John Paul Wright
Associate Professor of Criminology
University of Cincinnati
600 Dyer Hall
P.O. Box 210389
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0389
Dear Professor Wright:
I understand that the criminology program at your university is considered to be one of the best in the nation. I am writing to you to suggest a topic of research that I believe has been neglected of late.
Several years ago I visited Alcatraz Island and, of course, the prison thereon. Among their historical displays were photos of former Alcatraz inmates. I was struck by how many of the prisoners pictured had especially large ears. This observation has been filed somewhere in the recesses of my mind until today, as I just read about a bank robber in Southern California who is known as the “Enormous Ears Bandit.” In my own attempts to research a possible pattern, I learned of the Italian school of criminology, which I suppose you must be familiar with.
Perhaps it is archaic to suggest that one’s physical attributes are a sign of some predisposition for criminal behavior. However, my gut feeling is that I’m onto something here. If they can peg lesbians by the length of their fingers, why can’t we detect thieves by their oversized auditory receptors?
Truly,
Liz Mann
