A tie-clasp I still wear reminds me repeatedly of the christmas of 1969, which was particularly memorable for me. It was my first year at Cal state Fresno as a senior in journalism. I shared a small, two-bedroom apartment with three other students in an off-campus housing complex known as the international House. My roommates had eagerly looked forward to the holiday recess. One planned to visit his family in the Dominican Republic. Another, a chemistry major from Tai =wan, wanted to explorre Big Sur. The American students who lived with us was going home to Stockton.