Letters

Kudos for WPl Plan Special Issue

To the Editor:

I have just read my first copy of the WPl Journal (October 1996).

As the father of a WPI freshman, I found several of the articles to be quite enlightening. I especially liked "A Gateway to Adulthood," which explained more of the philosophy behind WPl's course structure than all of the recruitment and freshman orientation materials that were sent throughout my son's high school senior year and beyond. I strongly recommend that this article be included in future college application materials sent to potential new students.

Philip C. Harang, Acton, Mass.

To the Editor:

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the October 1996 WPl Journal.

I graduated in 1965 before this major change was implemented. I thought there were discussions in the works at that time, but I never had a clear understanding of how it all took place and who the players were. The articles in this issue have added a great deal of knowledge and depth to my understanding of the WPl Plan.

Richard S. Olson '65, Bradenton, Fla.

To the Editor:

Congratulations on the October 1996 WPl Journal. It was a truly excellent edition. I thoroughly enjoyed it and certainly learned a lot. Keep up the good work.

Paul A. Allaire '60, Chairman, Xerox Corporation

A Feather in Seaberg's Golf Cap

To the Editor:

After reading in the October 1996 issue about Roy Seaberg's retirement as director of special admissions, I felt a bit wistful to see another good friend being ushered into the greener pastures of golfing.

In addition to the praise he deserves for his role in the development of the WPI Plan, Roy merits a feather in his golf cap for coming up with the idea of establishing the Bangkok Project Center. It happened one afternoon at the Royal Bangkok Sport Polo Club during Roy's annual trip to Thailand. After the busy morning, Roy, Mike Gerson '63 and I were enjoying a discussion of our morning work.

We talked about WPI's Washington and London project centers, as well as moves that were afoot to establish centers in Hong Kong and Taiwan. "Why don't we have a Bangkok Project Center," Roy suggested. Afterward, he brought over documents and an application that led to the creation of the center.

That was in the mid-1980s. The first group of five students arrived at the Bangkok Project Center in 1990. The Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Bangkok was an early project sponsor, thanks to the support of Siva Charoernpong '61, who was the organization's governor. Since then, two projects completed in Bangkok have been winners and another has been a finalist in the annual President's IQP Award competition. This year we welcomed a group of 18 students to the center.

The success of the Bangkok Project Center has prompted WPI alumni in Thailand to form an active group that will bridge the long-neglected gap between Worcester and Thailand and also help students use their academic skills to enhance the real world in this country.

The credit for getting all this started must be given to Roy Seaberg. This feather in his golf cap may be as big as the one that our own Tiger Woods wears in his. Roy will have to show it to us when he and Tiger are in Bangkok the next time.

Boakfar Ketunuti '57, Bangkok, Thailand