Ahem, where the hell is Jimmy?”  Now that’s funny.

Alan Yngve

At Chesterton YMCA, director Alan Yngve’s duplicate bridge lesson was from the previous week’s hand where Dee and I gained 1400 points for doubling and setting a 3 Heart bid down five.  John and Karen Fieldhouse, our opponents then, asked in a good-natured way why he had to select that hand.  The reason was to demonstrate that having the most high card points doesn’t necessarily translate into a successful contract. In this case, the best contract was 4 Spades by North-South despite both hands having a combined total of just 17 high card points, whereas East-West, despite holding 23 high card points, cannot likely even garner a majority of tricks in their best suit, Hearts.  

There were five full tables.  Joel Charpentier and I finished fifth out of ten despite having only been partners on one previous occasion several months ago. I opened one hand a Spade, holding Ace, King, Queen and three others plus a void in hearts but just one other honor. Joel raised to 2 No-Trump and I rebid Spades, expecting him to go either 3 No-Trump or four Spades.  Instead, he bid 4 No-Trump, asking for Aces.  After I answered 5 Diamonds, he jumped to 6 No-Trump. Holding just 10 high-card points, I feared the worst.  After he took the first trick with his only Heart stopper, Joel led his singleton Spade and played dummy’s Ace, King, and Queen.  Had Spades not split 3-3, he’d have been down big time, but opponents Mary Korcevar and Judy Selund each had an equal number; Joel took every trick thereafter for a small slam and high board.

I told Judy Selund and Mary Kocevar that I enjoyed Anna Urick’s account of their trip to Iceland in Barbara Walczak’s Newsletter,  including these remarks about “An Awesome Winter Wonderland”:

  On July 8, we left for the volcanic, verdant country of Iceland.  We saw many stunning sights, including numerous waterfalls, geysers, black beaches, and glaciers (receding at an alarming rate).  We also saw many species of birds, including the puffins (no, we did not eat any).  Sheep and horses were plentiful on the countryside.  Beautiful purple and yellow wildflowers were prevalent everywhere. If you have ever heard “Singing in the Rain,” imagine Judy, Therese, and Tina swimming, drinking wine, and splashing in the Blue Lagoon as rain fell.  Their visit to a nearby spa completed the day Another day they went horseback riding. All proved to be quite the equestrians.

  Since four of the travelers were bridge players, we managed to get in a few games, playing for money instead of masterpoints. We learned that playing for masterpoints was less stressful than when kronas(the national currency) were involved.

 Doug Jordan in 2014

Amazingly, Barbara Walczak has been editing two Newsletters a week.  The latest contains this remembrance of 89 year-old Doug Jordan, Lake Central band director for 30 years, beginning in 1958, and a lover of bridge:

  Doug’s friend and bridge partner Sharon Snyder said that he not only refreshed her understanding of bridge but that he single-handedly made her into a moderately decent bridge player.  Even when he couldn’t get out to play anymore, he bought an electric scooter and a handicapped-accessible van so he could try and get to the social game that he and Sharon ran on Fridays in Crown Point.  He also asked friends to come to Town Centre to play – where he moved last November.  And he was even playing bridge on Bridge Base Online on his laptop in the hospital just days before he died.  He was definitely a King of Spades!  Doug also played in the Hobart Community Band and the pit of LCTG playhouse in Cedar Lake until he just couldn’t physically manage it anymore.  His loves were music, bridge, and the great outdoors.

 Toni, Alyssa, James, and Becca; photo by Angie Lane

Anne Balay posted on Facebook that she liked the lesbian subplots in “Incredibles 2”  but otherwise found the movie “pretty meh.”  Not hip, I found in Urban Dictionarythat “Meh” means indifference, or not really caring about something.  Patti Calandra missed the lesbian parts.  Anne explained:“Elastic and the tekkie sister had some hot eye contact, and the void and violet were nerd flirting near the end.  I love nerd flirting.”  Toni went to see “Incredibles 2” with the grandkids.  I’ll have to ask her about the matter.

Nathaniel Philbrick’s “Valiant Ambition” on George Washington and Benedict Arnold arrived via inter-library loan.  It opens with a Shakespeare quote from Julius Caesar: “As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” Like Brutus, Arnold turned traitor, at least in the public eye.  The truth is more complex.