To the Editor:
When I first learned that Half Zantop was to be my freshman adviser in 1990 I was disappointed. I had never met him, but since my intended major was Anthropology I was a bit skeptical of the quality of advice and support I would receive from a geologist. How wrong I was. From our first meeting Half was a source of inspiration, insightful advice, humor and balance. I was so impressed with him that I took two of his courses and was equally pleased with his clear, amusing and supportive teaching style.
During the winter of my freshman year I was quite despondent about the American invasion of Iraq. Seeing my distress and connecting with it due to his own politics, he promptly invited me to come home with him for paella. I was deeply touched that a professor would demonstrate such caring and compassion for a student.
Throughout the next three years Half continued to dispense sage advice and offer wry political commentary. When I scrapped a nearly completed major to start another from scratch my senior year, he was not only supportive but enthusiastic. His non-judgmental support and commitment to my happiness extended in the years after I graduated when not once but (embarrassingly) three times I sought him out for reference letters to completely different programs.
With a smile in his voice, he'd simply say "What am I claiming you are superbly qualified for this time?"
I will always treasure Half's humor, generosity of spirit, political insight, equanimity, and warm embrace. I'm terribly saddened that future generations of Dartmouth students will be denied such a wonderful experience.
