When Diana's mom died I went out to California for the funeral. I stopped by Cal while I was out there to look up one of my professors. I am so sad to hear that my US diplomatic history professor retired from teaching. I wondered who is replacing her? I wondered because it is troubling to know that she is gone when I consider the news-making professors at Cal. I was disgusted to read about John Yoo's position as a faculty member at UC. I wish he'd stayed and taught at his own alma mater (Yale) or Harvard... I wrote the my alumni magazine my feelings on this:

-----Original Message-----From: Dillon, Michael Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 8:48 AMTo: 'californiamag@alumni.berkeley.edu'Subject: Prof. John C. Yoo

As Cal's magazine does annual reviews, I hope we consider UC's most ignoble character of the year as well... kind of a Darwin award for the individual student, alumni or professor with the biggest ethical lapse. This year's release of the memo arguing for torture would then make Cal Law Professor John Woo the singular candidate. I have studied the shift from radical collectivism by the Mormons to their arch-conservatism - a shift that took place over 130 years. Berkeley's shift from the epicenter of radicalism to being part of the machinery of an administration that advocated torture is indeed an interesting reflection on the change in the types of people attracted to Cal or being attracted to teach at Cal. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/opinion/04fri1.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=sloginThis article in the NY Times certainly made me disappointed that the professor is associated with UC Berkeley.

Rex Michael Dillon,'03 (History & Religious Studies)