Posted by Ellen Smolinsky Pall on January 21, 2005 at 11:14:03 from 152.163.101.6 cache-rtc-ae02.proxy.aol.com :
came to UB as a freshman in 1978 and took Dr. Powell's Sociology 101 during my first semester. I came from a very sheltered, suburban background and was not as politically informed as many of my classmates. That year, the Freedom of Information Act had been passed. Dr. Powell was ecstatic that he could now have access to information from the government. On the first day of class,Dr. Powell challenged us to write for our FBI files. I was so completely intrigued by his presence and point of view. I had never met anyone like him. I majored in Sociology.
One day, my friend David and I wanted to make him laugh. We attended class in trench coats and held newspapers up to our faces with eye holes cut out, pretending to be FBI agents. He was most amused.
Periodically, I have checked the internet for information about your father. I learned of his passing about a year ago and send you my condolences. He made a great impression on me. He inspired me to question authority.
Ellen Pall