Updated
12-8-06 New program homepage installed. <<<Click there
12-5-06 Revised academic fair handout. Very important for new students to read.
12-2-06 Revised schedule for week 10. Also added the first assignment for winter quarter, which includes the start plans for the winter.
11-30-06 Paper on liberal education by Martha Nussbaum and links to two stories by Rabindranath Tagore and updated portfolio checklist.
11-22-06 Winter quarter schedule, slight change in room assignments.
11-16-06 Laura Coghlin's poster as an example of what you'll be presenting in week 10 (1MB .pdf file). Selections from Empire of the Senses. And the faculty's evaluation template is available here or here, and Don Johnson's article.
The modern university is based on a rupture, effected a millennium ago, between head and heart. This institution—the one in which we meet as teachers and students—is devoted almost exclusively to the technical and critical disciplines. Ascetic disciplines were left in the proverbial dust. Secularization rendered proverb and metaphor, even language itself, disenfleshed and idolatrized. Our task in this program is to become deeply aware of the devastation caused by this rupture, this loss. Because of what has been betrayed, we dare not simply imagine an alternative form of education, much less another new institution, devoted to the healing of this rupture or the recovery of any loss. Instead, we will, through disciplined, mutually supportive inquiry, become mindful of what we scholars participate in, here and now.
Awareness began last year. New students are welcome as space permits. Students should register only if they are ready to commit to a minimum of two quarters in the program; our preference is for students who want to be with us all year. Students interested in Awareness for academic year 2006-07 should read closely web pages from winter and spring quarters, 2006. (See the "previous programs" link above.) The schedule, the program covenant, and the nature of much of the work will remain pretty much the same as last year.
An overarching program inquiry for the year is the relationship between "thick description" and "reality." When careful, accurate, effective description (of thinking, of "meetings" in seminars or "meetings" with books, of research) gets added to affects, we tend to call that art; when thick description gets added to effects, we call that reality. We want to explore the relationship between thick description (and its affects and effects) and increased awareness. Is this relationship between what we perceive as reality/art and increased awareness natural? Supernatural? Cultural? Historical? Evolutionary?
We have planned a retreat to Fort Flagler, near Port Townsend, Washington, in the winter quarter, February 5-9, 2007. Our guest will be widely known yoga nidra expert, Richard Miller (see his Yoga Nidra: The Meditative Heart of Yoga or his website). Student fees for winter will be higher than published in the college catalogue.
All students will have the chance to do an independent project: work on a research project of their choice, conduct field studies, travel, extensive community service, take a 2-4 credit class separate from "Awareness," or engage in sport: "It's a silly sport. There's almost always an easier way to the top" (David Wolinetz, rock climbing presentation, spring, 2006). Awareness 2006-07 is specifically designed to support pilgrimages.
For notes to prospective students from previous "Awareness" students click here.
Downloadable, printable syllabus. Click here. (Updated 9-17, now superseded by the online web pages.)
Sarah Williams & Bill Arney, faculty
| maintained by: Bill Arney |