Gloria’s Story
Margaret
Haughey and I want to congratulate you and your
staff on the Autumn 2002 issue of the Torch. It
is very gratifying to see this finely researched
and well written recognition of aboriginal students,
with their own key input. We really enjoyed the
very sensitive article on Gloria Jean Frank, as
well as Nancy Turner’s piece with accompanying
image of Floyd Joseph’s sculpture on campus.
Additionally, it was good to see Charles Elliott’s
print in the editorial. We get the University of
Alberta and Queen’s University, Belfast alumni
magazines and the Torch is definitely far and away
the best of the group. Your visual appeal is strong
and the quality of the writing is high. I rarely
feel called to write this kind of congratulatory
message, but Margaret and I feel that the creativity
and professionalism of this edition, particularly
its honouring of aboriginal peoples, deserve to
be recognized and duly celebrated.
DENIS J. HAUGHEY, PHD ’86
EDMONTON
I am ashamed to admit
this, but I usually don’t read the Torch
when it arrives.... But something compelled me
to read “The Painted Curtain,” and
I am so glad I did! Holly Nathan did a superb
job of telling the emotional, disturbing, gratifying,
amazing story of Gloria Jean Frank and the curtain
of her family’s life. I have been very privileged
to spend time in Port Alberni with members of
the Tseshaht Band and so could relate personally
to elements of her story; it is heartening to
know that there are so many there that are pushing
through the present to make the past live. Congratulations
to Ms. Frank for connecting with her past, present
and future, and good luck with the finishing of
her thesis. I personally think she deserves an
honorary degree for her work in continuing and
sharing her culture. And yes, I read the entire
issue this month, and will continue to do so in
the future!
WENDY SWAN, BA ’89
VICTORIA
“Unethical”
Ad
I was very disappointed
to see that the Torch magazine (Autumn 2002) advertised
for the Victoria Times Colonist. It is my understanding
that the workers were in a labour dispute with
the company and that the company was using “scab”
labour to get the paper out. Please do not use
unethical ads in the future.
MELISSA MOROZ, BA ’99
VICTORIA
The advertising contract,
part of a longterm sponsorship agreement between
the university and the Times Colonist, was signed
before the newspaper strike.
– Editor
Spellbound
I was sorry to read about
the death of Alan Gowans in the Torch (“Value
in the Common Place,” Autumn 2001). The
person who wrote the obituary was probably not
a student at the university in the early 70s when
Dr. Gowans kept more than 300 students spellbound
giving his lectures in History in Art 120.
He took us on a journey through history. He handled
huge amounts of information from any discipline
and made an incredibly beautiful pattern.
Art history was my discipline, although I had
not intended it until Dr. Gowan’s classes.
So I thank this professor who dared to think so
deeply and with such enormous breadth. What a
life!
MARYROSE CLARK, BA
’74
VICTORIA
Feel like commenting on something you’ve
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to keyboard and send a letter. All mail—whether
critical or complimentary—is always welcomed.
Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
E-mail: torch@uvic.ca
Post: UVic Torch Alumni Magazine
P.O. Box 1700 Stn CSC
Victoria BC, V8W 2Y2
Fax: (250) 721-8955
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