Vassar Quarterly - Fall 2017 - 4

Letters
There's definitely something different
about this group of travelers. They are curious,
courteous, and, above all, clean! Only once
have I opened the door to a clutter of dishes,
towels, or sheets. By offering a homelike
setting, what we get in return are guests who
treat the cabins as if they were their own
property. They leave glowing notes, and sometimes CDs of their own music, or tea from
their home countries. Almost every day, the
community grows and grows. At my age, how
wonderful to participate in something like this.

Thank you for including Sharing Housing in
"The Sharing Economy: Joys and Tribulations."
Since the interview with writer Cari
Shane ['87], I've taken the step of moving
from "solopreneurship" to forming a nonprofit
organization. The work has always been a
social mission, with the goal of addressing
two crises: housing affordability and social
isolation.
The idea of living with another (or more)
is a simple solution with far-ranging consequences. I invite my fellow alums to stay in
touch with us by signing up for our newsletter
at sharinghousing.com.
-Annamarie Pluhar '76
Founder, Sharing Housing
East Dummerston, VT

Faking the News
The rise of "fake news" [Winter 2017] should
not surprise us. It's just another commodity in
the news-for-sale market. News as business, in
my view, has been the most insidious subversion of America and its values in a long time,
arguably more damaging than McCarthyism.
I struggled with it for some 30 years as
a network news producer. We trained people
to have short attention spans. Segments
had to be short to keep things moving-the
way mobiles entertain infants-so viewers
wouldn't get bored and change channels.
Now, the criterion is ratings, and few in the
business even pretend otherwise.
Florence Squassi Swanstrom '79
Watchung, NJ

FEEDBACK? letters are accepted on a rolling
basis and may be sent to vq@vassar.edu.
We reserve the right to edit for brevity.
4

FA l l 2 0 1 7

Remembering Former Dean
of Admission Dick Moll
Richard "Dick" Moll, who twice served as Admission
Director at Vassar, died in May. A graduate of Duke
University and the Yale Divinity School, Moll did
admissions work at Yale University, Bowdoin
College, Vassar, and the University of California,
Santa Cruz, and wrote extensively on all aspects of
the admissions process. He was also an entertainer
who created a musical revue about "playing the
admissions game." He is survived by his husband,
Wallace Pinfold.
Dick Moll was brash, creative, and highly
energetic. He thrived on challenges, facing
them, meeting them, then moving on. He
came to Vassar in 1975 to serve as Admission
Director during our uneven transition to
co-education. When he left for Santa Cruz
five years later, the admission program was
stronger, and the college more aware of the
demands created by its new identity.
Dick returned to Vassar in the mid-1990s,
when admissions were flagging, staying
only two years. His brief stay culminated in
the appointment of David Borus, who led
the admissions effort effectively for the next
two decades. Dick and David were entirely
different, but, to his credit, Dick knew a
good man when he met one.
At a critical time in our history, Dick
served Vassar well. We should remember
him with thanks.
-Michael McCarthy
Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
Poughkeepsie, NY

In 1977, Dick Moll, then Dean of Admission
at Vassar, hired me out of the University
of Massachusetts Amherst to join the
admission staff. I served at Vassar from
1977-1980. It was an incredible career break
that sent me on an upward trajectory. Dick
was an innovator, a visionary, a pioneer,
a marketing guru, and someone who had
a great understanding of human nature.
Plus, he knew how best to package, market
a college and match the right students to
the college.
Working with Dick was powerful stuff,
both challenging and inspirational. I shall
always be in his debt for opening the door
of opportunity and pushing me through it.
As Dick would often sign his many letters
to college counselors and headmasters,
"Remember to proceed quietly, with resolve
and a few snickers." Also, for admitted
students Dick would start the admission
decision letter with two words "You're in!"
That was vintage Dick Moll.
Dick was a legend in the admission
business. He recruited and brought together
a most interesting group of admission
professionals including Susan Connolly
Eckert, Brooks Gekler '78, Bruce Moffatt '75,
Carol Ramsey, Rab Thornton, and the late
Elisabeth Chapman '38 to name but a few
of the many lucky ones. It was both an
honor and a privilege to have worked with
such a uniquely talented and interesting
person.
-Doug Cooney
Wellesley, MA

Courtesy of Wallace Pinfold

-Linden Hanger Berry '66
Bigfork, MT
http://www.sharinghousing.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vassar Quarterly - Fall 2017
