broken up over financial aid
still swarthmore "need-blind"merit takes total preference
but now higher loadsmore work and loans required of poor students
we did a silent sit in
board of managers meeting
during break they tripped over50 plus tight lipped youth waiting since 9.40am on a saturday morning the president came out
ever the nice guyso fast fast talkin'!
invited us to move to greater speaking easemore convenience we moved to move
before the vocal had a chance to suggest staying
encounter our presence as discomfort.the president Al explained it in pragmatic terms
still beats nine of ten white bread liberal arts schools! got to keep up with rising costs we know you want a quality institution
acceptable to a largely rational gathering.
toward the end students demanding intangible pledges
president making his way toward the doorI played a pragmatic part
urging presidential consultation dates
not just "firm committments to student involvement in the process."
monday, 8.30pm, Parrish Parlours
but prophetic would have beento observe the snow job
not confrontational
straightforward to ask confirmation from assembledthat we thought the process flawed and though you are "near the end of it",
we'd like for you to reconsider
the financial aid decisionwith our input now and, yes, thanks, later too. if there are mitigtating circumstances
inform us and trust our decisionbut hear us out
as we agree to hear you too
we are here to participatenot just listen.
but I did not
I let gentle motion conciliation rule the day
now I see the potentialmy injectial chaos energy
student sense of power
strident questioning
upsetting social order
dividing the crowdlike the walk-out
50% prophet + 50% profit = humanity
how much to let get done
at what cost of self-sense?
taking some standelectrifies community potentates polarizin' makes life worth
justin's links by justin hall: contact