Taking Issue with Higgins
Stories about George Higgins always catch my eye ("True Confessions?"
Fall 2001). I read the first three books mentioned in the article and met Higgins
at a fundraiser for former Dean Robert F. Drinan when Drinan was in Congress.
George and I nearly came to blows because of our differences in politics. According
to your article, Higgins believed that while crime will never go away, criminals
themselves are redeemable. Fair enough, but having worked part-time as a nurse
at the Arlington County Jail in Virginia, I do not buy Higgins's theory. Working
nights and weekends gave me the time to review medical records, which showed
that 19 percent of the inmates were psychotic, while 70 percent were substance
abusers.
On a separate note, as I read "Global Justice" (Fall 2001), I was
reminded of the recent international human rights seminar here in Lisbon, hosted
by the LusoAmerican Development Foundation. Father Drinan took part, and we
had not met since he was in Congress.
Gilbert L. Wells '58
Lisbon, Portugal
The Books That Bind
The article "Printed Treasures: Inside the Coquillette Rare Book Room"
(Fall 2001) has given me enormous enjoyment. But more importantly, I have received
dozens of calls, letters, and references from alumni saying how proud they were
of the collection, and how important they thought this whole enterprise was
for Boston College Law School. Of course, this is the reason why I support the
Rare Book Room. Not only is it a terrific teaching tool for legal history and
legal philosophy, but it is something that binds the alumni to the school in
their pride of what it means for legal learning and for legal professionalism.
Not only did you capture the hopes and dreams of the curator, Karen Beck, myself,
and other members of the Rare Books Committee, but also you gave a wonderful
view of why this is a community enterprise.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the summary of the exhibit What Collectors Collect.
I am sure it contributed a great deal to the excellent turnout that we've had
in connection to that exhibit.
Daniel R. Coquillette
The J. Donald Monan, S.J., University Professor