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Happy New ... Review?

“Either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.” — Ben Franklin

As I write this column, I am unable to say with certainty that this issue of the Alumni Review follows Ben Franklin’s admonition above. However, knowing the content of the material that has been prepared for this issue and the care that has been unselfishly given to re-design it, I am certain that we have made a good faith effort to abide by Mr. Franklin’s instructions.

As alumni of this great University, you are all well aware of the long tradition of excellence demonstrated by Chapel Hill-trained writers. I could fill this column with a list of UNC-CH writers who have earned state-wide, national, and even world-wide acclaim. From time to time we have profiled some of these distinguished writers, as in the article earlier this year in the Alumni Review on Pulitzer Prize winners who studied at the University.

In the October issue, we explained that after ten years with the same general format, the Review was undergoing redesign. As you can tell from the new cover, the re-design effort is well under way. We are grateful for the professional supervision of this project by two Carolina alumni. Joyce Fitzpatrick Hartley, Class of ’76, vice president of Peabody Communications in Washington, D.C., has been a consultant to many alumni publications. She also is the spouse of GAA Director and Washington, D.C., Chapter President Pat Hartley, Class of ’76. Joining Joyce on this most effective re-design team is Kenneth E. Barnes, Class of’69. Coming from a background of educational publications, Ken is now a graphic designer in Raleigh.

Our objectives with this re-design are many:

  • To reflect the strong, distinctive, classic style and personality of the University.
  • To position the Alumni Review in the minds of our readers as a quality-oriented, substantive periodical.
  • To utilize more effectively the magazine as an image building tool — for the University at Chapel Hill with alumni.
  • To initiate a “new look” that can be adapted to other alumni publications and communications that is consistent, fresh and lively. Of course, if we simply implemented the re-design, without examining the content of the magazine, we would have gone only part of the way toward a critical study of our magazine. To assist us in this further effort, we are forming a Publications Advisory Committee. This group will meet periodically to review prospective articles for the Alumni Review and to advise us on various policy matters relating to the magazine.

We want to continue the Review‘s long tradition of providing alumni with the Carolina story. We want to strengthen the relationship between the University and our alumni and to educate and stimulate our readers about matters of both institutional and societal significance. Beyond this, we hope to provide a two-way communication system by offering you , our readers, a forum for responsible reaction. We recognize that some of our best writers may now be readers of the Alumni Review. We encourage — indeed we plead for your participation and contributions.
This cover-to-cover examination and re-design is intended to help you, our readers. We hope you greet the changes with the enthusiasm we feel for the project. Regardless of your reaction, won’t you please share your most candid comments with us? Pick up the phone, drop us a line, or the next time I am addressing your chapter, let me hear directly how you feel about the magazine and the direction we are headed.

In concluding his recent University Day address, Professor William E. Leuchtenburg quoted perhaps that best known University at Chapel Hill writer, Thomas Wolfe: “The true discovery of America is still before us. The true fulfillment of our spirit, of our people, of our mighty and immortal land is yet to come.” We have the same hopeful spirit about our new alumni magazine, and believe that its best days are ahead.

Happy Holidays!

Yours at Carolina,

Doug signature

 

 

 

 

Douglas S. Dibbert ’70

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