Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Mastering New College
One of the appeals of New College of California, as advertised, is the apparent refuge it provides for those traumatized by the brutal society in which we live. Marketing itself to distinct populations that have experienced punishment for seeking justice or creating community in the world at large, the school pretends to be a place for healing and recovery. Just take a look at all the literature.
In reality, we know this to be a falsehood. While some instructors and staff valiantly attempt to help and protect these injured scholars, the institution itself is wholly geared to exploit and thus re-traumatize them. Just read the testimony.
When South Africans were organizing to overcome tyranny there, one of the things they did was hold free classes and discussions where people could share their stories. In the curriculum developed by Nelson Mandela and his associates, they posited three propositions: The World We Live In, How We Are Governed, and The Need For Change. As we struggle with mastering the monster our alma mater has become, maybe it would behoove us to create a space and place for storytelling, learning, and coming to terms with a notion betrayed. We might even call it Mastering New College.
In reality, we know this to be a falsehood. While some instructors and staff valiantly attempt to help and protect these injured scholars, the institution itself is wholly geared to exploit and thus re-traumatize them. Just read the testimony.
When South Africans were organizing to overcome tyranny there, one of the things they did was hold free classes and discussions where people could share their stories. In the curriculum developed by Nelson Mandela and his associates, they posited three propositions: The World We Live In, How We Are Governed, and The Need For Change. As we struggle with mastering the monster our alma mater has become, maybe it would behoove us to create a space and place for storytelling, learning, and coming to terms with a notion betrayed. We might even call it Mastering New College.
