URGENT: The CSF Task Force
Locked
 
|
Dear Friam Members,
I have now talked to some of the principals involved in the CSF situation. It appears that a consensus is forming that the best solution to this crisis MUST arise from the City of Santa Fe. Perhaps a City University of Santa Fe is a real possibillity.
If the City is to move on this, those communities in Town who care about higher education here -- who thrive and want to raise our children and grandchildren in a city with all the things that higher education brings -- lectures, concerts, films, coffee houses, theatre performances, interesting neighbors, and,most important, YOUNG people -- need to be ready to support it.
Steve and The Complex have already done a wonderful job of mobilizing the technical-complexity community. But now I think we need to mobilize the community of active and retired academic people. Such people might be enormously useful in providing support during a transition.
So, I am resending the appeal I sent out a few days ago. In addition, I am asking for somebody to help me think this thing through. I think I need to get my hands on the public lecture lists for SFI, SAR, and St. Johns. I might need to put an ad ins ome publication. I am not FROM here, and people often tell me that my Eastern Ways often lead me astray. So if any of you can think of somebody who might help me in this effort, I would be most grateful AND please think of people who might repond positively to the attached communication.
The Next Task Force meeting is tomorrow in the Udall Blding: first drive way on the right after you turn off of Old Santa Fe Trail headed toward the museums,at 10 am. If you arrive a bit earlier, you can schmooz with dignitaries. There is free coffee ... of sorts.
In haste,
nick
Nicholas S. Thompson
Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Ethology
Clark University ([hidden email])
----- Original Message ----
From: Nicholas Thompson
To: [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Sent: 4/14/2009 12:39:38 AM; Subject: CSF Task Force;
Dear Local Friam Members
I took pleasure in the news that Governor Richardson had created a Task Force to recommend action concerning the College of Santa Fe situation. Santa Fe should have a general 4-year College. Without such an institution to attract young people, we risk becoming city of old folks. In fact, I wish we would reach beyond a 4-year college toward a City University of Santa Fe which focuses on advanced learning in all the things that the City is good at: art, technology,government,ecology, and anthropology, music, for starters. I see the City is the campus and the museums, art galleries, studios, performance spaces, think- tanks, government offices, and technical facilities as its laboratories.
But how do we get through the present rough spot? I observed the Task Force Meeting today. One puzzling feature of that meeting is that; while many Task Force members acknowledged that there was a lot of untapped academic firepower in the City, few if any members of our community of academics showed up to represent their interests. Where those 200-400 people who so faithfully attend the SFI and the SAR Lectures at the James A. Little?! I think the Task Force is much more likely to do something for Santa Fe if it feels that the huge community of former and active academics that lives here is ready to pitch in.
So, I would like FRIAM members to help me assemble a list of local academics who express an interest in the development of a City four-year (+?) institution that is profoundly Santa Fe-ish and will perhaps be willing to volunteer temporary courses, where needed, and/or to work their own professional networks of academic connections to recruit students and a permanent faculty. Please notice that I am specifically NOT asking for money. I would like to be able to carry a list of 25 such academic volunteers to the next meeting of the Task Force, which is this Friday. Ultimately, I would like to have a list of 50 100.
Here is what I need you to do. First, if you are -- or ever have been an academic, and live in or around Santa Fe at least part of the year, and are willing to consider giving some help during a transition from CSF to whatever might follow, please send me an email telling me so and giving me your name; your specialty, your highest degree and from where; your last academic position, and where. Here, for instance is what I will say:
"Yes I am willing to help out, if I can. Nicholas S. Thompson, Psychology and Behavioral Biology, PhD; UC Berkeley 1966, Professor of Psychology and Ethology,Departments of Psychology and Biology, Clark University, Worcester MA until 2007. "
Please, PLEASE, do not be fussy about this. Don't worry if your specialty is relevant. Don't worry that you might not be able to fulfill your offer. (If you are ever asked to make good on your offer; you can always refuse with honor on the ground your circumstances have changed.) What is important now is to express to the Task Force the support of Santa Fes community of active and former academics for some sort of action to support higher education in Santa Fe. The details are not important.
After you have done this (or instead of doing it); would you please forward this letter to academics of your acquaintance who live in or around the city, or call them, or give me their names or emails so I can call them. I promise I will be polite and not pushy.
You may reach me as [hidden email] or at a special email address I set up for this purpose [hidden email]. Earthlink has an annoying spam-trap, but I promise to attend quickly to any messages that don't get through it.
Nick
Nicholas S. Thompson
Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Ethology,
Clark University ([hidden email])
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org |
«
Return to Friam
|
1 view|%1 views
| Free forum by Nabble | Edit this page |