As an avid reader of the Western News, whose content and format have recently improved in many respects, I write to express my continued concern about the haphazard coverage of the deaths of emeritus professors.
The passing of many who have made large contributions to their profession and to Western is reported in neither a timely nor consistent fashion. I have, on at least a couple of past occasions, attempted to point this out, and made what I thought were helpful suggestions, but evidently to no avail. In the last two weeks, two deaths of outstanding members of the Western family have gone belatedly or totally unreported.
Morris Zaslow, a longtime member of the History Department and, even to this day, the outstanding historian of the Canadian North, died on Jan. 17. John Bancroft, whose efforts as Dean of Science laid many of the foundations for the distinguished and innovative faculty that exists today, died on Jan. 22. Bancroft’s death was reported on Feb. 13; Zaslow’s has yet to be reported.
Both of these colleagues deserved not only timely announcement of their deaths to the university community but a significant article in the Western News detailing their contributions.
Western News does well in reporting on the present achievements and even future plans of the university. It would do well to develop a strategy to ensure those whose talents helped create Western’s current stature receive adequate recognition.
Thomas N. Guinsburg
Professor emeritus