To the Editors of The Crimson:

A recent story by Richard Eder which appeared in the Tuesday, Dec. 4 issue of The New York Times caught my eye. You see, the story was about life at Harvard and "the diversity of independence" there.

The story was interesting, but without a doubt, the most intriguing quote in the entire discourse was one from a Harvard professor: "The object is to look as if you were going to Middle Tennessee College." The remark was in reference to the attire of the Harvard student population, most notably the penchant for down-filled jackets and windbreakers.

Gee, guys, I hate to break it to you, but we don't wear down jackets or windbreakers very much at Middle Tennessee State University (yes, we're a University now.) Rather, our taste down here runs to Brooks Brothers and Calvin Klein.

It's true! Oxford cloth shirts with button down collars and Weejuns are de rigeur for MTSU men and women. And if you're not a preppie (as so many of us are--we even have prep schools down here, belive it or not!), you will probably wear clothes by Calvin Klein--tasteful, yet elegant. We like to call it understated dressing down here in the backwoods of Tennessee.

Shoot fire! we know boys up north think we're just a bunch of damn hicks down this way, but we can be elitist with the best of y'all.

Now, if only somebody would bring me that mint julep I asked for...

From the heart of Dixie, Jeff Ellis   Editor, Sidelines   Middle Tennessee State University newspaper