Michael Morgenstern

DEMOGRAPHY LESSON
In the near term, human migration will play a greater role than reproduction in determining the strength and tenor of our societies, writes Douglas S. Massey, chairman of the sociology department at the University of Pennsylvania and president-elect of the American Sociological Association.

DEFENDING THE FAITH
Colleges ought to support organized religion and not just me-first "spirituality," writes Donna Schaper, the senior pastor at the Coral Gables Congregational Church, in Miami.

'SNARL WORDS'
Ellen Spertus, who has worked on software that can filter out insulting e-mail messages, shares her analysis of the lexicography of flaming. She is an assistant professor of computer science at Mills College.

SCHOLARLY SANCTUARY
As we head into a new academic year, writes Carlin Romano, a critic at large for The Chronicle, let us cease our griping for just a moment and give thanks, with students from abroad, for an amazing thing -- American academe.

"Sunflowers" (woodcut), by Charles Beck

POETRY AND PLACE
Robert Penn Warren once advised his protégé, Timothy Murphy, to go home to North Dakota and "grow some roots."

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ABBIE HOFFMAN
Peter Braunstein writes that the new film Steal This Movie! portrays the notorious activist as both a hero and a victim of the 60's.

"Thank you for your excellent coverage of the unfortunate conflicts at Middlebury and Tufts between gay Christians and the Christian fellowships......"

"Daphne Patai's article ('Speak Freely, Professor-- Within the Speech Code')..."

"Playwright Frayn studied philosophy at Cambridge. He wrote a play about three characters..."

"I write in response to the June 2 article in the faculty section titled 'Rancor and Lawsuits at Emory University,' which unfortunately included many false assumptions..."

"Your June 2 story, 'Rancor and Lawsuits at Emory University,' was grossly unfair..."