Dear Dee Dee,
I am Blythe Walker, Program Director of the Institute for Learning in Retirement of the University of Cincinnati. I am writing in response to the letter signed “Deeply Annoyed,” in the March 6 issue of the Activist.
It is obvious from the misinformation in the letter that students at RWC need to be educated about the ILR–who are we and what are we doing at (and for) RWC? One hopes that in the course of “Deeply Annoyed’s” education he/she is learning a bit of tolerance and acceptance of others unlike him/herself. Perhaps the offending “old person” is a former University President, Ohio Governor, UC Professor Emeritus, a retired leading business person, or a community activist because ILR membership does include these and more.
What “Deeply Annoyed” patronizingly refers to as “some kind of retirement class” that “all the elderly people” do to give themselves “something to do” is, in fact, an intellectually and academically diverse curriculum of 60+ classes held at RWC on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m. Classes are available to anyone 50 and above.
This vital program as been in residence at RWC and on UC Main Campus for 15 years. We have approximately 2100 members. A quarterly membership fee of $75 allows ILR members to take as many courses as one wishes at any of our several locations. “Deeply Annoyed” needs to know that a major portion of ILR membership fees is contributed annually to an RWC scholarship fund for women and mionority students. Who knows, perhaps “Deeply Annoyed” is even a beneficiary of some of this scholarship money?
In addition, the ILR is contributing to a building program to upgrade certain classrooms in Muntz Hall. For all your annoyance with the “old people” who take up precious parking spaces and block the hallways at RWC, remember that these are people who are dedicated to “lifelong learning” as well as your parents, grandparents and leaders of society. As a group, they look to you as the future and “speak very highly of you.”
I hope that this information will serve to educate “Deeply Annoyed” and other RWC students about the ILR and to create some intergenerational understanding on RWC campus. Ignorance breeds prejudice, so get educated before you rant. And, remember, o callow youth, you will be old some day. Let’s hope you command respect and consideration when you get there.Sincerely,
Blythe Walker
Program Director, ILR
University of Cincinnati
556-9174
Monday, July 14, 2025