The Sycamore Issue 6

8/8/2019 The Sycamore Issue 6

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Editorial BoardNaropa Needs a Diversity Advoca

at Naropa University October 15, 2010

TheSycamore Vol. II No. 4

www.thesycamore.org

The tragic suicides of seven gay youthsthroughout the country highlight morethan a somber moment for our commu-nity. These unfortunateyet prevent-ableevents demonstrate that resourcesfor marginalized groups are vital in oursociety, as well as at Naropa, if diver-sity is to be seriously embraced. Thesad truth is that homophobia remainsendemic in our culture and, withoutthe availability of support for under-represented groups, events such as the

suicides will be a persistent occurrence. The deaths of Billy, Cody, Seth, Tyler, Asher, Harrison, and Raymond shouldbe suf cient motivation to act swiftly in reinstating the position of Diversity

Advocate in the Of ce of Student Af -fairs at Naropa. Said position, which

was dissolved as part of the scal re-structuring this past summer, providedstudents of all backgrounds a designat-ed support resource in times of crisis.

While President Lord did acknowledgein his convocation speech that diversity must be thought of as a university- wide responsibility, his words have lin-gered as hollow in the minds of many.Students do not question the verac-ity of the administrations belief in theimportance of creating a safe-space forall, but rather feel there is incongruencebetween the rhetoric and action of re-sponsible parties. Who speci cally canstudents look to when they are having a crisis related to their sexual orienta-tion, ethnicity, race, or some other mat-ter that previously would have beenaddressed by the Diversity Advocate?

According to the Universitys website,

over 40% of undergraduate and roughly 20% of graduate students are identi edas non-heterosexual. In light of thesesigni cant gures, coupled with Naro-pas other underrepresented communi-ties, it would be dubious to assert thatthe Universitys counselors can adequate-ly ful ll the responsibilities of an advo-cate. Furthermore, it should not andcannot be the job of Bob Cillo, Dean of Students, to take on the specialized roleof Diversity Advocate in addition to hisother responsibilities. Nor can the newly created position of Director of StudentLeadership and Engagement, which isdesigned to replace former AssociateDean Jenevieve Glemmings role, suf-

ce for a dedicated Diversity Advocate.

As an institution, Naropa aggres-sively pronounces the richness of human diversity, especially in re-lation to contemplative education,yet is presently severely limited in its abil-ity to assist students of traditionally mar-

ginalized backgrounds. Even the forma-tion of the Diversity Task Force, chairedby Associate Provost Suzanne Benally,is primarily focused on administrativeaspects of diversity, such as a creating aprogram to include diversity issues inundergraduate and graduate courses and writing a Diversity Resource Guidebook. These efforts are important, but they donothing to ameliorate the present reality.

We believe that the administrationshould heed the call of the commu-nity and hire a new Diversity Advo-cate. After all, seven young men took their lives because they felt tormentedand could not nd the help they need -ed. Their deaths should not be in vain.

Cover Art by Ju-Ju Jiamjid

After eleven years of involved andcommitted service, the Associ-ate Dean of Naropa University, Jen-evieve Glemming, has decided tomove her life in a new direction. On September 30th, friends and col-leagues gathered on the green to sharesnacks and write remarks in a journal toGlemming as they waited to participatein the Associate Deans nal bow. BobCillo, Dean of Students, was the rst to

speak. The part we will miss the most isyour heart, he expressed to an emotional

audience, I have learned a lot from y

In 1999, Glemming began her wat Naropa in the Core Program. Aabout two years, she and others felt her rightful place was in Student AffShe became the advisor for United Npa (UN) and lent herself to leading directing members of the group. MLackey, a student active in UN, spof Glemmings dutiful involvementhe group. She was always availabltween meetings to offer anything to he said. We are taking it pretty ha

Denia Walker, a Naropa student, spafter Lackey, ghting back tears as sheexpressed her appreciation for Gl

mings presence at Naropa. You nd(continued on page 3)

Glemming Bids FarewEmma Courtney

Staff Writer


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October 15, 2010Page 2 The Sycamore

NEWSNaropa Mourns the Suicides of Gay Teenage

Across the Country On Saturday, October 9th, a reception was held atPresident Lords home to honor the month cel-ebration of LGBTQIA identities and history.

At the reception, the main topic of discussion was theseven suicides committed by openly gay young men, which all took place last month. Ranging from ages13-19, these teenagers lived in various cities and statesacross the country. These suicides were the result of pressure and bullying committed by the teens peers.

Few of us have fully examined our own internal ho-mophobia and transphobia said Jayme Peta, a Naropastaff member, in a recent email interview. Jayme be-lieves that people must search for how society has

indoctrinated us into certain ideas about gender andsexuality that are harmful to ourselves and others.

At the reception, President Lord said that events like lastmonths suicides arise when were not successful at treat-ing each other with honesty, decency, value and care.

In response to the suicides, Robert Brezinski, aMDiv student, said That hurts my spirit. [Peo-ple] should be able to express themselves with asense of safety. Robert is a Rutgers University alum and says that the university is one of the mostopen to homosexual and transgender communities.

When asked what Naropa is doing to support queerstudents, President Lord answered, What we do forall students includes queer students. Dr. Lord em-phasized his idea that Naropa needs to be all-inclu-sive, saying We are here to provide a culture wherestudents identify the need we connect the dots.

But some people are disappointed with the effortsof our school in support the LGBTQIA commu-nity. Andy Sethi said that Septembers suicides high-light the fact that there seems to be a hole in the

programming, services and outreach. He said itsboth disappointing and interesting to watch the CUcampus galvanize inclusiveness in their community when Naropas mission focuses so much on diversity.

Responding to the lack of diversity-acceptance in theUnited States displayed by last months events, Presi-dent Lord calls for a change in the school system, saying that even though parents arent ready for their studentsto be educated on issues of sexuality, the curricu-lum from preschool all the way up has to be diverse.

Although the issue was not discussed in great depth atthe reception, a debate was sparked between concernedstudents and administrators about our schools effective-ness and action in support of the LGBTQIA community.

This month, there will be a variety of LGBTQ-IA awareness events held at Naropa University.

IN MEMORIAM

On September 9th, Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old highschool freshman from Indiana, hanged himself afterexcessive bullying. The administrators of his schoolhad been informed of the bullying and took no action.

On September 13th, 17-year-old Wisconsin na-tive, Cody Barker, also committed suicide. Bark-

ers peer mentor, Maria Peeples, told the Wisin Gaze that, making schools a safe placestudents wasnt always his own experie

On September 19th, 13-year-old Californian Seth committed suicide. After being bullied by peers atnear his home, Seth hanged himself from a tree backyard. Seths mother found him and called 91 Walsh died on September 28th after a week of life su

On September 22nd, 18-year-old Tyler Clementi from Jersey jumped off the George Washington Bridgehis roommate at Rutgers University posted a video engaging in intimate activities with another young

On September 23rd, Asher Brown from Hton, TX shot himself in the head. Ashers ents claimed that 2 years of bullying culminathe 13-year-olds suicide, according to ABC

On September 25th, Harrison Brown, born in Fortlins, committed suicide in Rand, CO at the age o

On September 29th, 19-year-old Raymond Ccommitted suicide by hanging himself in his room in Rhode Island. He was an openly gaynary arts student at Johnson and Wales Unive

Courtesy of LGBTQIA.org

Lauren DeGaineStaff Writer

A universitys website is often the rst glimpse a prospec-tive student might get of their potential college. Naro-pas current website has many noticeable issues: slow-ness, antiquated search features, and poor image quality,to name a few. But the University is currently in theprocess of re-designing the website entirely. And withthe anticipated overhaul comes the plan to add an array of new features including a video section, an interac-tive calendar, and a more streamlined navigation system. Barbara Schmid, the Vice President of Marketing, hasbeen working, along with many others, to push aheadin the development of the website. Schmid hopes forthe changes to be implemented by the beginning of thespring semester, although progress can only be made as

far as the current budget allows. Weve been ramping up to make big changes for over a year, Schmid said,but it has been a dif cult year to free up resources. Schmid is striving to make the website into an ac-curate depiction of Naropa as an institution and acommunity. Student testimonies and a chat section will also be added to allow prospective students tohear from and speak to current students and faculty. Presently, the focus is making minor changes to thecurrent website to make navigation easier and impor-tant information more readily available. Many currentstudents use the website mostly for their email and toread articles for classes through the librarys ElectronicReserves. Both of these areas received negative feed-back. Undergraduate Allie Quadraro said, I have a

lot of trouble nding what I need for my classes. Itshould de nitely be organized in a different way. Conversely, some students do feel satis ed with the way the current Naropa website is structuredchology student Nikki Robinson said Naropathe best website I saw when applying to schIt drew me in naturally. However, she did for more pictures depicting diversity on cam As progress continues, Schmid feels positivelythe natural maturation of the website. With nological advances happening so rapidly, a site realistically only has a lifespan of three to veyears, according to Schmid. In light of the facfour years have elapsed since Naropas last site revision, an upgrade is certainly approp

Website Redesign in the WorksEmma CourtneyStaff Writer


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Page 3 October 15, 2010 The Sycamore

8:45am October 10, 2010: A bus carry-ing students from Fairview high school

arrives at Naropa University. Joinedby Eagle Rock, Ponderosa, New Vistaand home-school students, they werehere to participate in a rally to raiseawareness on global climate change.

It began in the Arapahoe campus Stu-dent Center with a presentation by formerNaropa staff member Amy Atkins, whoquit her day job to work for ACE (Alliancefor Climate Education). Students thensplit into groups to present workshopson subjects ranging from Food Justice & Animals to Environmental Skepticism.

Eagle Rock students Josh James, 19, and Janice Soto, 16, led a workshop about environmental racism, which they describedas the unequal distribution of environ-mental bene ts to white communitiesand environmental burdens to non-whitecommunities. I dont think [people] careenough to tell the truth, noted 16-year-old Eagle Rock student, Gabby Carpunin.

I got a chance to take a look at Joshs worksheet from a eld research trip ina poor Denver community. One of hisnotes was, The community we are inhas bubbly water contaminated by arse-nic, candrium and lead. Placed a railroad

in middle of town. Has a place whereyou can burn aluminum, illegally. Andchanged the name from junkyard to re-

cycling center but does same thing.

After the students discussed envi-ronmental issues for three hours, a

march led by Earth Guardians a lo-cal youth-led environmental group made its way to the CU campus forthe rest of the October 10th event.

While trekking up Broadway in a group of shouting, sign-holding activists led by a gi-ant polar bear, I spoke with John Guffy, ateacher at Eagle Rock who believes that weare indebted to our earth to make a change.

As a societywe dont understand whatit means to live in harmony with the natu-ral world. He calls for more events like350 that are expanding the walls of thecommunity. John wants to teach lessonsthat will help this group of teens con-nect to the environmental movement.10-year-old Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, whosemother started Earth Guardians, gaveone of the opening speeches, calling forthe attendees to change the mindset of every person living on this planet. Thechild activist, who was born in Hawaii, toldme that he thinks the environment willchange, as soon as we make it happen.

While youth was a huge focus in theBoulder chapter of the global 350-work party, there were a wide variety of organi-zations present, from Justins Nut Butters

to the Boulder Jewish News. Workshopsincluded Solar 101: How to Get Started With Solar Energy, presented by Willie

Mein, a Custom Solar representative, as well as Climate Justice and IndigenousPeoples, a presentation sponsored by the Woodbine Ecology Center. All in allthere were 44 workshops on the schedule.Nathaniel Janowitz, an MA studentin the Environmental Leadership andthe Student Sustainability Coordina-tor for Naropa, helped organize theevent with a focus on community in-

volvement. He called 350 the begin-ning of a wake up for the entire world.

It is a far-reaching movement indeed, with7,347 events in 188 countries this year. While Nathaniel recognizes that 350 is animportant event, he believes change needsto go deeper into the human experiment.

One day a year is not enough bring-ing lessons you learn into your every-day life thats when well start to seea change. Nathaniel says its especially important to embody these principlesat Naropa, where small changes can be-come a contemplative practice. I believethat everyone can be an environmentalactivist. Youre an activist if you chooseto be a vegetarian, when you com-

post, when you tell people to recyc

Notable amongst the attendees, CBoulder Environmental Center wpromoting their Certi cation in Sus -tainability program while Prairie EcoTown was signing people up learn more about their plan for a ro-waste, carbon neutral commun

CU Biodiesel, Institute for Social Environmental Transition, The ZeitgMovement, Thorne Ecological InitiaCitizens for Boulder Clean Energy ture, EgoCarshare, and The RenewEnergy Institute were also in attenda

St. Julien Hotel was the host of the Crotmob after-party for 350. This the result of a pledge to put 50 pcent of the partys proceeds towamaking their hotel more sustaina

As Weapons of Mass Creation plin the background, Russell Mena Peace Studies student, said, this nothing more heartening thangroup of young people calling out the collective change we need to s

Experts and Students Unite at Naropas 10/10/10 Glob Work Party


(continued from page 1)it so easy to discover and recognize all the best inpeople, she said, we are so grateful you are tak-ing this snippet of Naropa out into the world.

Last to speak was Director of University Housing, Lisa Con-stantino. She acknowledged Glemmings positive in uenceon Naropas Orientation Program, Crisis Response, and

the Suicide Prevention System. Constantino praised Glem-mings faithful involvement with her colleagues and students,speaking to her huge impact on the [Student Affairs] de-partment and community. At the end of her speech, Con-stantino pulled out a red construction paper heart and pre-sented it to Glemming, who looked overcome with emotion.

Next, Sherry Elms, Contemplative Practice Coordinator, ledthe assembled in a ceremony. Everyone gathered on the westside of the green, selected a rock or other natural object, andpassed over the threshold with Glemming leading the way. Shepositioned herself on the other side to acknowledge those inattendance and be available for hugs and parting words. Oncethe group was united again on the other side of the thresh-old, everyone held a word of intentionsomething they would like in the futureand shouted it in unison. Glemming could be heard over the group calling out peace and love!

Assosciate Dean Parts Ways

Courtesy of Jennifer Voggesser


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Naropa University has been awarded$1.97M in Title III funds from the U.S.

Department of Education, which isthe largest grant in the Universitys his-tory. According to the press statementreleased on October 6th from the Of-

ce of the President, Naropa is one of 48 institutions of higher education, andonly one of two schools in Colorado, toreceive the grant. Funds will begin arriv-ing soon, as the university will be receiv-ing $386,000 for the current scal year.

According to Angela Henderson, Man-ager in the Of ce of Institutional Ad - vancement, the grant-writing processtook about two years and involved anumber of key staff members. ProvostStuart Sigman, Cheryl Barbour, Acting Vice President for Student Affairs, DanaLobell (former grant-writer for Naropa, whose position was one of the 23 that was relieved over the summer), and Dr.Susan Burgraff, Psychology Professorand Associate Dean of Undergradu-ate Education, all worked on the grant.In addition, consultant Kathe German, who possesses an impressive successrate with grant writing, was hired in or-der to assist with the application process.

The main purpose of the grant is toprovide funding for the implementa-

tion of Naropas new Academic Plan. This plan, which was rati ed by faculty in Spring 2009, will seek to strengthenNaropas undergraduate experiencethrough the creation of a number of innovative initiatives. According to Dr.Burgraff, the vast majority of these ini-tiatives have not been nalized; hence atthis point, details are somewhat limited.

However, it is clear that

Naropa will be irrevocably altered by the Title III grant. Perhaps the most im-portant of these changes is the creationof a developmental progression in thecurriculum. This new curricular map,according to Dr. Burgraff, will create amore progressive journey for students asthey embark on their Naropa education. A redesign of the curriculum will alsotake place over the next 5 years, with fac-ulty participating in this process. Consid-erable lengths will be taken to transformNaropas core curriculum speci cally.

A number of initiatives are also being planned with regards to improving stu-dent success. The rst is the creationof a mentoring system for all students,also known as journey-guides. Com-posed of Naropa faculty, these guides

will help oversee individual studentsprogress. The second is the creation of what Dr. Burgraff calls a Student Suc-cess Center, which will include tutoring,as well as help students with their writ-ing and public speaking skills. Dr. Bur-graff also mentioned the creation of anE-Portfolio system, which will help stu-dents demonstrate their progress overthe course of their academic journey.In addition to all of these prerogatives,there is a scholarship component as

well, however, details on this aspect of the grant are not available at this time.

Title III will also provide funds for new hires. These new positions will includea Curriculum Development Specialist, an Administrative Coordinator, as well assomeone who will oversee assessment of the grants goals and objectives. A new position will also be added to the Counsel-ing Center for the 2010-2011 school year.

The Title III grant program is designedfor undergraduate schools that are inthe process of implementing an insti-tutional strategic planning program.Despite the fact that many schools ap-ply for this prestigious award numer-ous times, Naropa received it on its

rst try. When asked why, Dr. Burgraff

replied, Our students, faculty, and new academic plan are inspiring. The worldneeds a Naropa that does what it does well. Through offering us this money,the Federal Government is telling us thatour mission is important and that thereis a need for contemplative education.

According to Lara Cottingham, Com-munications Director for Congressman Jared Polis, the politician had good thingsto say about Naropas recent award:

Congressman Polis is a proud suppoof Naropa Universitys innovative proach to education and is thrilled Naropa has received these funds. Lmonth, the Congressman personcalled President Stuart Lord to let know that Naropa would be receiv

the award and to congratulate him Naropas continued growth and succe

This grant is the Universitys lagrant since news of the embezzlemhowever, according to Todd KillbuChief Administrative Of cer, this isan exciting grant for us, and was thesult of hard work on the part of mapeople over a long period of time. Thas no tie to the embezzlement issu

On November 17th at 12 P.M., a Napa Town Hall will be held with ELenderman, a graduating senior inContemplative Psychology Depment and SUN in order to get feback from students concerning new academic plans six focus po

1. Competency in Contemplative Thand Practice2. Skillfulness in Addressing Diveand Ecological Sustainability 3. Ability to Employ Multiple ModeInquiry, Knowing and Expression4. Embody Intra- and Inter-personal pacities5. Demonstrate Knowledge and SkillDiscipline or Area of Study 6. Apply Learning in Real World Set

According to Lenderman, SUN anare working on creating a link betwstudents and faculty so that together tcan co-create Naropa University. Ttown hall will give students an opponity to directly interface with facultyadministration. Students often desir voice their ideas to the administraduring times of change. This is theportunity they have been waiting f

Student Group Spotlight: The Council for Women at N

Naropa Receives $1.97M in Federal Fundin

We are writing to warmly invite you to apply to theCouncil for Women at Naropa, a new group designedto elevate the understanding, healing and promotionof the inner feminine aspect of Naropa and within thegreater community. The Council will be responsible fordeveloping and implementing several special events andinitiatives, including professional development oppor-tunities, community dialogues, and a womens resourcecenter. There will be two ways to participate (please seebelow). If interested, please email a brief letter of in-

terest indicating which type of involvement you wouldbe interested in applying for and times you are avail-

able, if applicable. - Dayna Larson and Nicole Jarril

The Council for Women at Naropa University is a diversegroup of students, staff, faculty and alumni that seeksto empower the feminine within us all. Its objectivesare to build community, foster dialogue on social jus-tice and equality, and establish sustainable partnerships.

Types of Participation:

Council Member Time commitment every week. At-tend bi-monthly meetings as well as time spent outsideof meetings on current objectives.Endorser - Will publicly support initiatives, be kept up-to-date on current practices, but does not have the time

to commit as a member.

The groups main goal is to promote the fem within the Naropa community, and hopefully be The Council does not exclude males by any mand they sincerely hope they are to get more malticipation this year. Dayna thinks that one of the important things that she would personally like across is that the feminine is not about being a wan. Everyone has traits that are either more masor more feminine, and in order to be a fully integhuman being, it is important to nd a balance betweenboth sides. Unfortunately, in our culture, the femis more often repressed, while the masculine is red as better. Our society is based on using reasorationale, logic and structure (largely masculine while communication and emotion, creativity and

ition (largely feminine traits) are not as readily em(continued on page 5)

Rebecca KovalStaff Writer

Dayna Larson and Nicole JarrilContributing Writers

Courtesy of Naropa University


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Creative Naropa

(continued from page 4) The groups foremost goal is to start a Womens ResourceCenter on the Naropa Campus, so that women will havesomewhere within the campus community to go to foraccess to information on domestic violence, healthcare,etc. This would also help to strengthen bonds within theBoulder community. They are also starting a lecture se-ries this semester in which a female lecturer will come inonce a month to speak about her position in the com-munity, how she came to attain her position, the kindsof issues she had to face, and how she overcame them.

Nicole Jarrils participation in Womens issues stemsfrom the Safe House Progressive Alliance for Non- Violence (SPAN) volunteer training program she wentthrough in 2006. It is an intense fty-hour training, where a group of mostly women learns about violence,oppression and the roots of inequality. This experience

taught her a lot about the challenges women face, andgoing through it with strong women showed her theincredible strength and integrity women can still havein spite of this. Since then, she have been actively ad- vocating for women and currently interning at SPAN.

She co-founded the Council last semester with Amy Carlson. They worked primarily with Elaina Verveer,Susan Burgraff and Jayme Peta. Since then, Amy hasgraduated and Elaina is now teaching at CU. Many of their other members have also graduated, so they arecurrently seeking new students, staff and faculty that areinterested in participating on the Council. This year, Ni-cole, Dayna, and Mohammad Usman are the members.

Last year the Council worked primarily on two mainprojects: an initiative to get Melanne Verveer to speak at graduation, as well as the Women of Naropa project,

which was geared at having women portrayed varound campus. The women were chosen in hopserving as mentors for men and women, as well as ato access, open, heal and embrace the feminine w

The Council is focusing this year on a Womans ReCenter. The aim is to provide support for women thrteaming up with local non-pro ts to bring services suchas counseling, education of oppression, suicideand violence. The other goal is to provide a suppotem for women around the inequalities they have tthroughout their lives. A main objective is the empment, support and healing of women. This wouldthe focus to a support of advocacy and commbuilding. This would include peer groups, speakeropen to the whole public, and other activities, inclpresentations from local non-pro ts addressing healthy relationships, empowerment and communica

The WaterHe took me to the plaza on Monday. I am almost cer-tain it was Monday although it could have been any other day. We went to the plaza often. I stopped keep-ing track. I think it was Monday because that is usually

when the ladies sell sh from wide baskets. It makesthe plaza smell like hot summer by the beach. Thissmell makes me sick. I should have suggested we go tothe plaza tomorrow.

After a few moments he could see I was not enjoying myself. How about we go by the water? He suggested,it might still smell like sh but at least it will be fresh.I could nd no reason not to go by the water so Ifollowed him. Two of my steps made up one of hisso I struggled to keep up. He had very long legs. Ialways thought this made him look peculiar because incomparison he had very short arms. My mother saidto me once, If you arent beautiful someday, at leastyoull be proportional. In my child-brain I thought thatmust be the best thing to be. Everyone in my family isproportional. No one looks gangly. But no one looksbeautiful either.

As soon as we got down the hill, he took off his shoes.He moved at a slow, deliberate pace and took greatcare in rolling his navy socks and shoving them intothe toe of each shoe. I was wearing simple sandals soI removed them as well and let them dangle on two

ngers and we made our way towards the water. I canimagine someone coming to the waters edge back

when language was rst being formed and looking out and saying now this is blue. The water looks likemelted corn owers. I had to shield my eyes from thesun with the back of my hand.

When I stopped staring at the water, I noticed he hadleft me to become a small shadow on the horizon. Heseemed to be curious about the rocks that formed apier a few yards into the water. I remember him telling me about it once but I wasnt sure what he was talking

about so I ignored him. It wasnt even that I ignoredhim; I just preferred to pay attention to something

else. Like the rings on my ngers. Or brushing crumbsfrom the tablecloth.

Although I didnt want to, I decided it would be best tojoin him on the rock pier. No sense in letting him wan-der by himself. What if he found a treasure? I wouldmiss it if I wasnt there. I got excited at the prospectof nding some treasure but I was also realistic. Thats why I did not run to him. I did not really expect him to

nd any treasure while I took my time moving acrossthe sand. There are not many better sensations thanfeeling your bare feet sink into cool sand and the tiny grains as they brush across your dry toes. This is why I walked slowly, because I wanted to enjoy this.

By the time I reached the rock pier, he was standing onthe very last rock with his arms out. He looked like hemight begin to y and I hoped he would. I had neverseen someone y before. I could not move as quickly over the rocks as I had over the sand because there wasa danger of falling. I left my sandals at the base of the

rst rock which happened to be the largest. He hadleft his shoes with the socks in the toes there as well.I pressed my ngers to the grainy surface and pulledmyself up with little dif culty. I am stronger than any -one expects me to be. Size has nothing to do with it.

The sun was directly overhead now as I carefully movedover the surface of the rocks. I could feel it warming my hair and shoulders. He must be hot standing on theedge of the rock pier in his modest suit and shirt. I wasthree rocks away from him when he suddenly loweredhis head and dove into the water, modest suit and all.

At rst I stood motionless, one hand anchored to asharp point for balance, the other stretched towardshim. Without fear of falling, I scrambled over the re-maining rocks and looked over the last into the dark

water below. He was oating on his back, grinning white teeth against his dark features. What are you do-ing down there? I asked, although as soon as I said itI scolded myself for asking a stupid question. He isswimming, of course, I answered myself in my head.

He just looked up at me, the water framing his face andfanning out his hair. And he smiled. I nally feel alive,

he said, and its beautiful.

Emma CourtneyStaff Writer

Snow White Effect

Palms pushing away

water

like windshield wipers.

The undertow

of delicate footsteps

collide to form a riptide.

Say it to solidify

clear ngers that claw

at the invisible connection

between fused thoracic cavities

once in a schismless state.

Two forms fold into one

that renders its halves hal ess,

extracting truth from saliva once shared.

Feigned futures shrivel

from fragmented hearts in atrophy.

Paralysis of emotions result in a slumber

that sugarcoats once uttering eyelashes,

now lifeless--

a Snow White effect--

that echos with the cry

Dont let me go to sleep

thinking Ive hurt you.

Christina McCalmontContributing Writer

The Council for Women Makes Strides


6/8


Opinion

Medical Marijuana Deserves Just

With the recent Colorado legislatureon medical marijuana, and the pend-ing legislature to legalize marijuanafor recreational purposes in Califor-nia, you may be wondering what Mary Janes status really is. So, heres the story:

To become a Medical Marijuana Patient,you must suffer from chronic pain toget a prescription, at which point youcan possess 2 ounces of marijuana and6 cannabis plants. The reader shouldnote that in California a patient couldget a prescription for insomnia or severemenstrual cramps. Alternately, you couldgive your growing rights to a caregiver someone who is responsible for a pa-tients medication. HB1284, signed by Colorados governor in June, states thatprimary caregivers can only sell mari-juana at cost, which means they makeno pro t for their services. (For moreinformation about marijuana law, con-tact attorneys at law Gard and Bond,Colorado medical marijuana lawyers).

This level of legality is a sign of how disconnected from nature U.S. society has become. We should be able grow

cannabis just like basil in our window-

sill ower box. We could even use theherb to spice up our food in the same

way we use thyme or oregano. It wouldbe available to anyone choosing to de-light in its peaceful pleasures. But un-fortunately, thats just not the way it is.

Why, you ask? Well, according to Mark Rose of Grateful Meds in Nederland,When Cannabis was banned and madeillegal originally it was done so on liesfrom the paper/pulp industries as wellas the chemical corporations (NylonManufacturers). Propaganda in the

rst half of the 1900s movies likeReefer Madness and Marihuana: TheDevils Weed turned the plant into ataboo, tarnishing its name and wonder-ful qualities, psychedelic and medicinal.

Dispensaries, like the one run by medical-grade grower Shasta Fite of Nederland,CO, are now the place to get prescrip-tions lled. Shasta runs Tea Alchemy, aplace where you can go to serve all as-pects of your health with herbal remedies.She sells a huge variety of loose-leaf teas,tinctures, natural skin care products, as well as, of course, our beloved cannabis.

This is my livelihood, said Shastaduring a recent interview, explain-ing how even growers face a dilemma

over legalization because the price

point of marijuana is higher whenits illegal. Government regulations

and taxation would decrease revenue. According to one Naropa student who wished to remain anonymous, As adealer, I say hell no, I dont want it le-galized. But everyones looking for a way to turn the economy around, andtheres a multi-billion dollar industry, justin the U.S., sitting right in front of us.

California is on the verge of opening upthis multi-billion dollar industry. This isa beautiful thing, because it would openthe avenue for other states to reform theirmarijuana legislature as well. In the wordsof John McKay, Seattles former U.S. at-torney (who also said I dont smokepot. And I pretty much think people who do are idiots), change is necessary if we are to end the current futile at-tempt to enforce misguided laws that donot match the realities of our society.

The reality is that prohibition of mari-juana has created a black market. InHumboldt, where I come from, mari-juana is an underground economyIt supports Humboldt, says Environ-mental Studies undergrad Emily John-stone. Even the sheriffs know about it.

While Humbolt is a small-scale peaceful

community, the big picture is that marna criminalization bene ts drug-traf ck -

ing criminals. John McKay said that Bagents and cops continue to risk tlives, when acting on orders to searcand arrest dangerous criminals who cbe put out of business by legaliza

But heres the good news: if Califo voters pass proposition 19 in Novber, then the adult possession of upan ounce of MJ and the cultivation twenty- ve square foot garden will be le-gal, for medicinal purposes or otherw

So the question is: should marijuanlegalized, taxed and regulated? Well, words of a local mother, business-owand medical marijuana prescriber, SFite, This has been an empowermissuewill the power really be vein us as humans to make the choic

The issue here is freedom. This is a nral herb were talking about, like anyer tea, plant or tree that grows fromearth. We should be free to use it as s

At Naropa, we learn about susability and consciousness, and fthat perspective alone the crimiization of marijuana is unjust should be reversed immediat



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How do we know what foods to eat when there are so

many contradicting diets out there? Every day, doctorsand dieticians from around the world try to promotetheir latest discoveries of the healthiest and the mostbene cial foods for the body. To dive into the search for what really is the best for a persons body, one can drownamidst all the information thats available in the hundredsof books and articles - each one saying something in con-trast to the next. I am not referring particularly to weightloss diets, such as the Atkins or Jenny Craig, but moretowards wholesome diets treated as a way of life; onesthat are supposed to revitalize the body, slow down theaging process, and bring about a balanced state of mind.

I remember rst reading about the macrobiotic diet andthe principle behind it that combines tenets of Zen Bud-dhism with a Western-style vegetarian diet. Apparently,much more than a list of recommended foods, it is allabout a spiritualism that transcends lifestyle, attitude, anddiet practices. The word macrobiotic comes from theGreek and essentially means long life or great life. Then there is the Blood Type Diet, researched by Dr. Pe-ter Ddamo, author of Eat Right For Your Type. Ac-cording to Dr. Ddamo, a chemical reaction occurs be-tween your blood and the foods you eat, and this reactionis part of your genetic inheritance. The proper diet foryogis, according to the Yoga Sutras, is a Sattvic diet. Sat-tva is de ned as the quality of purity and goodness. Satt- vic food is that which is pure, clean and wholesome, also

known as a simple vegetarian diet. It includes food thatgives life, strength, and energy, and also gives the subtlenourishment necessary for vitality and consciousness.Last but de nitely not least, there is the Raw Food Diet.It is a diet based on unprocessed and uncooked plant

foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts, seeds,nuts, grains, beans, dried fruit, and seaweed. According to this diet, heating food above 116 degrees F is believedto destroy enzymes in food that can assist in the diges-tion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought todiminish the nutritional value and life force of food.

In addition to those dietary guidelines that are publishedin various bestselling books, the wide market has openedup the doors to gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan, vegetar-ian, organic, grain-based, and local options to furtherconfuse everyone. In result, more people are allergic togluten and sugar today than ever before. So what aboutthe vegans with blood type O, who have to either reversetheir generic make up or start eating all that is wrong for their blood type? How do some become yogis when eating meat makes them feel better? How muchdedication does it take to restrain from eating cookedfoods? And what happens when the macrobiotics endup triggering emotions and instability in the mind?

In order to nd the perfect diet, one has to go throughcountless trials, which may include numerous errors.No other source will tell us more about our bodies thanour bodies themselves. We can choose to submergeourselves in books and podcasts, and follow the newesttrends, or we can simply eat what makes us feel mosthealthy and balanced, in accordance with our ethical be-

liefs. Our bodies are constantly talking to us aning us what they need and dislike. All we need tpay attention and listen. It takes a lot of mindfupatience, and dedication but all is de nitely worth it inthe end when we feel vigorous, energetic, and h What is your body telling


How to Decide: On the Proliferation of Dietary G

Stephanie Mara Pollock Contributing Columnist Digestion Messages There I was lying on the oor of one of my Somaticscourses feeling my belly rise and fall. All of a sudden Ibecame very aware of how held I felt from the groundthrough my arms, my legs, my cheek. Then I got tomy belly. I wanted to cry. All I felt were knots: tight,hard, and stiff. My stomach was in a continuous tensedposition; waiting, anticipating, protecting itself. I toldmyself to let go, as if just telling myself to let go works.

So I breathed into the dark place that was my stomach.Slowly, breathing into the hardness, it began to release. One would think that feelings of joy would arise afterletting go of that tension but instead I wanted to cry.Our stomachs are our second brains termed our en-teric nervous system or gut brain. Our gut brain hasmillions of neurons embedded in it and plays an im-portant role in digestion, output of hormones, and iscrucial in our physical and emotional well being. Re-search has now found that most of our Serotonin,our happy neurotransmitter, is made in our stomach.Our enteric nervous system is its own nervous systemand can run without input from the brain. So we canhave a gut intuition about something and be think-ing about that situation in an entirely different way.

This also brings to light that our digestive tract can hold

memories/emotions of which our brains are not evenaware. We can stuff down a dif cult situation into ourguts and therefore avoid mentally processing a tumul-tuous event if we dont want. The result is possibledigestive problems. Eventually all that stuf ng downof feelings and ignoring situations in which you really needed to process manifests in your stomach. I ndthe diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS tobe, quite frankly: BS. It is really a way for doctors tosay, Here is an explanation for something that we dontunderstand and we have no idea what is going on withyou. IBS is the manifestation of stuck emotions in yourgut. It is the result of holding on to yourself because

you might be so scared that if you let go you might fallapart. IBS is the family member that perhaps didnt provide the love, attention, or affection you needed whenyou were a child and now you are an adult and your gut wants to be nurtured. Digestive problems are not justphysical; there is an entire emotional piece to them. Youcan go ahead and eat the right food and get all themedical procedures you want done but, until you pay attention to why that tension is there in the rst place,there will always be a piece of your healing missing. Heres an experiment for you: picture a photo of your-self as a child. Pick your favorite photo that your par-ents have shown you a million times because you look so damn cute. Now imagine that innocent little child isin your stomach. They are speaking to you all the timeasking for love, for nourishment, for nurturing. Every time you feel tension arise, picture that little kid inside

you and reassure them that you are going to takof them. Our past is our past. There is nothincan do to change the events that have happened t What we can do is pay attention to the present andourselves the love we so desperately want. No oncan ll an empty hole or void for you, but with yourown personal love and the knowledge to know you need, you can heal yourself from the insid

Ania ChapskaStaff Writer

Courtesy of calgaryisawesome.com


8/8


Upcoming Events WITNESS TO INNOCENCE - 33 YEARSON DEATH ROW on Monday, October 18,12PM to 1:30PM in the Student Center. The Peace Studies is proud to announce a pub-lic talk featuring Derrick Jamison and Shabaka WaQlimi, both held on death row for 33 years,all the while they were innocent. Come hear theirpowerful stories and discuss the Death Penalty. This event is cosponsored by Coloradoans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.

CHADO: THE WAY OF TEA. JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY WITH MIKE RICCI on Monday, October 18th, 3PM to 6PM in theNaropa Tea House.Continuing through the summer. No need tosign up. Anyone may come at any time and stay as long as they like. Contact: Mike Ricci- 970-530-0436; [email protected].

MOVIE NIGHT on Tuesday, October 19,6PM to 6:30PM in the Student Center. Who: Anyone who enjoys a cinematic adven-ture... What: Naropa Cinema presents THEFALL Where: Student Center in the basementof the admin building... When: (Every) Tuesday at 6pm Why: Because not only do people en-joy movies, but people enjoy watching moviesamongst friends and in a larger format than the

typical house. Light and limited concessions willbe provided... Future movie suggestions are notonly encouraged, but appreciated... Any ques-tions, comments, concerns please e-mail slpe-

[email protected]

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE EXPLO-RATIONS on Wednesday, October 20, 12PMto 1:20PM in Lincoln Studio Room.No previous experience of the Alexander Tech-nique is necessary, and drop-ins are welcome. Well engage in structured activities in which weexperience how the principles of the techniquecan help us stay open, relaxed and energized inbody and mind in whatever activities we under-take. If youre interested, you can join the ATEstudent group on NaropaLink (http://naropa.

collegiatelink.net/). If you do, your involvementin the group will show up as a co-curricular crediton your transcript!

SUSTAINABILITY FAIR on Wednesday,October 20, 12PM to 1:20PM in PAC. A Wednesday community event in which dif-ferent organizations and programs around theBoulder-area set up booths to discuss sustain-ability and what a person can do to be environ-mentally sustainable. This event is free and opento the public.

FACULTY CONCERT on Wednesday, Octo-ber 20, 8PM to 10PM in PAC.Faculty members from across the Art programsat Naropa perform original pieces and collabora-tions together in one night. This event is open tothe public. Admission: TBA.

FALUN GONG on Thursday, October 21,3:50PM to 5:00PM on the Naropa Green. Join us! We practice together the basic exercisesof Falun Gong: A short meditation and gentleQi Gong movements. (It is easy to learn.) FalunGong is always free and open to all!

20TH STREET DIALOGUES INVITA- TION on Thursday, October 21, 6:30PM to

8:30PM at Stuart C. Lord and Adderly Grant-Lords home.In the spirit of collaboration, I would like to invite you, to dinner at my home in Boulder on20th Street. I hope to establish dialogue on topicsthat are important to you as students, and wouldlike these informal dinners to open lines of com-munication between us. We have several datesavailable for the dinners with 10 open spots foreach dinner: Please RSVP with your top TWOchoices so that we can begin to coordinate thedates to accommodate everyones schedule. Ihope that you will be able to attend, and look forward to meeting with you and sharing discus-sions and dinner!

(for more events, check thesycamore.org)

Editors Note: The Sycamore is a bi-weekly publication releasethe 1st and 15th of each month. Beginning this semester, issues reon the 1st will be available in print and online at www.thesycamorIssues released on the 15th will only be available online.

Title: Communal Backyard Artist: Jor-El Zajatz

Leather mask madefor a re-breather.

Arts

Title: Father Wind Artist: Mary Mouse

Title: Dalai Lama Artist: Anna Edwards

Layout Designer: Richard Bordoni

Events Calendar Manager: Brian Stone

The Sycamore Issue 6

Documents

Transcript of The Sycamore Issue 6