The Sycamore

November 15, 2010

at Naropa University
www.thesycamore.org
Vol. II No. 6

Eyes On United Naropa

Editorial Board

Cover Art by Ju-Ju Jiamjid
As this semester draws to a close, atten-
tion should be paid to United Naropa
(U.N.), the University’s student gov-
ernment. This body, which has dealt
with enormous changes over the past
few months – including an influx of
$40,000 in new funds thanks to the
recently enacted Student Activities
Fee as well as the exodus of its advis-
er, former Associate Dean Jenevieve
Glemming – has made a number of
praiseworthy strides this semester that
will enhance the student experience at
Naropa. Additionally, the community
should also pay close attention to this
body to ensure that U.N. (which man-
ages $66,000 annually in student dollars)
continues to represent the interests of
the student body in all of its decisions.
Specifically, students should be interest-
ed in the following two actions taken by
U.N. this semester: 1.) The institution of
a semester stipend for all S.U.N (Student
Union of Naropa) members and 2.)
The retention an administrative adviser.
Following the approval by the Board
of Trustees last winter, the University
introduced a Student Activities Fee of
$25 per semester. These funds, totaling
approximately $40,000 per year, were al-
located to S.U.N, which is comprised of
U.N and S.L.P (Student Life Program-
ming Board). With the addition of these
new dollars, U.N., along with S.L.P, has
approved a $200 per-semester stipend
for all of its members. This stipend –
if disbursed among S.U.N’s 35-mem-
bers – accounts for 20 percent of the
student government’s operating budget.
Our concern is that there is a severe lack
of awareness in the community about
this stipend. Given that the activities fee
was approved by more than two thirds
of the student body under the mandate
of “develop[ing] a richer Naropa expe-
rience” for all students, the community
should earnestly consider if it is a wor-
thy expenditure to pay $14,000 a year to
its Student Government, especially since
the fee was proposed to the Board as a
method of ensuring that Student Gov-
ernment would be transparent and finan-
cially accountable to the Student Body.
The departure of U.N.’s adviser, Ms.
Glemming, marked a moment in which
U.N. was forced decide its future as
an independent student entity. Yet,
in the face of such a decision, U.N.
acted in a manner that was develop-
mentally anachronistic: it retained
the role of the adviser to “ensure [its]
longevity” through Dean Bob Cillo.
We believe that as the student represen-
tative body, U.N. should be lessening
its dependency on the administration.
While retaining a relationship with the
University’s various offices is important
and necessary, requiring an administra-
tor to be instrumental for the longevity
of Student Government contradicts any
definition of student representative de-
mocracy. In comparison, CU Boulder’s
student government manages $36 mil-
lion annually and is wholly student run.
U.N. is capable of functioning as an
independent entity removed from ad-
ministrative involvement. In fact, this
semester alone U.N. has initiated a
number of important actions: It de-
manded that the administration re-hire
a dedicated diversity advocate, took
action on improving the Consortium
Agreement with CU, permanently
funded the Green Team, and requested
that the University investigate a full-
scale transition to Google Apps for
its email hosting services – all without
the insight or presence of an adviser.
It is in the long-term interest of Naropa
that all students from within the com-
munity join U.N. to ensure its continued
progress. Ultimately, we must demand
that U.N. move toward modeling the
best practices of student democracy by
electing its members. However, until
elections are institutionalized, all stu-
dents bare the responsibility of keep-
ing a keen eye on U.N. to guarantee
that it always represents their interests.
Editorial Board: Mohammad Usman,
Editor-in-Chief, Emma Courtney, Staff
Writer, and Rebecca Koval, Staff Writer.
Page 2 The Sycamore November 15, 2010

NEWS
Where Did The Sycamore’s Tree Rocks Go?
Cody Spkyer
Staff Writer

When returning students arrived at the Arapahoe Main
Green this fall, there were some that stood underneath
the massive Sycamore tree pondering, “What’s different
here?” Missing from the scene was a fairly prominent
image of Naropa University: a collection of round, grey
river rocks of various sizes suspended in the air from the
branches. Seemingly overnight, the rocks were removed
and many were left wondering where they had gone and
why.
Some students recognized the inherent ephemeral na-
ture of work such as this, like Visual Arts Senior Staci
Dickerson, who also felt some surprise at their sudden
removal.
tree?” Consensus was that the rocks could stay tempo-
rarily; two to three years, and up to five years at the most.
That was indeed the case until autumn of 2009. “I start-
ed seeing symptoms on the bark,” Aytes said. “So I start-
ed pushing up my chain of command to get it removed.”
During the winter season shortly thereafter, a branch
broke off, and months later in the fresh growth of spring
and the leafing out of the tree, Aytes was struck by the
extent of the damage being done by the installation. A
closer look overhead revealed a canker on the corner of
one of the weight-bearing branches. In his words, this
canker “oozed like puss from a wound.”

Another student, Aaron Pincus, noted his own interac-
tions with the rocks. While juggling beneath the shade
of the Sycamore, he recounted that “…In my heart of
hearts, I always thought those rocks shouldn’t have been
there; rocks in the trees were edgy.” He talked about the
depth of the experience when the rocks knocked against
one another; more of a loud feeling, rather than a sound.
Regardless of their personal thoughts on the installation,
most just requested a more thorough explanation as to
their removal.
So what’s the story? Naropa University’s Landscape
Manager, Costen Aytes, was acquainted with the rock
installation from the start, and so could reflect on the
timeline.
In 2007, Naropa commissioned local artist- John King-
to create six or seven different installations around the
campus. Then-president Tom Coburn and his wife Lee
were taken in particular by the Sycamore piece and so
Naropa University purchased it from the artist, there-
fore ensuring the presence of the rocks for longer than
was initially planned. At this point, three arborists were
brought in to answer the question, “Will it hurt the
This visible development led to a decision; the rocks
were removed at the end of the summer season to pre-
vent any further damage. In October another arborist
visited the campus and examined the tree, deeming that
there was no major damage. Much longer though, and
the common thought is that the Sycamore probably
would have lost that branch, adversely affecting one of The Sycamore Tree Rocks Exhibit - Mary Mouser of The Sycamore
the most central social areas of campus.
Of the same opinion is Costen Aytes, who proposed that
Settling into this change has given some a fresh perspec- the rocks be hung in the atrium of the Nalanda campus.
tive. As Tom Weiser noted, “I liked the rocks but I felt “I would like to see it hanging on something not living.”
bad for the tree.” He lounges back in his chair near to
the spot where the rocks once hung, “I’m enjoying the Ultimately, the health of Naropa’s dearly loved Syca-
light, the view and the space to watch people.” more was endangered by the installation, and in the spirit
of contemplation the campus community is asked: How
The option remains to re-hang the installation some- best in the future can we create art which exists in har-
where else, as the piece is still property of the Univer- mony with its surroundings? Fortunately, in this circum-
sity. This was a common suggestion among those that stance, the wellbeing of the Sycamore was paramount to
enjoyed their integral presence as part of the Naropa the aesthetic quality of the rocks, and serves as an ex-
experience. Student Nathaniel Janowitz commented that ample for potential artistic vision at Naropa University.
he would like to see the rocks hanging somewhere else
than the Sycamore because “…the trees are so old, we
ought to treat them nicely.”

Climate Change Scientist Speaks to Naropa

Lauren DeGaine
Staff Writer
As a Senior Scientist for the National Center for At-
mospheric Research (NCAR), Linda O. Mearns’ can
lecture to willing ears on global climate change issues
and solutions. During an hour and twenty minute pow-
er-point presentation last Thursday, students and faculty
in the Arapahoe campus art room listened to science-
informed evidence for human-induced global warming.
With a late morning coffee in hand, Linda spoke on
subjects pertaining to climate change responsive-
ness. The two current high-priority actions, Mearns
explained, are adaptation and mitigation. Mitgation –
or the effort to reduce greenhouse gasses – must oc-
cur immediately, while adaptation pertains to eventual
responses to climate change. According to Linda, a
combination of both is essential to a successful future.
When explaining exactly who should be in charge of
making sure mitigation action takes place, Linda cited
the statistic that, while developed countries are re-
sponsible for 20 percent of the population, they con-
tribute 46 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emis-
sions. Additionally, underdeveloped countries have
less ability to adapt to natural disasters caused by hu-
man-induced climate change, like rising sea levels and
drought. Another topic discussed in the arena of miti-
gation was how much mitigation is actually necessary.
She also explained that current temperature increases
are mostly due to human-caused greenhouse gas emis-
sions. In studying the climate, NCAR has come up
with ways of measuring and predicting greenhouse gas
emissions with climate models that factor in human
and natural “forcings.” Natural forcings are the natu-
ral variations in the earth’s atmosphere, often caused
by volcanic eruptions and the varying intensity of so-
lar radiation. Changes in atmospheric condition due to
natural forcings tend to be temporary, and future climate
models do not indicate the condition to balance out.
Additionally, NCAR’s research has found through ob-
servation and comparison that the climate model based
predictions which proved to be correct were the ones
that factored in both the human and natural forcings.
Linda says that the “rates of change and concentra-
tion” of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, meth-
ane, and nitrous oxide, “are unprecedented.” This data
is collected by observing ice cores, which trap the gases
in compact layers during the winter, as well as track-
ing pollen counts in lake sediments that have accumu-
lated over time. Tree ring widths also show scientists
how temperature and precipitation has changed over
time. Linda says that since 1958, CO2 levels have been
recorded in real time, and high-quality long-record re-
search shows that “natural variability” does not mean
that the world isn’t warming. In fact, Linda explained
to those in attendance that 11 of the last 12 years are
globally among the 12 warmest years since 1950, and,
on a more local scale, almost every area of Colorado
Continued on Page 3
Page 3
Administration Hosts Student Forum on the State of Naropa
Rebecca Koval
Staff Writer
On Wednesday, November 3, President Stuart Lord
hosted a student forum designed to give the Naropa
community an update on where the University cur-
rently is and where it is headed. The president was
joined by members of his cabinet who included Pro-
vost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Stuart
Sigman; Cheryl Barbour, Vice President of Student
Affairs and Enrollment Management; and Susan Be-
nally, Associate Provost for Institutional Planning
and Assessment. The president and cabinet members
spoke about the major changes and re-organizing the
university is currently undergoing. All expressed op-
timism in Naropa’s ability to adapt to these changes,
thus becoming a stronger and more stable institution.
Dr. Lord began the discussion by presenting the goals
that Naropa is presently working toward. One of these
goals is to improve the university’s retention rate and en-
rollment. The administration is currently working with
consulting firm Noel Levitz, which specializes in recruit-
ment and retention. The hope is that enrollment will be
expanded within the next 3-5 years, eventually increasing
to up to 5,000 students. Cheryl Barbour explained that
Naropa’s undergraduate enrollment rate has remained
steady over the years while the graduate program has
seen a slight decline due to a cancellation of programs.
Dr. Lord continued by saying that part of the purpose of
the new Title III grant is to help the University to contin-
ue to invest in retention. The $1.97 million grant, which
the Dept. of Education awarded to the University in Oc-
tober, will help to provide grant scholarships to students.
Because over 90% of Naropa’s revenue is dependent
on enrollment dollars, it is imperative that the univer-
sity improves its ability to receive funding from sourc-
es other than tuition, such as alumni, officials noted.
Currently, only 5% of alumni are giving to Naropa.
The goal is to increase this figure up to 10% this year.
The University will also be hiring a new Vice Presi-
dent for Development and Fundraising as well as set-
ting goals for a budget that, according to Dr. Lord,
is “balanced, priority-driven and future oriented.”
Currently, Naropa is doing fairly well financially and is in
the process of creating a sustainable budget, according to
Dr. Lord. The University is “living within its means,” Dr.
Lord remarked. Naropa’s current budget provides for a
restoration of retirement match for all faculty and staff
Naropa Learns Climate Change
Continued from Page 2
has been warming at an increasing rate since 1936.
Linda is also an author of the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change assessments, which have come out
in 1990, 1995, 2001 and 2007. Since 1990, the reports
have changed stances; first stating that “increased tem-
perature could be due to natural variability or man-made
factors,” and then stating in 2007 that “discernible hu-
man influences include ocean warming, continental
average temperatures, temperature extremes and wind
patterns.” The next report is due in 2013 and 2014.
According to Linda, global climate change is danger-
ous because of the rapid alterations in the earth’s eco-
The Sycamore
Dr. Lord Speaking at Student Forum - Mohammad Usman of The Sycamore
as well as a full year of faculty/staff salary increases by
Spring 2010. Dr. Lord discussed the fact that many Naro-
pa faculty members are forced to work another job. He
explained that by relieving the stress of another job out-
side of Naropa, faculty members would then have more
time to devote to the classroom and to student’s needs.
Dr. Stuart Sigman also echoed the importance of a bal-
anced budget, which the University has failed to main-
tain in the past. Academic Affairs is working towards
this goal by creating a divisional re-organization, which
will result in the consolidation of Naropa’s 16 academic
departments to 5. The names of these 5 departments
have not yet been figured out; however, the hope is
that that they will produce greater efficiency, as well
as a more serious faculty assessment analysis since, ac-
cording to Dr. Sigman, the University is currently not
doing a good job with faculty performance reviews.
Faculty teaching load will increase along with salary. Most
courses will go up to 4 credits. Faculty will also become
much more involved in direct student advising. In addi-
tion to this, first year students will soon be taking classes
in learning communities made up of about 20 students.
Several faculty members will teach and lead these learning
seminars, which will be an integration of the core classes
that students are currently required to take. It is the admin-
istration’s hope that through creating these communities,
new students will have the opportunity to experience a
more coherent and comprehensive first year experience.
In addition to these major developments, course of-
systems. Citing Hurricane Katrina and 2003’s summer
heat wave in Chicago, Linda displayed scientific research
in the form of climate models evidencing the influ-
ence of global temperature increase on the frequency
of natural disasters, like drier atmospheres leading to
increased wildfires. The intensification of the hydro-
logic cycle due to ocean warming is also an issue, Linda
says. She explained that most of the warming is hap-
pening in the northern latitudes. Photos of the sum-
mer ice in the polar ice caps compared its size in 1979
to 2003, showing that melting happened “even more
quickly and more extensively than the climate models
have shown.” Linda explained that a future increase
November 15, 2010
ferings are expanding. According to Sig-
man, Spanish should be offered by Fall
2011 and by next Spring there will be new
courses offered in the natural sciences.
Dr. Sigman will also be working with Dr. Susan
Burgraff, psychology professor and Associate
Dean for Undergraduate Education, in the
creation of student focus groups. The purpose
of these groups will be to get student feedback
on Naropa’s new changes as well as to work
on the re-organization of the new curriculum.
Susan Benally also discussed the importance
of student feedback with regards to diversity
on campus. She is currently involved in a cam-
pus Inclusiveness Committee that includes
some faculty and staff, as well as six students.
Working with the group is consultant Nita
Henry, from the Denver Kalidascope Project, a
community-based organization in Denver, which pro-
vides consultative services to communities undergoing
change. The Inclusiveness Committee’s main goal is to
create a blueprint that will aid Naropa in its attempts to
implement a campus-wide diversity initiative. This blue-
print will “identify institutional level goals for diversity,
actions to achieve them, and accountability indicators”
to measure achievement, according to Benally. Naropa’s
ability to respond to external accountability demands
is becoming increasingly important, as Naropa will be
held accountable by the U.S. Department of Educa-
tion if it fails to meet the goals of the Title III grant.
During the question and answer session, some stu-
dents expressed the concern that Naropa may lose its
distinctiveness as a result of these changes. However,
President Lord disagreed, stating that these chang-
es will in fact help Naropa do what it does even bet-
ter. He stated that when he first arrived, the school
was considered to be an institution “at risk” and
that currently, “the verdict is not out yet on this.”
Although anxiety is present among the student body with
regards to Naropa’s rapidly changing structure, officials
were firm on asserting that such changes are necessary
for the overall health of the University. In concluding
the forum, the president encouraged students to con-
tact his office or cabinet members with any questions
or concerns should they have any. He also welcomed
compliments because, he admitted, “we need those too.”
of global surface temperature by 2 degrees Fahrenheit
could mean the melting of Greenland and the Antarctic.
Indeed, the future is hard to predict because natural
variability in the climate every year adds to the “un-
certainties about how the entire world will develop
economically, socially, politically, [and] technologi-
cally.” However, according to the IPCC’s reports and
Linda’s personal commentary, we can expect massive
changes in the global environment – from drought
in Africa to population displacement due to sea lev-
el rise in North America – if there is no action tak-
en to mitigate the causes of global climate change.
Page 4 The Sycamore November 15, 2010

Creative Naropa
Construction Aerating, I Move
Lauren DeGaine
Jamie Pockrandt Staff Writer
Contributing Writer Aerating, I move,
gliding through the room,
for a moment,
floating
from my own being.

Cleansing, cleaning,
I remember the world
as a place that’s not so bad.
Simple things
like the hint of the world’s whisper
like damp skin,
-tion (shen) like Newton’s law.

: the act of _____ing Is that where we hear

the voice of time,
: the state of being _____ed space,
science
: the thing that is _____ed an unintelligible language
tapped into
and channeled through.
The moon that night was bright, A suffix forming
pumpkin orange, with shadowed nouns of condition, I hope to dream of you
cellulite dimples. His face beaded sweat which action, result, and of an endless existence
trickled from hairline down effect from verbs. the reincarnation
smooth forehead to the edge of an eyebrow, collecting and Quite literally of nighttime conversations.
falling along the side of the nose, forming that which I hope to hear your voice
along the embankment of the nostril to is in motion into speaking to me through guitar strings,
the edge of soft, that which is static. the pluck of fingers
parted lips, Stopping movement, allows you to sing.
into the black stubble of his chin. and so pausing
His kisses were perceived existence.
salty. Forcing the idea of action to become concrete. Creating concretion.

construct

(v. kuh n-struhkt n. kon-struhkt)

: v. to build or form by putting together parts; frame; devise

: n. something constructed

: n. an image, idea, or theory, esp. a complex one formed from a number of simpler elements

My body, Deriving from the

a construction of love. latin com- meaning
Variable to the magnitude of “together” plus struo
devotion spent upon it. meaning “I heap up,
His skin was pile.” To heap up
sacred, soft and and pile together,
subtle. His whispers warm thereby creating a
and wet upon my earlobe and construct. Being that
to know the future would be to diminish the present. anything from the
To know that destruction is inevitable physical to the
would be to cauterize every conceptual can be
nerve ending at the surface of the skin so considered a con-
numb. struct. A building. An
Clear, frozen flames. attitude. A history.
snowflake sparks, clear and stilled flares, The heaping of
static. Quite thankfully impossible. various nouns to
For then, create other nouns
our skin was skin together. Nouns being what the
Warm flushes and perceived concrete
fading caresses. . world is constructed
of.
Page 5
Charles Ray Hamilton
Contributing Writer
First, I’m walking downtown to see what the fuss is all
about on 6th Street. They say it’s the absolute best place
to get a drink in the whole word. Well, if there’s a decent
bar around, I haven’t been to it. The guys were either frat-
tastic or, like, suburban thugs and the girls were the really
loud type that’s always tripping and falling and spilling
her drink on you. And then doesn’t even apologize for it.
Anyways, I get to talking to this girl and she seems re-
ally nice. In fact, she was the one who came up to me.
She said she really liked my jacket and where did I get it.
I said I forgot. The truth is my mom bought it for me
a few years but you don’t just say your mother bought
you something a girl says she likes. In any case, we get
to talking about all these pedicabbers. There are all these
hundreds of pedicabbers around downtown, it seems
there can’t possibly be enough drunk people to cart
around. But there’s still hundreds of ‘em. I start tell-
ing her my theory on excess and waste or something,
but she’s not really listening. I asked her if she wants
to take a ride to another bar I’d heard about with all
these live jazz musicians. She said she likes jazz which
really impressed me for some reason. Girls don’t usu-
ally say they like jazz even if they do. I don’t know why.
So we go outside and wait for a pedicab and everything
cause we decided these poor guys could use some busi-
ness and besides, it’d be kinda fun. So I’m sitting outside
with a cigarette, talking to her about some philosophi-
cal thing – I think I was asking her what she thought
of gentrification or something -when all of a sudden
she gets up and says she’s got to go inside and take
care of something and to give her just two seconds. I
say OK – two seconds. Well, I wait and wait and start
to get more anxious all the time waiting for her. I get
so anxious I’m checking all my saved voicemails and
listening to them over again just to not look like I’ve
been stood up. When you’ve got all these loud and
crazy couples around you, you don’t want to look like
you’ve just been stood up. Twenty minutes later or so
she comes out with this super tall hipster guy and just
leaves with him. I didn’t even say anything or look at
her when she walked by. It’s like we never made plans
together or anything. Then I really started to feel terrible.
So I stood there for a minute before I said “fuck it” and
just walked to the jazz bar myself. On the way there, I
tried to meet some people, but they ended up being either
too much of a drunk asshole or too psychotic. There are
a lot of schizos in downtown Austin - you can’t just talk
to anybody. And this one guy almost threw up on me. It
was terrible. At the bar, I try chatting up the bartender,
this older lady like in her 50’s with dyed red hair and
long red fingernails. Red lipstick too. I felt bad for her,
to be honest. I bet she didn’t have a husband or a kid or
anything. Maybe a cat. But no happy old lady wears so
much red stuff all over her. Anyways, I’m trying to talk
to her about drinks, ask her recommendations or what’s
the most popular drink there. You know, just to get to
know someone. Well, she gets all irate about it. She keeps
saying – yelling, basically – “It’s whatever YOU LIKE!
How am I supposed to know what YOU like?” Over and
The Sycamore
A Monologue
over, no matter what you said to her. Finally, I just gave
up and looked over at the band. They were pretty decent.
I would’ve stayed to listen a bit but the old bartender was
still agitated that I asked her so many questions. She asks
to see my ID even though I didn’t order anything. Then
she accuses me – yelling again – of being under 21. It
says my age right on my license. Then she says she’s nev-
er seen my sort of license before and it’s fake and I need
to “please” get the hell out of there. By that point, I’m
pretty mad, just desperate to sit down somewhere and
not bother anyone else, but she says my license is fake
and I need to get out. When I tell her probably everyone
in the whole fucking place had the same license as me,
she acts all scared like I’m about to assault her or some-
thing over a stupid drink. Old women are always acting
scared of black people for no reason, I swear to God.
I wouldn’t have felt so bad about leaving if she hadn’t
gotten so scared of me. I didn’t have too much time to
get down about it though, because right as I was leav-
ing, I saw two people get ran over by a car. I swear to
God. This really hammy, meaty type guy was crossing
the street with his girlfriend who was basically yelling her
drunk head off. They saw cars were coming, but some
people think the whole world revolves around them. So
this Pizza Hut delivery driver who was kinda mentally
slow to begin with just slams right into them! The yell-
ing blond girlfriend is in the middle of the street wail-
November 15, 2010
ing and crying like she’d been stabbed or something. It
wasn’t that bad. I mean, she was probably in shock but
still. It wasn’t that bad. Her boyfriend just stood next
to her not saying a word to her or the crowd that was
gathering around or even to the Pizza Hut delivery guy.
The yelling blond girl kept screaming at the delivery guy
“You couldn’t have STOPPED? How could you? How
COULD you?” All drunk. It was actually kind of funny.
I don’t like to be sadistic, but sometimes an idiot get-
ting ran over can be really, really funny. But then
there was this angry mob gathering around us.
They started pushing the delivery guy around,
yelling at him and calling him stupid and retard-
ed. It wasn’t really his fault he hit those people.
They just were mad some stupid “hot” girl was
crying. Then things started getting racial cause
the driver was Mexican, I think, and they kept
yelling at him to “go back across the border”.
It was terrible. I thought they were going to kill
him, things were getting so crazy. Well, that’s
how I got a black eye ‘cause I stepped in the
middle of it and told them to leave the poor guy
alone. But they all just told me to shut up. They
were just out for blood, just wanting some-
thing to get all riled up about and fight about.
I shouldn’t have done it, but there was this
one guy who was getting pretty dangerous so I
punched him right in the face. I admit, I thought
about running away after I hit him. I didn’t want
to fight. But before I could do anything, he got
me right in the eye. And that’s when the police
showed up just in time to start arresting every-
body for being a crazy drunken mob. I don’t
know ‘cause I ran away, but I just know they
arrested that poor delivery guy instead of the
guy who hit me and he probably got fired from
his job and the stupid blond girl probably said
she’s permanently damaged and traumatized
and got a million dollars from suing Pizza Hut.
Page 6 The Sycamore November 15, 2010

“...then asks Bohemia” One

Paul Tucci Christina Meares
Contributing Writer Contributing Writer

the thought of you lingers

Up from heavy sleeping, dreams
and cooks through seasons
linger like unwanted guests.
like the old straw hat
of the old, dead farmhand
Sugar stirred into coffee
left over there (succumbing; embody-
black as closed eyes.
ing)
to compost
In the sun, the strict grip
on my sight relaxes.
the sound of you is a crackle
in sun and heat as your skin
Pale glare on home windows
disappears into the earth,
shuts them like a veil.
but not very quickly.
your Mother Sun will make new
The scent of lemon juice masks
what time - the great predator -
ash and stains of last night.
and The Great Predator
have rendered otherwise useless
Recognizing impulses worth
reacting to. Surviving.
as four gluttonous seasons pass
sweat and vermin turn your remains
Working to demolish certain
over and over and shit you out,
shanties of the past.
you transpire: my redemptive qualities
Ole’ Pliny cannot distinguish
Light draining as if poured,
you from his ashes at Pompeii
shade reassembling in corners.
upon which whole civilizations have
once again been built.
Cars stumbling home,
pastel feathers in the west.

Breath releasing in rhythm

high plains wind of bodies.

Opinion
Bottled Water Free Naropa?
Ayries Blanck
Contributing Writer

Behind me sits Naropa University, wise and contempla-
tive. Before me looms the University of Colorado, in-
timidating and awe-inspiring. Orange, gold, and brown
leaves both litter the ground and paint the trees while
at my feet flows Boulder Creek. As I observe its current
I see something glinting upstream. Like a small ship it
bobs ever closer, sparking my curiosity. It is a Dasani
water bottle. It passes me by on its unknown journey. I
watch it pass and wonder why I did not wade in and grab
it and recycle it in the containers less than 500 feet from
where I sat. Well, it’s late October and my feet would
get cold, wet, and uncomfortable. Logical excuses run
through my head and validate my actions but I cannot
shake the image of myself letting that plastic bottle float
by. Where had it come from? Where will it go? Why is
something so unnatural and synthetic even present in
such a pristine place?
The Boulder Creek eventually joins the Mississippi,
which then flows into the Gulf of Mexico. While this
may seem irrelevant, this one bottle preludes to a much
bigger problem facing our oceans, and the world. Each
day in the United States 70 million water bottles are sold.
This phenomenon has many factors, but the largest por-
tion is due in part because of health cautious Americans
who have been trained not to trust public water services.
A little research will show that 40% of bottled water is
from a public source, and of this water 22% contains
chemical contaminants above state health codes. The
FDA’s standards for bottled water are less stringent than
those set by the EPA for tap water. This allows water
bottle companies to not state their source, or test for
E. coli. They are also not required to publish yearly
water quality reports. If this is not enough to persuade
health-conscious Americans, several recent studies show
that the plastic that is used for water bottles leaches the
bisphenol-A (BPA) into the foods and liquids stored in
it. Repeated exposure can cause cancer, miscarriage, and
birth defects such as Down Syndrome. So is one really
being cautious and safe in regard to their health if they
habitually drink bottled water? The answer appears to be
a simple “no.”
Health aside there is the environmental impact that can-
not go unnoticed. 17 million barrels of oil are used yearly
for the production of water bottles, which is enough to
fuel 1,000 cars for a year. Of the 70 million water bottles
sold daily, only 1 in 5 is recycled, and it takes three times
the amount of water to produce the bottle as it does to
fill it. The bottles that are not recycled produce 3 billion
pounds of waste. It can take 450 years for a plastic bottle
to decompose and as this bottle decomposes it does not
turn back into organic matter. Instead, it is broken down
into small particles called “plastic sand” that never de-
compose fully.
If human and environmental health is of no concern,
then the privatization of the world’s water supply should
be. In the United States the privatization of the water
does not seem particularly relevant. However, in the last
few years it has become commonplace for city waterways
to be sold off to private investors. Supporters of water
privatization state that it will lower the costs and create
cleaner, healthier water. In the past, this has not proven
to be so. The profit motive that drives corporations may
provide private water companies with incentives to avoid
conservation, and efficiency measures since profits de-
pend upon volumes of water sold. Also, the privatization
of water utilities has posed risks of rate hikes, negative
economic impacts, inadequate customer service, reduced
local control, and raises questions concerning public ac-
cess to information about water systems. If these com-
panies were given control of the water sources in the
Continued on Page 7
Page 7 The Sycamore November 15, 2010

Without Bottles
Continued from Page 6

United States, then almost all public water sources would be owned and distributed
by a private corporation, in either the form of bottled water or private water sys-
tems. These companies would not have to follow the EPA’s standards for water test-
ing, and could increase prices as they saw fit. This price increase could deny some
of the poorest in America access to water.

It would only seem in the best interest of Naropa University to desire a water bottle
free campus. Currently, Naropa’s Green Team is spearheading a Bottle Water Free
Initiative. The Initiative has been officially supported by the UN, the President’s Of-
fice, the Environmental Studies Department and The Facilities Department. As the
initiative moves forward, the Green Team will be looking for commitments from all
offices, departments and retailers on campus.

At present, the fountains on campus are all filtered. This delicious, free water source
is available on all campuses. Only 9 schools in North America have gone Bottled
Water Free. Naropa, as a cutting edge institution, aims to be the 10th in supporting
water as a basic human right.
There will be a forum held on Wednesday, Nov 24th at 12pm in the Student Center
If students would like to get involved or show support for a bottle water free campus for anyone in the Naropa community who would like a space to voice their concerns,
they can paint their own water bottle in bright colors. If you’re interested in being questions or to learn more about what it means to be a bottle water free institution.
involved in the movement, contact Nathaniel Janowitz at njanowitz.students.naropa.
edu.

Arts

Title: Touch the Sky Artist: Chloe Frisella Kunst

Page 8
Arts
Upcoming Events
• SPRING REGISTRATION
BEGINS
Tues, November 16th
• MOVIE NIGHT: The Prestige
on Tues, November 16st, 6PM to
8PM in the Student Center
Who: Anyone who enjoys a cinemat-
ic adventure... What: Naropa Cin-
ema presents THE PRESTIGE...
(PG-13, 130mins) Where: Student
Center in the basement of the ad-
min building... When: (Every) Tues-
day at 6pm Why: Because not only
do people enjoy movies, but people
enjoy watching movies amongst
friends and in a larger format than
the typical house. Light and lim-
ited concessions will be provided...
Future movie suggestions are not
only encouraged, but appreciated...
Any questions, comments, concerns
please e-mail slpevents@naropa.edu
• TEACHBACK on Wed, Novem-
ber 17, 12pm – 2pm in PAC.
Students Shape Undergraduate Cur-
riculum 120 Seats Available Six or
more Small Groups will answer the
following Question, which is fo-
cused on the following Topic Areas:
What methods, techniques, or pro-
cesses do students wish to encoun-
ter as they acquire these core skills in
their Undergraduate Education?
• SUN/AAF TOWN HALL on
Wed, November 17, 12:00pm –
1:20pm in PAC.
• FALUN GONG Thur, November
18, 3:50pm – 5pm on the Naropa
Green.
Join us! We practice together the ba-
sic exercises of Falun Gong: A short
meditation and gentle Qi Gong
movements. (It is easy to learn.) Fa-
lun Gong is always free and open to
all!
• WORLD MUSIC AND DANCE
CONCERT on Sat, November 20,
8pm – 10pm in PAC.
The African dance class headed by
Maputo Mensah presents dances
they learned during the semester for
the community. Admission: TBA.
• CHADO: THE WAY OF TEA.
JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY
WITH MIKE RICCI on Monday,
November 15th and 22nd, 3PM to
6PM in the Naropa Tea House.
Continuing through the summer.
No need to sign up. Anyone may
come at any time and stay as long as
The Sycamore November 15, 2010
they like. Contact: Mike Ricci- 970-
530-0436; riccimjr@hotmail.com.
• ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
EXPLORATION on Wed, No-
vember 24, 12:00pm – 1:20pm in
Lincoln Studios Room
No previous experience of the Al-
exander Technique is necessary, and
drop-ins are welcome. We’ll engage
in structured activities in which we
experience how the principles of the
technique can help us stay open, re-
laxed and energized in body and mind
in whatever activities we undertake.
If you’re interested, you can join
the ATE student group on Naropa-
Link (http://naropa.collegiatelink.
net/). If you do, your involvement
in the group will show up as a co-
curricular credit on your transcript!
• THANKSGIVING DINNER
AT THE LORDS on Thurs, No-
vember 25, 5:30pm – 8:00pm on
2437 20th Street, Boulder, CO
President Stuart Lord and Mrs. Ad-
derly Grant-Lord invite you to join
them for Thanksgiving Dinner at
their home RSVP to bcillo@naropa.
edu and include your phone number.
Please note seating is limited to the
first 36 students who respond. Reply
quickly to ensure you have a seat at
the table!
Directions to the Lord’s home: 2437
– 20th Street, Boulder, CO From
south Boulder, take 20th Street
north past Bluff (before Mesa). The
Lord’s home will be on the left side
of 20th Street. From north Boulder,
take 19th Street south; 19th Street
becomes 20th Street at Mesa. The
Lord’s home will be on the right side
of 20th Street.
Title: Jail Artist: Rika Rossing
Events Calendar Manager: Brian Stone
Layout Designer: Richard Bordoni
Editor’s Note: The Sycamore is a bi-weekly publication released on the 1st and 15th of each
month. Beginning this semester, issues released on the 1st will be available in print and online at www.
thesycamore.org. Issues released on the 15th will only be available online.