Rolling Rolling In Their Graves - What happened to WWU?

Tom Pratum  //  Sun, Jul 05, 2009, 7:58 pm

Took me a few days to get to reading this, and I guess this is one impression of how WWU has transformed over the years. I grew up in Bellingham, not far from the campus. I now have the opportunity to teach there (part time).

I feel that WWU has greatly elevated itself over the past several decades. In my area - chemistry - it is a highly rated school for its size. It got that way by at least trying to hire the best and brightest from wherever they might be. WWU’s pay is very low, but fortunately they have still been able to attract some really good faculty members.

I have worked at several universities, and I think it is common for faculty members to be somewhat disconnected from their local community. We should encourage them to be more involved - so thanks for doing that - but understand that they often don’t have time.

I feel that WWU is and will continue to be a tremendous asset to this area. I look at it now and think back to my childhood and am amazed to see it has become what it is today.

K.R.Kaur  //  Mon, Jul 06, 2009, 7:46 am

Thanks so much for your comment Tom.

Feedback appreciated greatly and I basically agree with everything you say.

How about we all send this link to WWU professors and students we know and see if we can evoke their readership and participation in local political discussions here at Northwest Citizen?

Because like you the city of WWU excites me. Fifteen thousand students and hundreds of professors, and yes, the professors there are fabulous and competitive. I’m impressed with my WWU teachers, and also respect many professors, and their programs, from a distance - because students recommend them to me - but financial aid won’t pay for me to explore much beyond my major.

Recently hundreds of adjunct professors and lots of staff disappearred - laid off - and “The Western Front” (not a free press by any stretch of the imagination) failed to post a list of the victims of the big cut. I do know that Rosemary Vohs and the WWU Storytelling program died - no matter how popular and needed and regionally and nationally respected a program it was, and no matter how amazing a performer and professor and scholar Rosemary is. She worked at WWU for twenty four years as an adjunct professor. The remaining tenure track professors appeared very underpaid, over-worked and afraid they will go with the next cut.

It is common for the lower and middle class to be worked so hard we have no time for reality, much less doing something about it. Many WWU put in 60 hour weeks and it shows.

Even so, even with crazy class loads and too much competition, and fear for their careers, many WWU professors do lots of community service. The Center for Pacific Northwest Studies makes me so proud. Check out the David Mason Collection there: http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/CPNWS/mason/masonhist.htm

Students from Woodring College soon learn about the differences between Shuksan Middle School and Fairhaven Middle School. “Uncle” Paul Woodring smiles down on his “college” I’m sure. 

Particularly, “The Journal for Educational Controveries” blows my mind; in a good way, such a good way. http://www.wce.wwu.edu/Resources/CEP/eJournal/ 

Also never forget that Shirley Osterhaus teaches at Western as does Babara Rofkar, Korry Garvey, Chris Friday and many other amazing Pacific Northwestern stars.

K.R.Kaur  //  Tue, Jul 07, 2009, 7:28 am

Barbara Rofkar and Korry Harvey (not Babara Rofkar and Korry Garvey).

K.R.Kaur  //  Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 7:13 am

6:05am (no matter what the blog clock says): Just checked the WWU forum where 717 people have viewed the link to this article so far. Couple friends reported to me that they await clearance from NW Citizen to achieve the status of posters here.

COMMENT FROM WWU FORUM:

As a non traditional student, I got a kick out of the story. I love Bellingham and am doing my best to become hip to the area. I feel in the last two decades, greed and corprate America has taken away much of what we hold dear and special in our lives. These things don’t make money. “Best things in life are free” Beatles. But that does not pay the rent. Or shop at REI, just kidding. I am impressed with most of the students I see here at Western and I hope they read this story and realize the world changes faster all the time. Nothing is static. Do what you love. Follow your passion. In the end you will be a happier person.

K.R.Kaur  //  Thu, Jul 09, 2009, 7:46 am

Morning,

6:40am - 914 views to the “Rolling Rolling In Their Graves: thread on WWU’s Forum.

“The Western Front” asked me for an interview a couple days ago and I accepted. I joked in my phone message about the irony that, as an English major, I can’t write for their paper, but they want to interview me.

And I wish to interview “The Western Front’s” summer editor too. Again, why not enhance communication between the citizens of Bellingham and WWU students, faculty, staff, administrators, cashiers, grounds keepers and construction crews?

Another brave poster on the Western Forum writes: 

“I don’t think WWU students should have to be typical Pacific Northwesterners in order to enjoy a great college like Western. Also, I think Fairhaven and Huxley are still fantastic colleges and haven’t “faded” in any way, unless by “fade” you actually mean “change.” Change is inevitable. Things change for the better, and they take a turn for the worse, and they turn better again, and this continues to happen all the time. There are always members of the older generation that says “Boy, when I was your age, things were different.” Yes, they were. They were not necessarily better though. Of course we all get accustomed to the way things are sometimes, and often we become uncomfortable when things do change; even if they’re not necessarily bad changes, we may view them that way.

In response to the list you made towards the end of the article:

1. Western still, as far as I can tell, provides an excellent Liberal Arts education for those that want it. But not everyone who goes here does. The GURs, I think, do a great job of giving a brief overview of that area to students majoring in other areas.

2. What exactly is so bad about “every other university”? Is Western not still unique? I would dare one to go to UW or Central or Gonzaga or Yale and say that Western is the same as all of those places now. Sure, Western has conformed a bit more to standards of a “normal” university. But it still offers incredibly unique programs such as the one(s) at Fairhaven.

3. I’m majoring in music, and I would argue that the music program is a kind of island that has a sort of “small college” feel. It’s separate from, but still a part of, the rest of WWU. So again, I don’t think this has disappeared.

To summarize… I disagree with your article. Also, I’m not sure what professors’ smoking habits have to do with the quality of the school, or how it would contribute to a former professor rolling in his grave… And I can’t say whether or not he is, because I know very little about him… but I certainly don’t think he should be rolling in his grave.”

My response:

“I don’t think WWU students should have to be typical Pacific Northwesterners in order to enjoy a great college like Western.”

I dislike the whole concept “should have to” and also “be typical” and limitations on enjoyment. I pray that WWU students love the Pacific Northwest passionately and if they don’t, I am sorry for it.

“Also, I think Fairhaven and Huxley are still fantastic colleges and haven’t “faded” in any way, unless by “fade” you actually mean ‘change.’”

You sure? Organizationally, what was the idea behind creating the satellite colleges? You think they haven’t faded in any way, but they have changed.

So the change is an improvement? In what ways?

“Change is inevitable. Things change for the better, and they take a turn for the worse, and they turn better again, and this continues to happen all the time. There are always members of the older generation that says “Boy, when I was your age, things were different.” Yes, they were. They were not necessarily better though. “

Very wise. Buddhist even. Life is transient and change happens and it wasn’t necessarily better way back when.

Then again, as a child this community included a physician, general practice, who made house calls. When we needed stitches Dr. Jim met us at the St Joseph’s hospital right below campus - Forest street and Beech. Too bad you can’t experience that. You may prefer the modern St Joe’s experience better anyway.

“Of course we all get accustomed to the way things are sometimes, and often we become uncomfortable when things do change; even if they’re not necessarily bad changes, we may view them that way.”

Not necessarily good either. Also I wrote the article as a memorial to WWU’s elders.

“In response to the list you made towards the end of the article:

1. Western still, as far as I can tell, provides an excellent Liberal Arts education for those that want it. But not everyone who goes here does. The GURs, I think, do a great job of giving a brief overview of that area to students majoring in other areas.

2. What exactly is so bad about “every other university”? Is Western not still unique? I would dare one to go to UW or Central or Gonzaga or Yale and say that Western is the same as all of those places now. Sure, Western has conformed a bit more to standards of a “normal” university. But it still offers incredibly unique programs such as the one(s) at Fairhaven.

3. I’m majoring in music, and I would argue that the music program is a kind of island that has a sort of “small college” feel. It’s separate from, but still a part of, the rest of WWU. So again, I don’t think this has disappeared.”

Excellent and debatable points.

Choosing number three: the Music department at WWU, no matter how talented and cozy a department they are, backs the specialist approach. The Theater department, in contrast, promotes a liberal arts approach. Theater Arts majors at WWU must learn all roles to graduate. Theater Arts majors take classes in set design, stage managing, play writing, costuming, lighting, theory, history and directing. WWU students write more plays than other university students elsewhere - or we did until we laid off Brian Willis.

In contrast, the Music department specializes in Western Classical Music and Jazz. Fantastic choir. But little world music. Every music major must have a tuxedo or gown and play in a classical or jazz ensemble, even if their play electric guitar, which nobody plays there. Rock and Roll classes, improvizational music, World Music and non-Western musical theory doesn’t exist at WWU.

More than that, neither the Music Department, nor the Theater Arts Department involve themselves in helping fellow WWU professors teach humanities, science and math.

“To summarize… I disagree with your article. Also, I’m not sure what professors’ smoking habits have to do with the quality of the school, or how it would contribute to a former professor rolling in his grave… And I can’t say whether or not he is, because I know very little about him… but I certainly don’t think he should be rolling in his grave.”

David Mason suffers from Parkinson’s disease and is retired and off limits. Feel free to access his life work through the David Mason collection at the Center for PNW Studies.

Sorry if I proved unclear in explaining how smoking tobacco did indeed promote community and interdisciplinary cooperation and brain-storming among WWU’s post WW2 patriarchs. Killed a few and sickened many, of course. Also class sizes were kept down because smaller classes produce better results. Students learn more better. We deserve smaller sized classes given what we pay. Actually universal free education is better yet

K.R.Kaur  //  Fri, Jul 10, 2009, 8:03 am

Looking forward to being interviewed by a WWU journalism major for The Western Front today. I’m writing up the story of our encounter as well. We agreed that we will meet at the historic Burn homestead cabins. They sit in the forest on the ridge between Fairhaven College and Buchanan Towers. Tip Johnson, Fairhaven College graduate, local political force, and a journalist for the NW Citizen, lived in the Burn cabins for a while, as have others down through the years.

June Burn was a Pacific Northwest journalist, a writer. Hope her spirit will visit us today, two modern students of her craft. 

Most Pacific Northwesterners will have read June Burn’s book “High Times.” For Pacific Northwesterners in training, go check it out. Hope our local libraries decide to stock more copies. “High Times” details how backs in the 1920s June and Farrar Burn decided to retire, study, explore and travel early in life, while they were young. They figured they would settle down and work later.

Noel V. Bourasaw, a former WWU student talks about the Burns family cabin located at Fairhaven College at:
http://www.skagitriverjournal.com/Upriver/Uto-Conc/Birdsview/Savage/Pulsipher03-MountainKaty-Parker.html

The Center for Pacific Northwest Studies at WWU:
June and Farrar Burn Papers
http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/cpnws/burn/burnbio.htm

K.R.Kaur  //  Fri, Jul 10, 2009, 9:06 am

No one jumped in yet to correct me?

“Living High” by June Burn

http://www.skagitriverjournal.com/WA/Library/Burn/Burn01-BookBios.html

K.R.Kaur  //  Sat, Jul 11, 2009, 3:17 pm

1043 views of the “Rolling Rolling In Their Graves” thread on the WWU forum but no discussion so far.

Met with a Western Front reporter who taped me babbling. I’m writing a story about being with her too for NW Citizen.

Meanwhile, this comment got posted on the WWU Forum. Not sure how representative a perspective it represents.

Death and Taxes

While I appreciate the author’s nostalgia, I feel like they belong in Bellingham if for no other reason than that they are out of touch with the rest of the world.  WWU is not the last bastion of hope for a democratic society, it is not a shining city on a hill from which the civilized world can take a moment to light a tobacco pipe, take off their moccasins, and watch the salmon spawn.

It is a state college with an exit on I-5.  It’s foolish and arrogant to assume that its local flavor is impenetrable, even more so to assume that it deserves to be so.

Bellingham has its high points, but at the end of the day, it still sucks just as much as anywhere else.  It just sucks in a different way.  Don’t glamorize it for what it clearly is not.

K.R.Kaur  //  Sat, Jul 11, 2009, 3:22 pm

My response out on Western’s Forum lacks grace and diplomacy:

Heavens I don’t need to “glamorize’ the Pacifc Northwest eco-system. Koma Kulshan’s voice speaks loud and clear, as do the San Juans and every bright fungus in the rainforest. Pacific Northwest history proves a rip-roaring good read because Pacific Northwesterners successfully fended off suckiness better than others elsewhere.

I live in Happy Valley. Beautiful place. Wonderful neighbors and neighborhood association. Even Bellingham’s worse ghetto (Texas and Alabama neighborhood?) fails completely at being as sucky as you describe us. Not yet at least. Give this community some credit. People fight hard here, generation after generation, to stop suckiness. Who wants to live with people who desire or accept suckiness in life?

You dislike the Pacific Northwest as much as everywhere else? I don’t know what to say. Sounds serious. Seek help.