Evergreen.
TESC.
I grew up running on your fields, scoring in your hoops, lifting your weights, enjoying your Super Saturdays, and cavorting with your faculty’s kids. I saw Nirvana, Soundgarden, Maya Angelou, and Ani DiFranco there. I even attended, after U.S. News & World Report gave you props. But then again, so did High Times magazine.
What has happened to you?
Evergreen began as a freewheeling, free-thinking institution known for keggers in the pools, nude beaches, and non-traditional interdisciplinary learning with evaluations rather than grades. The college's hippy origins only slightly overshadowed it’s impressive academic standing, accomplished faculty, and alumni achievements.
Then something changed.
Annual May Day protests started by students became violent and destructive.
Something broke.
Current college president George Bridges was detained in a student takeover that forever tarnished Evergreen’s national image.
And it hasn’t been fixed.
A stated commitment to diversity has usurped a commitment to diversity of thought and academic freedom.
And it has gotten worse.
Faculty member Brett Weinstein was forced to leave the college after raising a voice of dissent against a call by staff and students of color for all white people to stay home for a Day of Absence.
The steady decline has led to Evergreen’s enrollment dropping by over 40% over the past decade, with no rebound in sight.
Until now I’ve blown off calls to convert the college to something else. I’ve considered such statements as ignorant drivel.
Dissolving Evergreen would be about as smart as disbanding the police.
Reform it, maybe.
Destroy it, no.
But now?
All three finalists vying to become Evergreen’s next president recently backed out after meeting with the board of trustees.
All three.
Who does that?
People in shock?
People who have just found out something terrible?
People with incredibly bad luck?
Only one of the three finalists has commented his withdrawal from consideration for the president’s job, with a very benign explanation: "Do I want to leave the work I am leading here? It’s more about what’s going on here."
Unless we find out that something crazy happened to all three finalists (very unlikely), rather than something crazy was disclosed to all three finalists (my fear), it may be time for the fat lady to sing.
David Ross attended The Evergreen State College while working as a grocery checker. He has been a psychiatric social worker, documentary filmmaker, and college faculty in his hometown of Olympia where he also produces The David Ross Show and podcast.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
franiazgorski
"Dissolving Evergreen would be about as smart as disbanding the police" Absolutely !
Thursday, June 3, 2021 Report this
jackass
I am from an area that had a similar college to Evergreen. A degree from there was considered something of a joke. It was later taken over as a branch of a legit state school and is doing much better at this stage. I think TESC would do well to consider a similar move.
Thursday, June 3, 2021 Report this
Oly1963
THANK YOU!!!!! Your editorial reflects exactly what I've been saying for the last several years. WHAT Happened??? I graduated from TESC in 1989. It was funky, for sure - but the learning that took place truly prepared me for a job and most importantly for a career.
I recently had the opportunity to return - for fun and to explore what the next chapter of life might offer me. I focused on a wide range of classes including psychology and history, Japanese, writing, and even, yes, pottery. The first thing that struck me is how easy it was for me to just take random classes without any accountability or logic to what I wanted to accomplish for my "degree". No one asked, advised, or even discussed with me how this mishmash of learning would support my future.
Second, because I was considered a 3rd-year student, I took only senior level classes. I spent a lot of time talking to my fellow students about their plans. I didn't hear one person talk about their goals in any sort of realistic way. Writing classmates told me of writing a great novel - while living in their parents basement. Many expressed concern that their student loans would have to repaid, while they try to figure out what to do for work now that they spent all that money and time without gaining marketable skills.
Finally, it was the violence. Yes, violence. Not so much threats to my life - but definitely distain for others and the ideology that what a person wants either in life or in possession is a right that is deserved rather than earned. I saw this coming from instructors, but mostly, from students who spoke loudly and with such conviction and violence, no one dared to disagree. I saw students who went along to get along; kids who have no life experience to help them sort through consequences of actions. Kids who are living and educating in an environment that supports and encourages contrary and violence, whether it's physical, mental, or verbal.
One last note. A friend of mine owns a home near TESC. Their fence has been regularly tagged by anarchists with violent, negative and often offensive messages. They paint, they repair, but throughout the year they are hit. With COVID and TESC going on-line - they were able to replace their fence, and the tagging stopped. Tell me there isn't a connection! I dare you!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this platform. Most importantly, thank you for having a safe platform where these thoughts and realities can be shared!
Tuesday, June 8, 2021 Report this
Cajundaddy
Sadly, this story is being played out on college campuses all across the US and Canada. Many other institutions are suffering the same fate to some degree but Evergreen seems to be the poster child of an emerging train of thought.
Abandon all of the principles that made your school attractive and useful in shaping the lives of students, encourage violence, go woke go broke. This is hard to watch and I fear the bottom has not yet been reached.
Friday, April 29, 2022 Report this