Editor's Comments

Once upon a time in the land of academia, there existed an esteemed Department of Geography. It was steeped in tradition and was recognized by its peers as being among the foremost academic departments in the world. Yet this recognition was inadequate to spare it from an abrupt termination. This Department of Geography whose allegiance was once claimed by such notable geographers as Carl Sauer, Preston James, George Kish and others was sentenced to extinction by the Board of Regents on June 19, 1981. It is small consolation that the doors of the Department will officially close during mid-1982. I salute the Department at the University of Michigan for its past accomplishments and I mourn its departure as I would the loss of a close friend and mentor.