What is your opinion?
What is your opinion?
Steve Park ('73) - The Artist's Comments
Rick Landry ('96) Commentary - "Park Art Takes a Walk"
Pete Vogel ('75) - Letter to Jane Jervis
Beth Myhr ('88) - "I throw down the glove."
David Coffing ('93) - "Freedom for Everyone?"
Matt Robesch ('91) - "I will not contribute...."
Anonymous Faculty Member - "Dear Anti-Censorship Folks"
Larry Gibson ('84) - "Don't censor..."
Tyler Munhall ('92) - "I disagree with Evergreen..."
Laura Grabhorn, Staff - "Lack of spine..."
Anonymous Alumni ('88) - "Too sensitive at TESC"
John Manley ('74) - "Shame, TESC!"
Suzanne Tripp - "Lighten up Evergreen!"
David M. Friscia - "Actions speak..."
Roger Goldingay - Call for Alumni Boycott!
José Gómez - Faculty Member, Academic Dean 1988-1996
(Long posting, but well worth it.)
President Jane Jervis & Provost Barbara Smith
Censorship at Evergreen?
The decision makers respond.
Roger Goldingay - Dear Jane...
On Saturday, August 23rd, Tacoma's The News Tribune ran a front page article entitled "Free speech vs. sensitivity at Evergreen" and the address of this site was listed prominently. The article reported very sparse attendance at the Alumni Gathering - only 70 of 18,000 graduates. Hundreds of Netizens have viewed the cartoons over the weekend and I have received comments from dozens of people - ALL OF THEM SAYING THE COLLEGE WAS WRONG. Response to the site has been overwhelming. Here are some of the comments. I will post more as I have the time.
Dave Williams - "No Moral Convictions"
Brent Albasini - "Where's the Racism?"
Travis Johnson - "Support Free Expression"
Lance R. Zielinski - "Would You Like Cheese...."
Michael Fix - "Cartoons and Free Speech"
Mark C. Anderson - "Being Mexican-American..."
Joyce White - "Lighten Up People!"
Anonymous - "What's the Fuss?"
Arlene Viche - "Administrators Were Wrong"
Anonymous - "Seen Worse in the Seattle P-I"
This has been a difficult and trying process for all concerned. There is no easy answer to the problem of racism. But there is no solution in inhibiting the right of free speech. Without this right, the dialogue that is necessary to remove prejudice will never get started. Combating racism and supporting free speech are not mutually exclusive, but desperately dependent.
We will never have a society that is free of prejudice, and God forbid we should have one legislated upon us. Freedom is not lost when the Gestapo knocks on your door in the middle of the night, but through a series of small steps often taken by well-intentioned people.
This experience has taught me that wherever there is an encroachment on our civil liberties, even in so minor a place as an alumni magazine, the battle to regain them is long and hard. If this can happen at a place as introspective and disinclined as Evergreen, to what degree has it invaded the rest of our society?
I am proud of Evergreen for owning up to a mistake. President Jane Jervis made two very difficult decisions, both times doing what she thought was best for the institution. Knowing Evergreen, I am sure this is the beginning of a process of self-examination that will make it a better school, and as a result we will all benefit. The people of the State of Washington should be proud they support this place, pimples and all.
I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this project, and everyone who has visited the site. I will leave it up because I believe there is a lesson here. It will be different for everyone who visits, but a lesson nonetheless.
Sincerely,
Roger Goldingay, Webmaster and Proud Member of Evergreen's Class of 1973
Please feel free to send me your comments.
Better yet, send them to Jane Jervis, The Evergreen State College President at jervisj@elwha.evergreen.edu.
While you are at it, copy them to Barbara Leigh Smith, the Academic Vice-President and Provost at smithb@elwha.evergreen.edu.
Also, send a message to the Office of Alumni Affairs at tescalum@elwha.evergreen.edu.
Don't forget KAOS Radio at kaos@elwha.evergreen.edu.
And if someone will send me info for the Cooper Point Journal, they might be interested as well.
Please ADD me to your very infrequent mailing list.
Please REMOVE me from your mailing list.
