Dear All,

THANK YOU ! THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  It has been an exciting day. Letters have been pouring into President Bok from around the country and from other countries as well (Australia, Canada,  New Zealand, South Korea and the UK).

I have printed the introductions from 20 of these letters below. Hopefully, they will inspire you to send in yours as well. The Harvard letter to which we hope you will add your name is at the very end of the letters below.  The mechanics of how to do this precede today’s letters.

Many thanks to all who have sent in letters.

Paul Connett

1) Copy the letter. Add this separate note to President Bok before the text of the letter, as illustrated here:

2) copy the amended letter into an email to President Bok TO: derek_bok@harvard.edu>

3) copy to the deans of the various colleges, by pasting these emails into the CC:

, , , , , , ,

then

4) put
and in the bcc line so that we can keep a track of our progress on this, then

5) hit send. fff away!

Paul Connett

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Dear President Bok,

My name is Melissa Dehncke McGill and I live in Brooklyn, NY. I am a freelance writer and photographer and I do a lot of volunteer work in my kids’ school.

Until recently I was not aware that there was any controversy about water fluoridation. (Our water is also chlorinated but that’s another issue). I am very concerned about the possibility of any increased risk of osteosarcoma in young boys especially since I have 2 boys, ages 7 and 9, who love to drink water.

As someone who believes that you should never stop seeking knowledge, I have read up on all sides of this issue and I believe as a member of the public who helped to fund Chester Douglass’ $1.3 million study that I have a right to know whether Douglass has been an honest steward in this matter. My children are at the precise age where this is a serious concern. 

I am very disturbed that during this investigation, Harvard failed to contact the Environmental Working Group, which brought the ethics charge, to ask them to provide their detailed evidence or their direct testimony regarding this matter.

Although I am not a Harvard graduate I support the letter below and I believe that something more is required than a 4 paragraph statement to prove that my children and millions of other children are not at risk. Where is the evidence? Where is the TRUTH?

Signed,

Melissa Dehncke McGill

Brooklyn, NY

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Dear President Bok

I am James S. Beck. I have an M.D. from Washington University School of Medicine and a Ph.D. in biophysics from the University of California, Berkeley. I an now Professor Emeritus of Medical Biophysics in the University of Calgary, Canada.

       

I am disappointed, indeed shocked, at the actions of Professor Douglass with respect to Dr. Elise Bassin and her thesis on the association of osteosarcoma with fluoridation of drinking water and with the subsequent actions of Harvard. I am entirely in agreement with the letter from Professor Albert Burgstahler, copied below. I urge you to demonstrate some commitment to the public and to the community of scientists and health-care givers–not to mention to the reputation of your own institution–by implementing a disinterested and honest inquiry into the matter.

James S. Beck, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus of Medical Biophysics (University of Calgary)

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Dear President Bok

My name is  Bruce Spittle, MB ChB, DPM (Otago), FRANZCP. I am not a Harvard graduate but I am very concerned about this issue. I fully endorse the letter sent to you below by Dr. Albert Burgstahler and other Harvard graduates. The challenge “Dare to be wise”  in the motto of Otago University is akin to that of Harvard “Veritas” and I hope both are borne in mind and a decision made that upholds scientific integrity.

Yours sincerely

Bruce Spittle,

Ocean View,

Dunedin,

New Zealand

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Dear President Bok,

My name is Jennie Reinhold a concerned citizen of Maryland. Although I am not a Harvard graduate I support the letter below. For the record, I have always held high regards for the staff and students of Harvard University. However, concerning the seriousness of using fluoridated water and the horrible effects it has on innocent people, changes all of that. What happened to honor, truth and integrity? It is a sad day in America, where money and or power becomes the priority instead of human life! As far as I am concerned, there is not enough money in the world that should be allowed to obfuscate the demands for Harvard to continue to represent the highest standards of academic integrity. I look forward to this matter being resolved in a timely manner…

Sincerely,

Jennie Reinhold

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Dear President Bok,

Whereas my degrees are from institutions other than Harvard (B.A. Lewis & Clark College, M.A. Antioch University Seattle), I am in strong support of Albert Burgstahler’s letter below.  Obfuscations of honest science place us all in real jeopardy, global warming being just one example, and cannot be tolerated.  If Professor Douglass is truly blameless, the taxpaying public that has funded years of his research deserves, at the very least, transparency into the process.

Sincerely,

Lynne Campbell

Lake Oswego, OR

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Dear President Bok,

My name is Dr Robert Anderson and although I am not a Harvard graduate like many academics I am very concerned about this issue. The integrity of our universities has now become very seriously threatened by vested interest and continual cover-ups.  In this particular case it’s conclusions could well have disastrous effects on increased risk of osteosarcoma in children exposed to fluoridated water supplies. We are seeing more and more of this kind of breach of integrity in US universities as vested interest distorts and obfuscates the truth.  The sacrificing of human health on the altar of profit is completely unacceptable.
 

I fully endorse the letter sent to you below by Dr. Albert Burgstahler and the other Harvard graduates. I think it essential for people around the world to see that Harvard is seen to uphold the highest in scientific integrity…

Robert Anderson, PhD

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Dear President Bok,

Although I am not a Harvard graduate, I support the letter below.  Veritas!

Hilda Zahn Spagna, Green Valley, AZ  

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Dear President Bok,

My name is Lisa Thomas mother of two beautiful children and wish them to remain healthy and beautiful. Although I am not a Harvard graduate I support the letter below. The practice of Fluoridating our drinking water is abhorrent, ill-natured and is killing people.  Many industrialized countries do not fluoridate their water and are enjoying a much healthier life.  Please read the letter below.

Signed,

Lisa Thomas

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Dear President Bok.

I, as a graduate of Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘93, am writing in support of the letter below.

Sincerely,

John E. Kelleher, PhD

Brooklyn, NY

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Dear President Bok,

My name is David Veilleux, M.D. in Anthropology. Although I am not a Harvard graduate I support the letter below. Harvard being of of the most renouned and respected university in the world, it is most important for it to maintain its scientific integrity.

Sincerely,

David Veilleux

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Dear President Bok,

As an environmental scientist and former university biological sciences faculty member, I have serious concerns over the concealed evidence linking bone cancers to fluoride exposure in young developing males. Fluoride is an exceptionally harmful waste byproduct produced in large volumes every year from the phosphate mining industry and the U.S. EPA strictly prohibits, under the regulations of the Clean Water Act, the disposal of the toxic fluoride waste residues in the nation’s lakes, streams and rivers. Fluoride toxic waste never should have been allowed for use in the nation’s drinking water based on scientific evidence presented much earlier than the research performed at Harvard. U.S. EPA scientists have testified before Congress about the health effects of water fluoridation.

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Dear President Bok,

My name is Debbie Bishop and I am an Administrative Assistant with the First Year Program at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.  The violation of academic integrity that occurred recently at Harvard is unacceptable…

Debbie Bishop

Administrative Assistant

First Year Program

St. Lawrence University

Canton, NY

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Dear President Bok,

My name is  Vinod Barot, PhD, PDIS.  I am currently working at the Sanitary District of Hammond as a Technical  Director and teaching as an adjunct faculty in the Ivy Tech state college, both in Northwest Indiana. Although I am not a Harvard graduate I support the letter below. Because I possess my Research credentials on the subject of Fluoride toxicity,  I can see the absolute truth in the letter and worh of Prof. Albert Burgstahler comments. I have known him for over a decade now through his research and his honesty in this kind of work. Scientific integrity of research pertaining to the problems of human health is very crucial. It seems the subject matters addressed by Dr. Albert Burgstahler need your prompt attention. I would appreciate it, if you could look into this matter and take the needful action.

Respectfully yours,

Dr.Vinod Barot

Hammond, Indians

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 Dear President Bok,

I am shocked and appalled at the Harvard cover-up of Bassin’s thesis on fluoridation and osteosarcoma.  Truth is not an old fashioned virtue.  Harvard needs to rethink and show integrity is such a crucial matter.  In short, this is unacceptable.  I support the letter from the Harvard alumni on this.

Ruth West Murray

Foreman, AR

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 Dear President Bok,

My name is Marina Llorente and I am a professor at St. Lawrence University where I teach Spanish language and literatures. I strongly believe in the need to maintain the highest standards of  integrity at Harvard and the possible impact that weakening them there would have on academic integrity elsewhere. For these  reasons, I would like to add my name to the letter sent to you by Dr. Albert Burgstahler and other Harvard alumni. I  endorse the sentiments expressed in their letter to you below….

Sincerely,

Marina A. Llorente, Ph.D

Associate Professor of Spanish Language and Literatures

St. Lawrence University

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 Dear President Bok:

 My name is Ailsa Boyden.  I am the spokesperson for the Australian Fluoridation Information Network (AFIN) and editor of the AFIN Bulletin.

 Previously, I had held Harvard in high regard.  The exoneration of Professor Chester Douglass from all charges - without explanation as to why the evidence produced by the Environmental Working Group was dismissed - leaves me with the thought that Harvard has besmirched its own reputation in order to close ranks and protect its own.

 I fear this exoneration without a reasonable explanation sends a signal that Harvard is prepared to endorse similar actions by academics with ties to industry and that industry loyalties could well enjoy a higher ranking than the need to uphold the scientific and other integrity of Harvard.

 My wholehearted support is given to the following content of this letter and to the concerned Harvard alumni who have had the intestinal fortitude to add their names…

Ailsa Boyden,

Mackey,

Queensland, Australia

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Dear President Bok:

                       

My name is Arnold WOOLLEY, my professional qualifications are that I hold A Graduate Level Diploma in Industrial Management and am a Corporate Member of the UK’s Chartered Management Institute.   I am a retired senior police officer and former Police Force Training Commander.  Although I am formally retired, I serve full time as a Town (Buckley) and a County (Flintshire) Councillor, that county being in North Wales.   I am also a well known environmentalist, a volunteer Director of Citizens Advice Bureaux in the county and Chairman of the County Forum for residents aged over 50 years.

Although I am not a Harvard graduate my international linkages have brought to my attention the almost unbelievable episode outlined in the Harvard Alumni Integrity Letter set out below.

During a police career covering five police forces and nearly thirty years, I was a part or full time public prosecutor for twenty-two of those years.  I lost count of the murder investigations that I had to deal with and many other cases of considerable importance.  In all of them, the integrity of the evidence presented was paramount.  In forensic and ballistic evidence the scientific integrity of what was presented was paramount. It had to be open, transparent and unimpeachable, in order to stand up within the court of law and in the broader court of public opinion.

Having taken time to look at the circumstances that have caused the presentation of the letter of concern to you, all I can say is that I fully endorse and support that document.

                   

Harvard is an educational institute with a good name and a sound reputation.  Nothing should be done that creates even in the smallest degree any perception of impropriety.

The smallest blemish on the one hundred percent record that supports your motto of “Veritas” is unthinkably destructive to your reputation and standing around the world.  It threatens not only your reputation, but that of education and science all around the world.

                 

Please set in train without delay, whatever processes are necessary to redress the situation.  You owe that to Harvard as an Institute and to yourself as the senior representative of it.

                 

Sincerely,

Arnold Woolley,

County Councillor,

Flintshire,

North Wales

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Dear President Bok

I am Dr Emily A. Kane, recent mayoral commissioner to evaluate risk/benefit of flouridation of municipal water in Juneau, AK, author Managing Menopause Naturally, Bastyr University ‘92  (doctorate, Naturopathic Medicine), Harvard University ‘78. I wish to add my name to the letter below.

There is no known physiologic need for fluoride in the human body.  It has definitively been shown to be harmful to endocrine, neurological, renal and bone tissues.  We are at a critical crossroads where poisoning our planet and our people is no longer sustainable, even for the purpose of almighty Profit…

Dr Emily A. Kane,

Juneau, AK.

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In Biblical times, little David went up against mighty Goliath, armed with only a slingshot, and prevailed. Now, again, history repeats itself. The “Davids”, are those individuals that stand up to and expose deceit, fraud, cover-ups and the like to protect society and have faith that the truth shall prevail. The “Goliaths” are those that you will find somewhere along the money trail…

You see, fluoridation is big money. Money for grants, money for research, money for endowments and maybe money for getting it into the water supply.  Poor Elise Bassin. Her simple but honest truth has caused so many “Goliaths” to take action. Harvard supposedly investigated the situation but they only allowed Dr. Douglass to see their report. Public Health officials, The American Dental Association, The Harvard School of Dental Medicine, The Harvard School of Public Heath, and The Harvard School of Medicine (more “Goliaths”) are all taking sides with and supporting Dr. Douglass and downplaying or blatantly ignoring the fact the there is data that links fluoride with bone cancer in adolescent boys. How did Donald Trump’s theme song start on the Apprentice? Money, money, moneyyyyy!

All these “Goliaths” support water fluoridation and apparently at all costs. Be it withholding information, not disclosing relevant or pertinent information, or endlessly swimming in that big river in Egypt, de Nile.

So, this is a call to arms for all the “Davids” to stand up against all the “Goliaths”. Put pressure on Harvard University to make public the finding of the  supposedly “objective” investigation into Dr. Douglass’ cover-up. Have Elise Bassin, who has received her Doctorate, be interviewed nationally. Investigate why the truth of water fluoridation is always downplayed. Let’s once and for all look at all the facts, information and peer reviewed studies concerning fluoridation. Let’s ask why the Union of Scientists at the EPA is calling for a moratorium on water fluoridation. And, let’s see what the majority of the people want instead of the handful that always force it on people denying them of their First Ammendment Right to Freedom of Choice.

Hesh Goldstein

“Health Talk” Moderator

K-108 Radio

Honolulu, Hawaii

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I am a concerned citizen that is appalled that Harvard could allow this unscrupulous act of covering up important research work from your graduates. My immune system is compromised from Lyme’s Disease and I have not ingested fluoridated water in 12 years.  I am looking for ways to boost my immune system not decrease it.  Taking the fluoride out of our water supply will help us all.  Please don’t allow Chester Douglas to get away with preventing the disclosure of the harmful effects of this toxic substance.  We desperately need reputable scientific research from honest researchers, the lives of the people of this nation rely on the integrity of the information you present.

Although I am not a Harvard graduate I wholeheartedly support the letter below.

Sincerely,

Elsa M. Rubio

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Dear President Bok:

We, the undersigned graduates of Harvard, are disturbed by the charge that a Harvard Professor, Chester Douglass, first hid, then misrepresented, his graduate student’s PhD thesis, which found a “robust” association between fluoridated water and an increased risk of osteosarcoma in young boys, a frequently fatal disease (1).

Quite frankly, it surprises us that Professor Douglass was ever put in charge of such a sensitive research issue as this, since he is well known as a promoter of fluoridation and also known to have strong financial ties to industries (Colgate and Delta Dental) which could be exposed to significant liabilities if fluoride is shown to cause cancer (2).

We were very disappointed that the brief statement, issued by Harvard on August 15, exonerating Professor Douglass of all charges in this matter, gave no explanation as to why the damning evidence produced by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) was dismissed (3).

There is nothing in the Harvard statement that responds to the substance of this concern and it is hard to see how a thorough investigation could have been conducted without even contacting the organization (EWG) that brought the charge.

While we understand that Professor Douglass has brought millions of dollars of research money into the University from both governmental and private sources, no amount of money should be allowed to obfuscate the demands for Harvard to continue to represent the highest standards of academic integrity - and seen to be doing so. Leaving the public with this 4-paragraph statement simply does not do this.

As it stands now, Harvard’s failure to release even a basic explanation is neither fair to Dr. Elise Bassin nor to the public that ultimately funded this work. It isn’t even fair to Douglass himself. For, without a cogent explanation, the assumption will be made by many, including ourselves, that this has been an exercise in which Harvard is merely “protecting its own.”

We believe this matter merits further review from the President’s office, and a fuller and more open public accounting to remove any taint of a Harvard “whitewash.” Ultimately, the country looks to you, President Bok, to uphold the University’s motto: “Veritas” (truth).

We look forward to your prompt reply in this matter.

Signed:

Albert Burgstahler, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Kansas University, Editor, Fluoride, co-author, “Fluoridation: The Great Dilemma,” MA (1950), PhD (1953) Harvard University

Phillip Allen, MD, Harvard Medical School, ‘54

Naomi Flack, EdM, Harvard Graduate School of Education, ‘64

Roy Flack, LLB, Harvard Law School, ‘64; MBA, Harvard Business School, ‘66

Antone G. Jacobson, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Harvard College, ‘51

Dr Emily A. Kane, recent mayoral commissioner to evaluate risk/benefit of flouridation of municipal water in Juneau, AK, author Managing Menopause Naturally, Bastyr University ‘92  (doctorate, Naturopathic Medicine), Harvard University ‘78

Stephen M. Koral, Dentist,  AM, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, ‘70; DMD, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, ‘80.

Kathryn Lee, EdM, Harvard Graduate School of Education, ‘94

Tyler Graham Neill, Senior, Harvard College

Richard J. Perry, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, St. Lawrence University, Harvard College ‘64

Eleanor Prentiss, BA, Harvard’s Extension, ‘67

Richard Shames, MD, author “Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled?”  Harvard College, ‘67

Caroline Snyder, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology,  MA, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, ‘56, PhD,  ‘66.

1) EWG complaint: http://www.ewg.org/issues/fluoride/20050627/index.php

2) FAN history: http://www.fluoridealert.org/harvard/

3) Harvard statement: http://web.med.harvard.edu/sites/RELEASES/html/8_15Douglass.html