To the Editor:

My name is Linda Erickson Rawlings (’76). I’m a former Bates trustee and an “enthusiastic” supporter of the College.
I graduated Bates with a degree in Math and Fine Arts (Dance Emphasis) and have since received an MBA from UC Berkeley and a Masters in Journalism from UC Berkeley. I was president of Otis Spunkmeyer Cookies, and I sit on several dance boards in the U.S.

I have changed my residency to Hong Kong, where I have lived for the last three years with my husband, Gordon Astles, who is president for Cisco Systems, Asia Pacific.

After receiving my MJ, I wrote a piece that was published about my experience in journalism at Berkeley. It was very similar to Cynthia Tufaro’s piece, “Can Professors be Unbiased?” in your Feb. 3 edition. I enjoyed the piece very much, and I strongly agree with her viewpoint. My professors at Berkeley were more “liberal” and biased than the students, and it was frustrating and intimidating, and ultimately impossible to receive a “fair press in reporting” lineage and a “balanced” education.

I just wanted to let you know I love receiving The Bates Student in Hong Kong (so far Beijing has not censored it) and I’m sending my resounding support and endorsement to Cynthia Tufaro.

-Linda Rawlings ’76
Hong Kong



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