2019 Olympia Sessions

10:30 – Noon | October 19, 2019

  • Building Our Way Out of Crisis: Hope, Action, and Systemic Change

    10:30 am - Noon | Purce Hall 5

    Spider Burbank ‘77 and Emeritus Faculty Member Jeanne Hahn met at Evergreen as student and teacher in the 1975 program Paradigms in Crisis: Theories of Capitalist Society. In this program, they studied the fall of managed capitalism and the growth of neoliberalism.

    In 2008, neoliberalism reached a pivotal crisis point that took U.S. society back to the unfettered capitalism of the 19th century—with a few changes. But crisis also presents a new path forward. In this session, Spider Burbank and Jeanne Hahn will explore with you how to build a new social, political, and economic order out of this crisis and move toward a more equitable and democratic world.

  • Experience the Indigenous Arts Campus

    10:30 am - Noon | Meet at the Longhouse Lobby

    Meet at the Longhouse for an exclusive tour of the Evergreen Indigenous Arts campus with Vice President of Indigenous Arts Tina Kuckkahn-Miller.  Learn more about how we honor the legacies of the past while building robust and exciting plans for the future.

    • Tina Kuckkahn-Miller
      Vice President, Indigenous Arts Campus

  • Explore Evergreen’s Evolution Through Stories and Archives

    10:30 am | Purce Hall 3

    See rare and never-before-shown photos from Evergreen’s archives.  Take a historical journey with Emeritus Faculty Member Oscar Soule, Evergreen Archivist Liza Harrell-Edge, and Member of the Faculty Nancy Koppelman as we explore the fascinating backstory behind Evergreen’s 50-year evolution. Learn about the events and people from Evergreen’s early days and discover how you can contribute to building its legacy.

    • Oscar Soule
      Evergreen Board of Governors; Emeritus Faculty

  • Hands-on Screen Printing Workshop

    10:30 am - Noon | LAB II 2225

    Experience the expressive art of screen printing. Join Evergreen’s Printmaking Technician Emily Adams for a fun, hands-on exploration of Evergreen’s Printmaking Studio. Printmaking is all about the creative process, expressive materials, unique tools, and equipment.

    • Emily Adams
      Instructor and Classroom Support Technician

  • How to Write an Opera and Save the Planet

    10:30 am - Noon | Recital Hall - COM LAB 

    Can an opera help humanity face climate change? In her new opera libretto Fantasia Verde, poet-biologist Mingxia Li (pen name Zhang Er) imagines a world where plants can talk back to the humans making a mess of things. Jon Balsley ’19 then rose to the challenge of setting this drama to music. 

    Before sharing this work in progress, the artists will ask how YOU might approach the task of dramatizing the effects of climate change? Join these two artists and music faculty Andrew Buchman in an interactive discussion.

  • Politics 101

    10:30 am - Noon | Purce Hall 2

    What do you know about how government works? Are all policies made in a fog of secrecy, or can you really have an impact on legislation?

    In this session led by former State Senator Karen Fraser, you’ll learn what every citizen should know about how the government is accountable to you and how you can influence policy decisions.

    You’ll learn about:
    • How the Washington State government is organized
    • Tribal and international treaties
    • How federal, tribal, and local governments are structured
    • The election process, from the census and redistricting to voting
    • The separation of powers
    • The legislative process and how it relates to everything above

    • Karen Fraser
      Evergreen Board of Trustees Chair; Former State Senator

  • Resilient Systems at West Central Park

    10:30 am - Noon | LIB 1001

    In this interactive workshop, learn how the community has built resilient systems in Olympia’s West Central Park, a revitalized neighborhood hub in West Olympia. We will explore water-wise gardening methods including Hügelkultur, a water-wise gardening technique, rain gardens, and permeable surfaces to create sustainable, DIY, people-oriented spaces.

1:45 – 3:15 pm | October 19, 2019

  • Lessons from the Age of Irony

    1:45 pm - 3:15 pm | Purce Hall 2

    Join faculty members Sarah Ryan and Susan Preciso with a panel of alumni as they take a retrospective look at their studies of 20th century US history in the recurring program Age of Irony. 

    The program just finished its fifth iteration, first meeting in 2003 as the second Iraq war was beginning and irony seemed in short supply. Age of Irony examined three distinct periods of wartime in the US: WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam War, as well as three movements for social change: progressivism, the mid-century civil rights movement, and second-wave feminism. 

    Panelists will discuss how studying this history, and its ironic cultural artifacts, shaped their thinking and actions. Panelists include Ken Kollman '19, Jen LaMont '13, Tyrone Newton '12, Liz Roberts '19, Amber Royster '10, and Rebecca Swingle '16.

  • Station 93 Looking Back: A Film About the Evergreen Student Firefighters

    1:45 pm - 3:15pm | Recital Hall - COM LAB

    Join filmmaker Jonah Barrett ’17 and the alumni of McLane Fire Department Station 93 for a documentary screening and post-film discussion.

    Station 93 features the untold story of the Evergreen student firefighters of the 1970s and 80s. Filmed during a 2018 reunion, firefighters relay anecdotes of their early years as volunteer firefighters. Seeing one another for the first time in over 40 years, they recall what brought them to this work and the challenging experiences that molded them into a family.

    (Dir: Jonah Barrett / 2019 / US / 55 min)

  • Telling Evergreen's Story and Campus Tour

    1:45 pm - 3:15 pm | Purce Hall 3

    An Evergreen education matters because the world needs critical thinkers now more than ever. Learn how you can use your own story to build the next generation of Greeners and check out what’s new on campus with Evergreen’s admissions team. 

  • Theory to Practice: Graduate Alumni on a Capstone Shaping a Career

    1:45 pm - 3:15pm | Purce 1

    Join a panel of alumni from Evergreen’s graduate programs as they discuss how their student research influenced their careers. Students in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Environmental Studies (MES) programs complete culminating projects at the end of their program, often contributing significant findings to both researchers and practitioners.

    This panel highlights several MPA and MES alumni whose projects influenced their paths after Evergreen. In this informal panel, audience members are invited to bring their questions as panelists share the challenges and successes of their thesis or capstone projects, how Evergreen influenced their career development, and what’s next.

  • Tom Rainey Lecture - Vladimir Putin’s Judo Match with the West

    1:45 pm - 3:15 pm | Purce Hall 4

    Vladimir Putin was a scrappy boy who grew up in a tough neighborhood in post-war Leningrad. Whenever his protective and doting mother heard of his almost daily fights in the courtyard of their Stalinesque apartment block, she would cry, “Oh my Lord, what is my precious Volodya up to now?” Putin’s childhood set the scene for how he would later view global geopolitics: not as a chess game, but as a judo match.

    In this presentation by faculty emeritus and Russia scholar Tom Rainey, you’ll learn how the Russian leader’s judo mindset has informed his foreign policy initiatives and helped him seize opportunities for power.

  • “What Is It Then Between Us?” Celebrating Walt Whitman

    1:45 pm - 3:15 pm | SEM II E1105

    The words of Walt Whitman reach across the centuries and call us to our better selves. This year marks 200 years since the birth of the Bard of Democracy. Join Stefan Killen ’88, founder of Happy Birthday, Walt Whitman!, and Member of the Faculty Nancy Koppelman ‘88 for a discussion of how Whitman speaks to the challenges of our life and times.

    We will close with a collective reading of “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” his visionary poem about time, our interconnectedness, and the transcendent power of art.

3:30 – 5:00pm  | October 19, 2019

  • Evergreen Beach Walk 

    3:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Meet at Registration Table

    Student leaders from The Outdoor Program (TOP) will lead you on a walk through the forest and down to the Evergreen beach. Once at the beach, you can explore on your own or join us as we continue our walk to the Geoduck House on Bushoowah-Ahlee Point.  The walk is approximately 30 minutes each way over a forest trail, with some stairs and a moderately steep grade in places. 

    • The Outdoor Program (TOP)
       

  • From Concept to Story: An Interactive Exploration of Animation

    3:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Recital Hall - COM LAB

    Evergreen’s animation studios have been launch pads for many brilliant careers, but how did our famous (and not-so-famous) alumni animators learn to develop a simple image into an animated story? And, how are Greeners influencing innovations in animation today? 

    Join media arts industry leaders Erica Schisler and Jim Cox and animation faculty member Ruth Hayes in this interactive session to learn how animators work the seed of an idea into a dynamic and compelling animated story.

    • Ruth Hayes
      Member of the Faculty, Animation; Independent Animator

  • Hands-on Exploration of Letterpress Printing

    3:30 pm - 5:00 pm | LAB II 0233

    Join faculty member Steven Hendricks ‘97 for a fun, hands-on exploration of Evergreen’s Letterpress and Book Arts Studio. Learn about the history of letterpress printing as you participate in a hands-on demonstration of this rare, precision-oriented fine craft.

  • More Than Just a Game: The Social Impact of Game Design

    3:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Purce Hall 8

    Modern board games aren’t just about fun. Players today make moves based in creative and critical thinking and often need to collaborate to reach their goals! Choose the right game, and you’ll confront ever-changing situations and solve in-game, world-shaking problems.

    Join Evergreen Library Associate Dean of Operations Ahniwa Ferrari ‘02, faculty Joli Sandoz, Heart of the Deernicorn game designer Ross Cowman ‘01, and several members of Evergreen’s enthusiastic gaming community to discover the excitement of learning from gameplay. Find out how to identify the games that will most interest you, and experience a new game for yourself.

  • Stephanie Coontz Lecture - Unfamiliar Territory: The Shifting Landscape of Close Relationships

    3:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Purce Hall 4

    Author and historian Stephanie Coontz will share some of her recent research on changing patterns of family life in America. For a new piece she is writing on the rise and fall of the love match, she will elicit audience comments and experiences as well as welcome questions about the dynamics and challenges of contemporary intimate relationships.

  • Student and Alumni Art Show at the Student Equity and Arts Lounge

    3:30 pm - 5:00 pm | CAB 301 (Third Floor)

    Alumni artists with a connection to First Peoples, Multicultural, Trans & Queer Support Services will explore community, gender, and social justice through the inspiring stories and artwork of student artists at the Student Equity and Arts Lounge. 

    Artists represented in the exhibit will talk about their work, how it relates to their connection to First Peoples, and the ways that art has influenced their lives.