Shutting Up the Gates of the Ivory Tower

Re “How UC Irvine Makes Offers They Don’t Refuse,” July 2:

Knowing that UC Irvine helps shelter the tender psyches of Hugh Roberts and Richard Kroll from the beigeness of greater Irvine, not to mention the Camaro-driving petite bourgeoisie of Aliso Viejo, makes it so much easier for me to sleep nights. As for the “garret” life of faculty in major urban areas, the most inspiring, thought-provoking--alive!--mentors I encountered in graduate school were those deliberately living--indeed reveling, immersed up to their eyeballs--in the gritty, messy, vibrant urban milieu of the surrounding city. But then, I suppose Fortress UCI must be seeking a different species of mentor.

Jodie Munden

San Clemente