Editor, The Herald:

As an alumnus and a member of the Board of Trustees of Hampden-Sydney College, I would like to respond to Mr. Porterfield's letter published earlier. I would like to emphasize that I am speaking only on my own and not in anyway on behalf of the Board or Hampden-Sydney College.

First and foremost, The College is not on the edge of any “fiscal cliff”. The College has operated with a solid, balanced budget for the twenty some years I have served on the board. As a member of the Budget/Audit and Finance committees, I know this policy will continue. The College is committed to a new strategic plan that was created by trustees, faculty, staff, students, parents and outside interests. The plan emphasizes significant increase in endowment, physical plant improvement, maintaining the superiority of our liberal arts curriculum and continuing to increase the quality and diversity of our student body.

In regard to Mr. Porterfield's specific points, a public forum such as this is not the proper place for discussion, but he should feel free to contact any trustee over his concerns. I can say they are nothing new or innovative, and the Board has considered them in the past and continues to review some of them periodically.

Finally, it's not about the money, as Mr. Porterfield suggests. Hampden-Sydney will continue to be a college of excellence where it forms “good men and good citizens in an atmosphere of sound learning”.

Scott M. Harwood

Farmville