Category Archives: Events

Can Humanity Think Its Way to a Better Future?

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ONE BIG BRAIN: Can humanity think its way to a better future?

On February 21, 2014, Evergreen will host a film screening and panel discussion to explore the existence of a “noosphere” (pronounced “No-a-sphere”), a planetary field of unified consciousness that forms a layer around planet Earth, just as does our atmosphere. The event will highlight the Noosphere Endowment at Evergreen that supports faculty-student collaborative projects unifying artistic, scientific, and spiritual elements that promote the advent of a worldwide culture of peace. Adam Leveen Sher ’02 and his parents Gerson and Marjorie Sher established this endowed award to assist future generations of Evergreen students.

Here is a preview of the film that will be shown prior to the panel discussion:

Following the screening, a panel of faculty members and alumni will consider the concept of a noosphere that can act in specified ways upon our biosphere.

One of the sources of research on the noosphere is The Global Consciousness Project, an international, multidisciplinary collaboration of scientists and engineers. This organization, operating under the auspices of Princeton University, collects and examines data “to discover subtle correlations that reflect the presence and activity of consciousness in the world . . .When human consciousness becomes coherent and synchronized, the behavior of random systems may change.” 

Event information:

One Big Brain: Can Humanity Think Its Way to a Better Future?
Date:        Friday, February 21, 2014
Time:       1:00 to 3:00 pm
Location: On campus in the Longhouse Education and Culture Center

There is no charge for this event and it is open to the public.Contributions to the Noosphere Endowment are gratefully received.

Seating is limited. Faculty members who wish to bring their students should reserve seats by contacting R.J. Burt in the Office of Alumni Programs by February 15.

Evergreen’s New LinkedIn “University Page” Promises Better Networking in the New Year

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indexTake a look at the newest addition to Evergreen’s social networking suite: Evergreen’s LinkedIn University Page.

According to LinkedIn, “University Pages” will support its fastest-growing demographic, students and recent graduates. Here’s what “Campus Technology” says about the new service:

This summer, LinkedIn announced University Pages, giving schools the opportunity to create a more structured and consistent presence on the social network. Hundreds of institutions have already jumped on board–with 200 more pages going live each week, according to the site.”

Greeners, being the collaborative networkers they are, may find Evergreen’s new LinkedIn University Page a great pathway for reconnecting with college friends and faculty members. We hope it will also be helpful in supporting alumni professional development.

It’s always interesting – sometimes inspirational – to see how Greeners are creating, collaborating, communicating and generally making the world a better place. Already, LinkedIn has identified 16,500-some Greeners in their system, so jump right in and start making connections.  Happy networking in 2014!

Max Hoffman and the Amazing Wooden Derailleur

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Wooden campagnolo derailleur created by student Max Hoffman.

Max Hoffman is an Evergreen student. When not in class, he is often to be found at The Evergreen Bike Shop. The 21-year old cyclist has created something amazing. Here’s a bit of the story, with thanks to “BikeRumor.com:”

At an early age, his passion for bicycles had him turning wrenches for one the of largest Campy dealers in the country – the Bicycle Pro Shop in D.C. It’s their in the trenches that he developed an admiration for the beautiful and exotically priced Italian components.

Having never owned any of the components, Max had his first break during his Sophomore year of school at Evergreen State College. While working at the community run campus bicycle shop, someone donated a broken Campy Record Derailleur. By dissembling and hand measuring with a set of calipers each component, he carefully translated every subtle curve into a small block of walnut. Without the assistance of a computer, mill, or CNC machine, he constructed the wooden sculpture over the course of 50 hours, using nothing but hand tools such as jewelers saws, files, and chisels!

Read the full post and see more photos at BikeRumor.com.

Veterans Find a Welcoming Academic Home at Evergreen

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New Veterans Center opens at Evergreen.

The opening of Evergreen’s new Veterans Resource Center this month coincided nicely with the release of U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges for Veterans” list that ranked Evergreen in the top ten.

“The new Veterans Resource Center is a one-stop shop for vets, where they can get advice about education and other benefits, and get help with academic, financial, medical or personal issues,” center director Randy Kelley said.

Kelley, a retired Navy commander with years of experience working with veterans around the U.S., sees Evergreen as a strong fit for returning military eager to make use of their earned benefits.

Read the full press release on the Evergreen web site, then click to “The Olympian” for an in-depth look at the new center and hear from some of the vets being served.

Standing Room Only for Robert McChesney ’76

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Robert McChesney '77

Robert McChesney ’77

Democracy super-advocate Robert McChesney ’76 spoke last week to a standing-room only audience in Evergreen’s “Library Underground.” The topic was a new book, “Dollarocracy”
co-authored by a frequent literary collaborator, John Nichols, Washington DC editor of “Nation” magazine.

“Having authored or edited 23 books and been translated into 30 languages, Robert McChesney ’76, Ph.D. is  the Gutgsell Endowed Professor of Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He co-founded of Free Press, a national media reform organization, and in 2008, was listed by Utne Reader as one of their “50 visionaries who are changing the world.”

Grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up and enjoy the presentation on Evergreen’s You Tube channel:
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Master in Environmental Studies Launch a New Blog

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Pack Forest, Washington State. Photo used with permission, MESsages blog

Editor’s Note: Just across Red Square, the faculty, students and staff of the Graduate Program on the Environment are making positive changes in the world every day.  Here’s a way to stay in touch.

MESsages, started in October 2013, is the official blog of Evergreen’s Graduate Program on the Environment, which offers a Master of Environmental Studies (MES) degree. This interdisciplinary degree teaches graduates to be creative, critical thinkers with the research skills required for the complex nature of professional environmental work and leadership. We recognize that the best environmental solutions come from a wide variety of perspectives—that is why we accept all majors, and why our students, who come to us from across the US and abroad, represent a wide range of ages, cultures, and expertise. Regardless of a student’s educational or work background, we train our graduates to build upon their strengths by creating holistic approaches to environmental challenges through exploration and collaboration.

Stay in touch with the program via the new blog, MES Weekly or contact Gail Wootan.

Evergreen’s Writing Center: Haven for the Wordsmith

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The Writing Center at Evergreen

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Image from The Writing Center web page

Tucked into a corner of the Daniel J. Evans Library Building, the Writing Center is one of the best little nooks on campus.

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Work stations feel like home in The Writing Center

With cozy work areas nestled here and there, individual lighting, quirky gizmos dotted around, the place offers a restorative atmosphere – small-town library mixed with the happy freedom of a kid’s clubhouse. In no time at all, hands itch for pen and paper.

Director and Faculty Member Sandy Yannone
estimates that over the years, about 300 student peer tutors have helped many hundreds of student writers.

Each year a self-selected sub-set of the peer tutors write and design the Center’s signature publication, “Inkwell: The Student Guide to Writing at The Evergreen State College.” Focusing on the writing process, tutoring, writing, and the intersections of society and writing, the volumes vary widely from year to year. Taken as a collection, they eloquently represent the learning collaborations that go on here. Next time you’re on campus, drop by and say hello. You might catch a whiff of inspiration.

Planning Evergreen’s Curriculum the Evergreen Way

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Future curriculum planning as community event.

Here’s another great “One Minute Evergreen” from the talented folks at Photoland’s “Inside Evergreen.”

Ever worry that the Evergreen you loved has changed, gotten more traditional, less innovative? No need to fret. Evergreen abides as the haven of collaborative teaching and learning.  Here’s example: planning the curriculum as a community event.

What Do Greeners Think About Genetically Modified Foods?

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CPJ Cartoon: Concept by Ray Still, illustration by Ruby Thomas. Used with permission.

Editor’s Note: This article is reposted from the Cooper Point Journal, October 24, 2013 issue. Visit the site for more information about Initiative 522.

Initiative Measure Number 522 (I-522) is an initiative proposed in the General Election on Nov. 5. The initiative would require “most raw agricultural commodities, processed foods, and seeds and seed stocks if produced using genetic engineering, as defined, to be labeled as genetically engineered when offered for retail sale”, according to the Washington State voters guide.

Foods that would not be labeled would be those that are not genetically engineered, certified organic foods, alcoholic beverages, food served in restaurants, medical food, food derived from animals that were not genetically engineered (“regardless of whether the animal has been fed any genetically engineered food”, according to the voters pamphlet), and processed foods produced using genetically engineered processing aids and enzymes (“Processed foods containing small amounts of genetically engineered materials would be exempt until July 1, 2019”, according to the voters pamphlet).

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If 1-522 is passed, foods that are genetically engineered must be clearly labeled as “genetically engineered”. Additionally, it would also allow Washington State Department of Agriculture to categorize unlabeled genetically engineered foods as mislabeled, and pull the foods from shelves.

The Washington State Office of Financial Management has predicted that the total cost of enacting I-522 would be just over three million dollars, with the cost spreading out between 2013 and 2019.

The initiative defines genetically engineered foods as foods that have been genetically altered through “the direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles” and the fusion of different cells that do not belong to the same taxonomic family that does not occur naturally.

The Washington State Academy of Sciences, a third-party organization that strives towards unbiased scientific research, finds that there is no statistically significant long- term health risks from genetically engineered or modified foods, but admits that most of the tests were short-term tests and did not primarily focus on the potential toxicology of genetically engineered or modified foods.

Enjoy the Cooper Point Journal on line.