To the editor:

I don’t profess to any legalistic background, but I have been pondering the attempt to change the name of Paul Smith’s College, and the possibilities of it opening a Pandora’s box of future civil actions by anyone who feels they may have been “wronged” by the OUTCOME OF A WILL, and the boondoggle that will result in our already overburdened civil system with frivolous lawsuits, such as the attempt to hold McDonald’s responsible for a individual’s overweight condition. Would the ruling of the court regarding the name change become a legal precedent if the request should happen to prevail?

I also question the replacement of the term “forever” in the original will with “forever” in the current request. What hubris! It seems to me the term as stated in the Phelps will stands as it is meant.

I also concur with the positions taken by Rob Marrone in both his letter to the editor of July 21 and his opinion on the college’s survival on Aug. 25.

I am also in TOTAL agreement with Terry Murphy’s assessment of the whole convenience surrounding this change. It shares the same odoriferousness of dead fish that were left to lie in the hot sun for two days.

Arnie Nidecker

Paul Smith’s Class of 1961

Lake Clear