August 24, 1997

Many of you have been following the controversy over the Student Voices of '71 publication. Alumni, faculty and staff have expressed concern on the Web and in person. At the recent Alumni Reunion this weekend a seminar was held on the controversy as well. We have listened long and hard to your concerns and arguments and struggled with the questions you've raised. We have reached the conclusion that we made a mistake in taking the Park cartoon out of the Student Voices of '71 publication. It was an honest and well-intentioned mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. We are issuing this statement to admit to our mistake and to apologize.

We have talked with Steve Park, the cartoonist whose work was at issue. He has agreed to allow us to circulate the first edition of Student Voices of '71 which will include his work.

We want to thank all of you who contributed so forcefully to this difficult discussion. Evergreen can only become a stronger community when it is blessed with the kind of caring vigilant questioning that you brought to this issue.

Sincerely,

Jane Jervis, President, E-mail: jervisj@elwha.evergreen.edu

Barbara Leigh Smith, Provost, E-mail: smithb@elwha.evergreen.edu