Re: Sharon Rodine’s letter to Derrick Rollins

This morning I was privileged to read, IN CONTEXT, the words in Carrie Chapman Catt’s speeches that are causing all the controversy on the Iowa State University campus.

They are words that every ISU faculty, staff and student-body member should read. I believe readers would be more disappointed in (ISU Foundation Board of Governors member) Sharon Rodine’s minimization of the truth than in Dr. Derrick Rollins’ empathetic response to the September 29th Movement’s concerns about Catt’s remarks.

In her caustic letter to Dr. Rollins, Rodine claims that the September 29th Movement is judging Catt’s “life’s work from one sentence taken out of context from a single speech.”

Upon reading several of Catt’s speeches, I found that not only does more than one sentence denigrate minorities, but safekeeping white supremacy constitutes a significant portion of her strategy for gaining the vote for white women.

Contrary to Sharon Rodine’s assertion that the September 29th Movement has “defamed Mrs. Catt with misinformation about her words and her life’s work,” the movement’s members have unveiled the truth.

“If you think there is alumni support for your actions, you are very wrong,” Rodine wrote to Dr. Rollins.

It is Rodine and not Dr. Rollins who is “very wrong,” for I am an ISU alumna who supports Dr. Rollins and the effort to rename the Catt Center. Perhaps Rodine overlooked me when she made her sweeping statement because, while she was rubbing elbows with the monied at alumni events, I was merely encountering the pain of minority students on our campus.

Sherry McGough

Des Moines