The Johnston Center for Integrative Studies

Johnston,

Last time I regaled you with my woes and sorrows, I mentioned that despite the difficulties I was noticing on campus I thought there was a lot of potential to make the best of SBS.  I ended with this paragraph:

"Of course, I can't tell the students that they need all of this, they need to believe it for themselves, and feel like they have the power to communicate with the administration and faculty and effect change.  There is too much top-down organizing that doesn't make it all the way down.  In order address my concerns, and empower the students, inform the about education, I am working on a newsletter, called Inquiry."

So about Inquiry ?.  I'm still working on getting it together and published, but the process has been fascinating and illuminating, and so much has come from just trying that I thought it was worth a mention.  I put a request for submissions into the weekley campus newsletter and it was edited to this:

Student Megan Harned is starting a newsletter exploring the themes of Sustainability and how we can integrate them into the fabric of our lives here at SBS, with an emphasis on "empowering us (the students) to take back our education.  If you would like to share your thoughts about the campus that relate to these ideas, please submit a comment (no longer than 300 words) by Monday, November 9, to inquiry.sbs@gmail.com."

I figured putting it in terms of a revolution (taking back our education) would hopefully draw the attention of the mostly apathetic student body.  I was mostly correct. I got one submission from a student, Kara.  Brutally critical is how I would describe her response.  She was clearly frustrated about the lack of direction and cohesivness on campus and didn't have an outlet for it.  We got to e-mailing, and met last Wednesday.  During our discussion the idea of a student government came up, which apparently our campus lacks.  Something I didn't even notice or consider.  So Kara is off writing an article for Inquiry ? about the need for Student Government.  We talked about a lot of things during our conversation, but some of her comments were gratifying because they were the sentiments that made me want to start Inquiry ?. 

So often when we're frustrated and feel impotent to gather the masses and create change, it's surprising the realize the effect of just one person trying.  I just thought I would try something and see what would happen, and hope for the best along the way.  I think by making Kara feel like she has a way to express heself, and that she doens't have to settle, I've already achieved my goal, regardless of whatever happens. 

Ulitmately, though I would like to see a lot happen. I talked about all of that last time.  In order to get realize those ideas the students have to want it.  Johnston exists because there are students that want Johnston, and the New School and Brown, ect.  I want the students on SBS campus to want that too. To want something else.  Not just ask, "is this all?" and feel powerless.  My various widereaching goals for Inquiry ?:

• A forum for discussion about the themes of Sustainability, what does that word even mean nowadays? what does it mean to impliment Sustainability?  How does this word and its meaning its mindset apply to our campus, and how do we go about integrating Sustainability, not just into the food we eat and the things we buy, into our woldview, psyche. 
• Presentation for Pedagological Alternatives.  Why do we teach the way we teach.  Why do we learn the way we learn?  Is there a better way of approaching teaching and learning in the context of our campus? What is Sustainable Education? Friere said, not all educators realize that the way in which they educate oppresses the student instead of liberating them 
• Dialogue between students, faculty, staff and administration, in whatever forms it takes.  I want the students to ask the professors why they do the things they do, and vice versa. This is the more specific community building aspect, the breaking down barriers part 
• Create an environment of inquiry.  Encourage the students to ask why do I do this, not just to themselves, but to each other and to their professors.  I'm tired of the how, how do I get the grade, please my professor, etc, instead of how do I get what I want out of this, and why shouldn't I?.  I hope that when they are encouraged to ask, they will feel empowered. 

For me, all of these ideas overlap.  I've just tried to seperate them out.  I'd still love some feedback before we go to press.  I'll be sure to give an update when we do, so hopefully in about a week.  Till then, Buffaloooooooooooo!