VIRTUALLY BEING THERE!
I just wanted to comment on the beautiful Virtual Campus Tour Web site produced by Marketing and Media Relations at Rensselaer.

This is possibly the most user-friendly Web site that has ever been built at RPI. It shows off the best features of the campus, and is accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world, who has access to the Internet. I recommend it highly, particularly as an introduction to RPI for prospective students.

Check it out at http://www.rpi. edu/dept/NewsComm/tour/.
Dave Aiello '89
President, Rensselaer Club of New Jersey
www.rcnj.org
Denville, N.J.

Editor's note: This Web site debuted in mid-January and was the result of several months of work by New Media Specialist Steven R. Morris and others.

MIXED EMOTIONS
After reading the subject article in the December issue of Rensselaer, I experienced several mixed emotions regarding my alma mater. I felt pride in that the school has been able to provide all of the amenities for the students as described in the article and can presumably still have a first-rate education program. I also felt confused in wondering whether those same students, most of whom portrayed in the article were quite involved with their technological marvels, would be able to cope with the real life issues in the outside world.

In addition, the question is raised as to how many parents not in the upper income class can afford to pay the high cost of attending a school with such expensive tastes. I don't understand how a TV, VCR, laser disc player, CD player, surround sound stereo receiver, DVD player and a networked printer are all essential to a good learning experience. With all these goodies, how can a student find the time to utilize the new Mueller fitness center?

I sincerely hope that the RPI graduates of tomorrow will have a realistic approach to life in addition to the education necessary to succeed.
Peter Anagnos '51
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

TEACHER RECOGNITION
I noticed that you recognized Dr. Michael Abbott, the recipient of the Trustee's Outstanding Teacher Award for 2000, in the most recent issue of Rensselaer magazine ("Milestones"), and I was delighted to see it.

My only disappointment was the fact that the recognition was not more expansive. A small item on page 13 seems a bit minimal for something as important as being the best teacher on the entire campus! Frankly, I can't imagine anything at RPI more important than good teaching, although, I am beginning to conclude that I may be in the minority with that opinion. In any event, teaching should be at least, an equal leg on academia's "three-legged stool" of teaching, research, and community service. If it were up to me, the recognition would have been on the cover of the magazine!
John Billingsley '61
Savannah, Ga.

INTERNET HISTORY
I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed your article "Pioneers of the Internet" (September 2000) and thought you did a fine job of the research required to create a good picture of the evolution of the Internet. And I am pleased that you found the history article that we created (http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/brief.html) here at the Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science to be helpful.

By the way, you may not have realized it but I also am an RPI alumnus (B.E.E.E., 1967)
Barry Leiner '67
Moffett Field, Calif.

We'd love to hear from you! In order to provide space for as many letters as possible, we often must edit them for length. Send correspondence to: Rensselaer Magazine, Office of Marketing and Media Relations, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, or e-mail to alum.mag@rpi.edu, or call (518) 276-6531.