The Sycamore
April 15, 2010
Students Serve in the Gulf Coast C o n g r e s s m a n
Lora Fike “The kids are amazing!” said Jen Lukas, a
Staff Writer Naropa student in the Environmental Lead-
ership Graduate program. She spoke specifi-
Naropa Students Work on Urban Farm
in Lower Ninth Ward over Spring Break
On the morning of March 22nd, after 30
hours of road time and snow all the way
through Texas, eleven Naropa students ar-
rived at Our School Blair Grocery in the
Lower Ninth Ward to serve and to learn.
Over the course of three years Steve
Blaes, one of Naropa’s former landscap-
ers, organized the trip. Housing and travel
expenses were financed by students with
FEATURE
word of reimbursement from the Com-
munity Studies Department, although said
reimbursement has yet to be delivered.
The students’ first task was to remove weeds
in the New Orleans Vietnamese Village where
Blair Grocery is partnering with the Mary
Queen Congregation’s Urban Farm project.
This urban farm school was founded by Nat
Turner and managed by Brennan Dough-
erty, who provided the Naropa students
with their site. This was one of the many
sites provided along with Brennan’s working
knowledge of the New Orleans community.
In exchange for volunteer labor, Mary Queen
is letting Blair Grocery use a portion of the
land for their compost. In the afternoons, the
Naropa students reconvened at Blair Gro-
cery from their various different work sites.
The neighborhood children congregated at
Blair Grocery for the after-school programs
at Naropa University
Polis Will Speak
at Naropa
cally of her experience with one girl about the
age of 12, “I fell completely in love with her
confidence, passion, and curiosity. She’s hop-
ing to attend Juilliard some day for theater.”
These connections happened without
much prompting. The neighborhood chil-
dren were curious about what the Naropa
students were doing in the gardens. A few
were eager to play a basketball game out
front and others joined Naropa students
in painting signs. These signs were go-
ing to go on the Viet Village fence to pre-
vent dumping and trespassing on the lot.
Compost at Blair Grocery, consisting of
Whole Food’s daily food compost and a local
landscaping company’s three-year-old mulch,
is crucial. There is little to no food security
in the Lower Ninth Ward. The ground there
consists of clay, concrete and tarmac rem-
nants, none of which are ideal for a garden
to feed potentially 3,000 people. Nat Turn-
er’s goal is to provide for this approximate
number of people who have returned to
the area that was once inhabited by 18,000.
The Lower Ninth Ward was and is the part
of New Orleans most devastated by Hur-
ricane Katrina. Gutted homes await pur-
chasers if the original residents have not
shown intent to rebuild. There are some
homes in the process of being improved
but many of their neighbors are con-
crete slabs. Few jobs exist in the Lower
Ninth Ward, and to commute anywhere
one has to travel over the Industrial Canal.
Continued on page 2
Cover art by Rika Rossing ‘12
Mohammad Usman
Editor-in-Chief
U.S. Congressman Jared Polis, represent-
ing the 2nd District in Colorado, will
be speaking at Naropa University on
April 19th in the Performing Arts Cen-
ter (PAC) on the Arapahoe Campus.
Congressman Polis, who serves on the
Education and Labor Committee as well
as the Rules Committee, discussed in a
phone interview with The Sycamore his
priorities as they related to education policy.
“Education is my focus and concern,”
Congressman Polis said. Speaking to
specific policy items, the Congressman
noted pending modifications to the No
Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001
as critical to improving education policy.
NCLB, which will be voted on for reautho-
rization in 2011, is undergoing revisions
in committee. According to Congressman
Polis, the “Blue Print” plan released by the
Obama administration places an emphasis
on “improving other areas in addition to
math and science,” which Polis supports.
Congressman Polis further noted the im-
portance of “increasing diversity” within
the career fields related to math and sci-
ence. “If you look at the field of com-
puter science as an example, you’ll see
that it is dominated by men,” Polis said.
Continued on page 2
www.thesycamore.org
Vol. I No. 2
On Accountability
Editorial Board
Naropa University is unlike most colleges
and universities in the United States. How-
ever, our unique mission does not exempt
our institution from failing to model the best
practices of administrative accountability.
The alleged embezzlement of nearly a
half-million dollars in University funds by
former Accounts Payable Clerk, Ronda
Devers, highlights more than a tragic
event in Naropa’s history. This situation
is telling of a larger problem in which the
necessary protocols of due diligence and ad-
ministrative oversight are seriously lacking.
Both President Lord and the Higher Learning
Commission (HLC) agree that Naropa’s sus-
tainability requires drastic improvements in
both administrative efficiency and budgetary
structure. However, budget reductions alone
will not suffice in addressing the systemic weak-
nesses that pervades our beloved university.
We cannot ignore the reality that for at least
the past two years responsible offices through-
out the University were derelict in performing
their duties. This is underscored by the fact
that it was the FBI who approached the ad-
ministration, and not the other way around.
Though the swords have rightfully fallen on
Ms. Sue Evans, retired VP of Finance and Busi-
ness Administration and Ms. Suree Chounla-
mountry, former Comptroller, firings alone
will not solve Naropa’s systemic problems.
The University must prove to the community
that the underlying structural failures that
gave rise to the alleged fraud are being radi-
cally changed. We need to be assured that the
administration, after failing to notice $450,000
in suspected theft, operates on a higher level
of oversight and efficiency. Remembering that
ours is an institution that is largely financed by
tuition dollars paid by students and parents,
and not through donations or an endowment,
a lack of confidence by these key constitu-
encies is something Naropa cannot afford.
We respect that the Lord administration has
publicly acknowledged the existence of severe
structural issues in the University surrounding
a “lack of accountability standards.” Further,
we understand that the FBI investigation is
ongoing, and therefore the administration
cannot speak to specific details. But ours
is not a call for details. Rather, we demand
assurance that new accountability mea-
sures and due diligence protocols have been
duly implemented and are being followed.
Contact The Sycamore at: editorial@thesycamore.org
Page 2 The Sycamore April 15, 2010

NEWS
Meet Todd Kilburn, Naropa’s Chief Service Trips May Not Reoccur
Administrative Officer
Emma Courtney
Staff Writer

Arriving on campus in January of 2010, Mr.

Todd Kilburn is the newest addition to Naro-
pa University’s senior administrative staff. Mr.
Kilburn was hired as the University’s Chief Ad-
ministrative Officer (CAO), which is a brand
new position at Naropa and serves as a direct
report to the President, Dr. Stuart C. Lord.

Though Mr. Kilburn is new to Naropa and

Courtesy of Jen Lukas
Boulder, his professional relationship with Jen Lukas and local child watering seeds in Blair Grocery’s greenhouse
President Lord traces back over five years
beginning in Hanover, NH, where both men
worked at Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth,
Emma Courtney of The Sycamore Continued from page 1
Todd Kilburn, CAO
President Lord, then Dean Lord, led the Tuck-
er Foundation, which is a college-founded what processes or issues need to be talked Prior to Katrina, there were three bridg- on Sundays at a host of local churches.
organization that focuses on integrating com- about or developed,” in an effort to ame- es out of the area. Now there is only the They also speak at the churches about
munity service and spirituality into learning. liorate the President’s executive workload. Claiborne Avenue Bridge. Legally, this food security and sustainable living.
Mr. Kilburn served as Assistant to the Dean. In explaining his purpose at Naropa, Mr. Kil- bridge is to be up for only nine minutes
burn reiterated that he is here to assist the Presi- at a time in case of an emergency. While When asked about the relevance of
In the months following his appointment as dent in all ways possible so that Dr. Lord’s time our students were there, they experienced this trip to her academic and personal
President, Dr. Lord formulated the creation of can be free to focus on a persistent University waiting for the bridge to come back down life, Jen Lukas said “I wanted to see it
the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) posi- priory: fundraising. And while the President for fifteen minutes to a half an hour. Cou- for myself: to see how far, or short, the
tion, and for this Mr. Kilburn was ultimately is away from campus, Mr. Kilburn is largely pled with limited reopening of bus routes area had come in four and a half years.”
chosen. Now at Naropa, Mr. Kilburn is Dr. responsible for managing domestic affairs on and the fact that 32% of the population
Lord’s right-hand man. He is responsible for campus as they pertain to the President’s Office. lack access to a vehicle, this is a difficult This trip to New Orleans, with the ex-
“oversee[ing] the operations of the President’s space to navigate on a number of levels. ception of the Poverty Matters’ course
Office” so that Dr. Lord can “dedicate his Furthermore, in acknowledging the breadth trip to Nicaragua, was the only alterna-
time to more fundraising,” Mr. Kilburn said. of tasks that lay before the President, Mr. Kil- There is no grocery store in the Lower tive spring break trip available to Naropa
burn noted that his efforts allow Dr. Lord the Ninth Ward, the nearest one being three students this year. Steve Blaes moved
In outlining the position more broadly, Mr. time necessary to address the pressing issues miles away. This makes Blair Grocery back to Baltimore, Maryland follow-
Kilburn explained that the CAO also serves surrounding Naropa’s budget sustainability. a vital component to the community. ing his return to Boulder. He will not be
as a bridge between the President’s Office and Brennan and her colleagues sell their lo- around to organize this trip for a 4th year.
the greater community, facilitating the com- Realizing that the Higher Learning Commis- cal organic produce at affordable prices
munication between the different departments sion (HLC) has criticized the University’s fis-
at Naropa and bringing to light the issues that cal practices, Mr. Kilburn explained that his
need addressing from around the campus. responsibilities include assisting the President
Polis Discusses Educational Reforms
to meet the HLC’s requirements and ensure Continued from page 1
Additionally, Mr. Kilburn is also a member of Naropa’s long-term financial sustainability.
the President’s Cabinet, which is composed Turning to other legislation related to high- Acknowledging the relationship between
of six senior administrators responsible for The HLC inspection team’s findings, according er education, Congressman Polis spoke formal education and service, Congress-
varying aspects of the University. According to Mr. Kilburn, “gave the push” necessary to of the Dream Act, an act included in the man Polis noted that, “service is a critical
to Mr. Kilburn, in his capacity on the cabi- begin implementing budget changes that have House bill on Immigration Reform that part of education.” He further added,
net, he “thinks about what agenda items and would allow individuals who are undocu- “[Service] provides young people with
Continued on page 3 mented, but have completed high school in better job prospects,” referring to the
the U.S., to attend college without having to experience it affords college students.
FBI Investigation of Fraud Continues pay out-of-state tuition rates. “Young peo-
ple who are undocumented should not be Concluding his interview, Congress-
Dominique Vargas priced out of attending college,” Polis said. man Polis expressed his excitement to
Staff Writer speak before the Naropa community.
with The Sycamore, President Lord noted Asked whether the Dream Act would be
The FBI investigation of the alleged em- that there would not be any more employ- able to pass through the Senate, where The Congressman will speak to the Naropa
bezzlement of approximately $450,000 ees terminated in relation to this situation. the Democrats lack a filibuster-proof community in PAC on Monday, April 19th.
in university funds remains ongoing. majority, the Congressman said, “The
According to the President, the Uni- legislation has bi-partisan support.”
Since President Stuart Lord announced the versity has implemented stronger con-
suspected fraud to the community on March trols, policies, and systems of evaluation In terms of public service, an issue of
29, the university has not commented further in order to safeguard university funds. special relevance to the Naropa com-
on the matter because of the pending investi- munity, Congressman Polis cited the
gation, officials involved in the situation noted. President Lord further added that the ongoing Service America Act of 2009 as impor-
legal process will take time and that the univer- tant because it provides “young people
The employee who allegedly conducted sity will “co-cooperate fully with law enforce- with summer service opportunities.”
the embezzlement, former Accounts Pay- ment.” The President did note that the university
able Clerk Ms. Ronda Devers, was fired. would prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. At Naropa the importance of service has
been echoed by President Stuart Lord as
Two other top-level administrators, VP In conclusion, the President said that this well as other senior administrators. The
of Business and Finance, Sue Evans and situation provided the opportunity for Naro- University held its official “Day of Ser-
University Comptroller, Suree Chounla- pa University to become a stronger institu- vice and Learning” back in October 2009
mountry were also fired in conjunction tion.  The university cannot “move back- as part of the President’s Inauguration.
Courtesy of Naropa University
with the case. In his exclusive interview wards, but forward” and with greater clarity. Congressman Jared Polis
Page 3 The Sycamore April 15, 2010

It Takes Dedication to Put “Love in Action” Contemplative Education and

Ania Chapska Beyond at Naropa
Senior Staff Photographer
Garret Curler
Contributing Writer

“Love In Action – Build it for the Children Benefit Many students at Naropa may be un-
Concert” is a featured event in the upcoming Naro- aware of the fact that the university has a
pa Fest. The event will raise money and awareness Contemplative Education Department.
about the joint efforts by Naropa’s Early Childhood The department was created in 1990 and
Education Department and The Americas Asso- offers an MA in Contemplative Educa-
ciation for the Care of Children (AACC) to build tion and a BA in Early Childhood Edu-
a vocational school in a small village in Nicaragua. cation. Because the MA is a low-residen-
cy program utilizing online coursework
Naropa student Estrella Lozano has been the and summer classes, its presence is not
pioneer behind creating the “Love In Action” known to the bulk of the student body. Courtesy of Dr. Brown
event. Upon finding out about this educational Ania Chapska of The Sycamore Dr. Richard Brown
project developing in Jalapa, Nicaragua, Estrella Estrella Lozano The department’s founder and current
said she felt “inspired.” Through her inspira- Co-Chair, Richard Brown, sat down to Upon discussing the difference in con-
tion, local talents and vendors have organized discuss contemplative education at Naro- templative education between educators
to create this upcoming event where people can In describing the broad support the event has pa and in the field of education generally. and students, Brown said, “We encour-
contribute to the cause while having a good time. received, Estrella explained that the universe has age the teacher to be aware of their in-
been on her side in helping to coordinate the ben- When asked to define Contemplative ner experience. We look at teaching as an
Nicaragua is the second poorest nation in the West- efit concert. She noted that on two rare occasions Education, Mr. Brown responded, “Con- embodied experience and also question-
ern Hemisphere. The country is still struggling to where she needed to hitchhike, she found Boulder templative Education has a grounding ing our experience being in front of the
rebuild its infrastructure after suffering damage community members who, after hearing her talk in a Spiritual Tradition and practice.” classroom . . . You can check in and see
from a war over 30 years ago. As a result, there are of the mission of “Love in Action,” graciously He went on to discuss the ways that when you are simply boosting your ego.”
approximately 17,000 children between the ages of agreed to donate their expertise and resources. different traditions manifest at Naropa.
7 and 14 living on the streets throughout the country. “It is not just Tibetan Buddhism. The In addition to his work at Naropa,
On the first occasion, Mr. Peter Fiori, owner of founder had as part of his vision the Brown has been active in teaching Con-
Currently, there are no educational programs for Sweetwave Audio, agreed to donate his time and inclusion of several traditions; how templative Education approaches to
the street children. The intention of the project is manage the event’s sound and lighting. On the does Hinduism view contemplation in teachers from across the country. Ad-
to build a vocational school focused on reducing second occasion, Estrella met Mr. Tom Ham- education or Christianity or Judaism?” ditionally, Brown, along with Religious
the effects of poverty and decreasing dependency. mond who agreed to build the stage for the event. Studies Professor Judith Simmer-Brown,
Brown went on to explain how differ- travelled to Bhutan as consultants on
Estrella, along with her co-coordinator and fel- “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” is a ent individuals might view certain prac- Contemplative Education last semester.
low student Mark Dunlap and a few other core quote of Ghandi’s that Estrella uses as her motto. tices as better or worse, or more or less
volunteers, have been working diligently to bring “Being of service is the kindle to my fire. Regard- useful for the contemplative approach. In closing, Brown noted that educa-
this event to life. Running on a budget of $1,000 less of my own personal trials and tribulations, I “But that can lead you back to contem- tors at all levels have come to Naropa
sponsored by the Student Union of Naropa exist to contribute to the greater good. As the Bea- plating the question of why you feel that for workshops and seminars to learn
(SUN), the volunteers have worked tirelessly to get tles would say – All you need is love,” Estrella said. way. Why do I think this practice is bet- more about bringing the contempla-
as many things donated for the event as possible. ter than another? What might the other tive approach to all facets of teaching.
“Love In Action” will take place on Naropa Uni- approach be trying to offer the learning
All performers have agreed to contribute their versity’s Arapahoe campus lawn on April 23rd dur- process?” He agreed that the different
time and talents for free and local vendors will ing Naropa Fest. Throughout the week there will traditions might not simply offer alter- If you are interested in learning more about
be selling their merchandise with the intention be a range of events that focus on global aware- nate approaches, but that the nature of a Contemplative Education visit the Aca-
of giving 10% of the proceeds towards build- ness. In concluding her thoughts on the event contemplative approach may be beyond demic section of Naropa University website.
ing the vocational school as well as an additional Estrella said, “everyone should spread the word, any one approach and actually require
10% towards Naropa’s student emergency fund. extend their love, and come to make a difference!” the inclusion of all those differences.

The Council of Women at Naropa Makes Strides Kilburn is Right Hand

Dayna Larson & Patrick Barry
Contributing Writers
The Council of Women at Naropa is a
small, newly formed women’s group on
campus aimed at awakening the femi-
nine voice within the Naropa community.
The group, which is the first of its kind
at the University, is composed of indi-
viduals from all walks of Naropa-life,
including students, faculty, and staff.
The Council’s co-founder Nicole Jarrill
commented, “It is surprising that we are
the first, yet I am glad that the commu-
nity has been so receptive to this idea.”
In describing the inspiration for the group,
fellow co-founder Amy Carlson said, “The
Council for Women at Naropa was born
out of Elaina Verveer’s Civic Engagement
Seminar, which Nicole and I took in Fall
2009.” Adding, “we wanted to elevate wom-
en’s collective voice [at Naropa]. Rather
than broadly taking on women’s issues, we
sought to find a way to localize the issue.”
In an effort to engage the “local” issues
within the community, the Council has
undertaken a campaign to balance the
female presence at the University by add-
ing framed pictures of notable women
throughout Naropa’s three campuses.
Noting the motivation for the project,
Carlson said, “In my diversity class, we
learned that one could simply look at the
walls of an institution to see who was in
power. Upon reflection of this at Naro-
pa, I noticed the framed images were
mainly men. As a woman, I feel it valu-
able to see other women as role models.”
This project has received direct support
from the Office of the President as well
as senior faculty members, including As-
sociate Dean for Undergraduate Educa-
tion, Dr. Susan Burggraf. “The presi-
dent has helped launch this council. He
totally rearranged our thinking, asking us
to go farther then we imagined. He rec-
ommended getting nine images up and
supported us the whole way,” Jarrill said.
Included within the broader goals of
the Council is addressing the lack of
a women’s resource center at Naropa.
To tackle this issue, the Council aims
to branch out to other resource cen-
ters within Boulder in order to develop
a sense of how to build such an entity.
Explaining the purpose of such a center,
Jarrill said, “This will be a place women
can go to get information about everything
from rape, abuse and counseling to empow-
erment and healthy relationship training.”
The formation of the Council closely fol-
lows the creation of the Women’s Stud-
ies minor at Naropa. Both Carlson and
Jarrill acknowledged the inclusion of
the minor as an important step toward
bringing greater diversity to Naropa.
Man
Continued from page 2
been in the planning stages for many years. Mr. Kil-
burn added that when the HLC returns in two years
for a “focus” visit, they will want to see that the Uni-
versity has established “some sort of financial stabil-
ity and a more streamlined organizational model”.
In expressing his feedback on the HLC’s re-
port, Mr. Kilburn also said the inspection
team “got Naropa” – indicating his opin-
ion that the HLC understands the University.
Still, according to Mr. Kilburn the challenge now rests in
the hands of the Administration because they (himself
included) are responsible for implementing the struc-
tural reorganization needed to streamline the budget.
In spite of the challenges, Mr. Kilburn did note that
the mood in the Administration is positive and hope-
ful. He further stressed that students should not feel
adversely affected by the University’s budgetary woes
because the restructuring would not deprive stu-
dents of any opportunities that they currently have.
Page 4
Creative Naropa
Orphans
Shane Jiménez
Contributing Writer
While she labored on the chicken, the man
worked on the doghouse. He began to do this
during the afternoons, when she drank in the
house. The days previous, he had taken his
hammer to the flooring and paneling of an
abandoned homestead down the road. Wheel-
barrowed the busted boards back and cut little
walls from them. Made a roof from scavenged
lumber.
The dogs in the woods began abandoning their
weaker pups with the turn of the fall weather.
The orphan mutts sometimes wandered onto
their land before dying. He found the frosted
bodies and she buried them. He began to think
he would catch one of the mutts and bring it for
her to raise. When the house was finished, he
would insulate the walls with a torn baby mat-
tress he had found in their attic.
The man was thinking of this when he saw the
boy coming from the direction of the woods,
stumbling in a zigzag through the fallow field.
His head was a black smudge in the distance. He
came right toward the doghouse and the man,
dragging a sack behind him.
The man stood up from his work and watched
the boy. He was dressed like the rest of the
children in the area, canvas clothing like drafty
sacks sewn together. But when the boy was
close, the man saw he wore a black mask made
from the same material as his clothes, a skeleton
face drawn across it with chalk.
The boy stopped in front of the doghouse,
looked up at the man, and deposited his sack
between them.
“Trick or treat,” the boy said lowly.
The man looked down at the boy’s sack. It was a
sheet closed and twisted over a box shape, black
and tattered from having been dragged so far.
“It’s not Halloween anymore, boy,” the man
said.
The boy pressed one of his muddy boots down
on the sack as if to make sure there was some-
thing still inside it.
“Trick or treat.” He looked down at his sack.
The man rested his hammer across his shoulder
and looked down at the boy.
“I said you’re late. Lost, too. What are you doing
out here?”
The boy lifted his bag and dropped it. Looked
up at the man as if the air between them had
been cleared by the act.
The man sighed. “You got a name?”
The boy looked at the ground, his breath loud
and nostrily. The mask hung crude off his head.
The man had no idea what the boy could even
see out of the ragged eyeholes.
The Sycamore April 15, 2010
Sarah Smith
Free Box
Contributing Artist
“Aw, hell. Let’s go on to the house.”
The boy hitched up his sack and stuck out his
hand to be led. The man looked at it for a mo-
ment, then motioned with his head.
“It’s over this way, boy.”
When they got to the house, the boy dropped
his sack on the top step and sat unprompted on
the porch swing. He rocked back and forth on
the swing, kicking over empty whiskey bottles
on the upswing.
The man called to her in the house. After a mo-
ment, she came to the screen door, a drink clink-
ing in her hand as she leaned into the screen to
look out onto the porch.
“It’s a boy,” he said. “Wandered out from the
woods.”
“The hell are you talking about,” she said
through the screen. It hung free in one corner,
the mesh dotted with insects.
“New Age Pick-Ups”
“The boy.” He jerked his thumb behind him. Forbes Ellis & Tawn Kenndy
“Seems to think it’s Halloween. Long damn Contributing Artist
Halloween.”
He opened the screen door.
“Why do you do this to me?” she said. “We
should never have come out here. Leave me be.”
She reached out and shut the screen on him.
Slammed the front door after it.
He stood there for several moments, staring at
the scratched finish of the old oak door.
“Hell, boy.”
But no one was there.
The porch swing still swayed. The man went to
the top step and scanned the field. Looked off
into the woods. Went around the back of the
house and looked under the porch.
Life in The New Age ©2010
The boy was nowhere to be seen. When he
came around the front of the house, he no-
ticed the boy’s sheet sack still on the top step. “Looking For Work”
He bent down and chucked it over his shoulder
and, with a look back at the front door, took the
slow walk back to his work.
Sounds came from the woods. The howls of
crazed dogs, no claim in the world upon them.
The mewls of their wild orphans. He crawled
into the doghouse and sat on the floor and
dropped the sack between his two boots. Took
out her matchbook and lit the matches, letting
them burn one by one down to his fingertips.
When they were gone, he lifted the sack and
let it unwind itself. After the sheet fell away he
stared for a long time at what was inside. Two
dead, frosted pups, curled around a small wood-
en box. A music box, he thought.
He put the emptied matchbook in his pocket
and listened to the sounds that came at him
from the wild.
Life in The New Age ©2010
Page 5
Scott Kaplan
Staff Photographer
“Hit the ground running” doesn’t even come close to de-
scribing the whirlwind experience of arriving in Nicaragua.
Our first two days in the capital city of Managua consisted of
going to clinics, shelters, a landfill community called La Chureca,
houses door to door, the first fair trade shop in the world and a
village consisting of primarily relocated residents of La Chureca.
Everywhere we went we found ourselves conducting inter-
views with the people we encountered. Although difficult at
first, we soon grew into the reoccurring habit. The next ten days
were spent in the Jalapa Valley, about 20 kilometers from the
border of Honduras. Here, we lived with host families, worked
alongside PIEAT (Programa Integral Educando con Amor y
Tenure which means “the integral program of education with
love and tenderness”), and members of the local community
of La Tierra Promitera – “The Promised Land.” and socioeconomic and gender discrimi-
Community members waiting line for fruit trees Scott Kaplan of Pranaphoto.com
Once in Jalapa, we helped build a school for children, planted gar-
dens, and even shared some contemplative practices, like yoga
and other relaxation techniques. We also visited local tobacco
barns, which is where a significant population of Jalapa works.
Exposure to such conditions was an important, yet frightening,
experience. Only one day was spent away from our work in Ja-
Scott Kaplan of Pranaphoto.com
Local family posing for a photo
The Sycamore April 15, 2010
Living Nicaragua
lapa, when we got a chance to spend a night
in a remote mountain village and then make
the five-hour hike down the following day.
My personal reasons for going to Ni-
caragua were based in a desire to put
theory into practice. I wanted to con-
front my own assumptions and ideas
of what poverty was, while expand-
ing my knowledge about the situation
both conceptually and contextually.
Unlike any other traveling I’ve done, in
Nicaragua I had to immerse myself in the
culture and foster a reciprocal relationship
with the people on the land. It became
important to ask hard questions and listen
deeply. I found myself face to face with the
realities of poverty, ecological destruction
nation more
than ever be-
fore. In the past Children playing beneath a parachute
Scott Kaplan of Pranaphoto.com
it might have
been easy for me
to ignore these things or have
been blinded to such issues in It’s a humbling experience and a kind of magic that hap-
the context of life in Boulder, but pens when people, regardless of background, come to-
here these experiences grabbed gether united by a desire to change. I feel we all become
my attention and wouldn’t let go. liberated just a little bit more when we work in solidarity.
When I had my hands in the The experience has showed me just how much time and pa-
earth, planting fruit trees along- tience this really takes, and it has also made me believe more
side the mothers, fathers, sons so than ever the quote by Gill Scott-Heron which reads “No-
and daughters of La Tierra Promi- body can do everything, but everybody can do something”.
tera, I was feeling the sweat, see-
ing the smiles, and conversing
with the workers. This sharing
of space, time and story added
an extraordinary new dimen-
sion and meaning to the work.
While these connections were nurtured through dialogue and
storytelling, they all had the backdrop of working together
with a common purpose. Because of the work we were
doing, an inner shift started to occur. Something had begun
to unravel. Truths that had been missing or obscured from
our collective reality were revealed. There was an attempt
by all of us to breathe in the diverse experiences of living
and working with the people of Nicaragua as best we could.
The lessons we learned were found
somewhere in the morning bus
rides with locals and in the stories
my host mother told. It was some-
where in the joy of seeing the chil-
dren smile while learning to play a
new game. It was in the handshakes
after a house visit or after we hauled
stones and mixed concrete. It was
in the faces of those who worked
in the fields and in the factories. It
was in showing up every day in the
community, being present and lis-
tening to the voices of the people.
But this trip wasn’t about help-
ing people who are helpless and
it wasn’t about any one group of
people coming to save another. It Scott Kaplan of Pranaphoto.com
was about finding some truth through Last remaining tree in what is now a land field
working in mutual responsibility.
Page 6 The Sycamore April 15, 2010

Opinions
Farmers’ Market Pilgrimage Everyone’s Environment
Brian Ross
Contributing Columnist

Kristy Butts
Contributing Columnist
It’s late Friday night on April 2nd, 2010
and like some anxious child waiting up
for their favorite holiday, I cannot sleep.
Tomorrow is the first farmers’ market
of the season and I’m salivating in an-
ticipation of purple potatoes, baby spring
greens, pungent ripe cheeses, and the fac-
es of the farmers I haven’t seen since last
November. I can’t help it; I’m a foodie.
Every Saturday for the last 3 years during
the farmers’ market season, I have eaten a
tofu crepe and iced coffee at the Vietnamese
noodle stand for breakfast. A small Vietnam-
ese woman named Tammy and a few of her
relatives operate the noodle stand. Several
years ago I asked her to customize a savory
crepe for me with her homemade tofu and
the greens she uses for her noodle bowls.
Late last year she paid homage to my patron-
age and officially put it on the menu. There
are few people outside of my immediate
family and select friends that intuitively un-
derstand me the way that Tammy probably
does. The most remarkable thing is that
this relationship is not unique to Tammy
and me. In this fast paced hyper-individ-
ualized world, I see similar relationships
Courtesy of Kristy Butts
blossoming all over the farmers’ market.
Like many Naropa students I am very con-
scious about what I eat and where my food
comes from. My weekly visits to the farmers’
market have transfigured into a sacred act of
pilgrimage. I may never be able to circum-
ambulate Mount Kailash or follow a song
line in Australia but I know the entire jour-
ney of most of my food from seed to table.
Throughout my education at Naropa I
have learned that no matter what way
we look at it, eating has become a politi-
cal act. In my opinion, growing your own
food or purchasing it directly from those
who grew it is an act of civil disobedience
just as powerful as Gandhi’s salt march.
With spring upon us, I would like to en-
courage my fellow students to pilgrimage
to the farmers’ market and initiate a new
type of contemplative practice and rela-
tionship to what you eat. The food we eat
has the potential to transform our personal
and collective consciousness into a new
paradigm. At the farmers’ market you can
bear witness to the power of eating local.
I was recently engaged in a conversation
about the ecological damage created by mod-
ern cities. After twenty minutes of fruitlessly
trying to get my friend to admit that mod-
ern cities are ecologically destructive, I was
frustrated and discouraged. Why couldn’t
he just see it my way? If this all seems so
obvious at Naropa, then why am I having
such difficulty reaching out to my friend?
This kind of dialogue is a crucial stumbling
point in the environmental movement. It
often leads to individual conflict and gen-
eralizations of environmentalism. This
needn’t be the case. We must consider the
nature of this problem, and how the Naro-
pa community can turn toward a solution
I have discovered that engaging in conver-
sation with the goal of trying to get oth-
ers to think our way tends to produce mea-
ger results, however tempting it may be.
When we dialogue in the fashion of “you
must care about the environment as much
as I do” we are playing a losing game. In
that moment, we have drawn a line in
the sand, a chasm dividing individuals.
Furthermore, conveying an environmental
message in this way leads to a general defen-
siveness and stereotyping toward the environ-
mental movement. Regrettably, the prevailing
public attitude in regards to “environmental-
ists” are “those people who are telling me how
I should live” or “those people who are making
me feel guilty about driving my car to work.”
Obviously, this kind of sentiment is damag-
ing towards a sustainable vision of the future.
Apprehensive and reactionary attitudes
toward the environmental movement
are especially frustrating because, ulti-
mately, we humans are on the same team.
Oil executives, land developers and Republi-
cans, whatever we may think of them, enjoy
the beach, parks and forests of the world
as much as we do. Fundamentally, no one is
actually against the environment. How then
can we use this information to more effec-
tively convey ecological and social sustain-
ability without triggering defensiveness?
I think the answer is inspiring a vision. When
engaging with others who hold dissimilar
world views, I’ve found it’s important to of-
fer inspiration rather than invite debate.
Instead of saying “our modern cities pollute
and destroy ecological systems,” a point that
invites contention, I could have said, “imag-
ine a city that is mutually enhancing to both
people and the environment.” This brand of
interaction fosters new thinking and gives
meaningful direction to the conversation.
It is paramount that we in the Naropa commu-
nity communicate messages of social and eco-
logical sustainability in light of the fact that all
humans share an inherent love for the environ-
ment. If we dialogue from this lens, openness
and, most importantly, cooperation emerge.

Choosing the Next Student Trustee

Phil Battos
Managing Editor
Like most private colleges, Naropa Univer-
sity is governed by a Board of Trustees. The
Trustees are legally and financially responsible
for the University. They select the president,
approve the annual budget, and have the fi-
nal say in all important issues at Naropa. The
Trustees are some of the most committed
supporters of the University. In addition to
making large donations every year, they are
constantly working to expand the reach of
the Naropa mandala to provide more re-
sources and opportunities for our students.
Since 1990, Naropa has had a Student Trustee
who is a full voting member of the Board.
Although it is very unusual for a school of
Naropa’s size to have a Student Trustee,
Naropa’s leadership strives to include stu-
dent participation at all levels of Univer-
sity decision-making. The Student Trustee
is a vital source of communication between
the students and the Board of Trustees.
I have had the honor of serving as the Stu-
dent Trustee since 2008, when the previous
Student Trustee, David Christie, graduated.
My participation in the Naropa community
as both a student and a Trustee has allowed
me to fully experience the beauty and chal-
lenges of our University. As a student, I
have felt the warm and fuzzies that stirred
so many of us when we first discovered this
place. I have been awed by the compassion
of my peers and humbled by the knowledge
and dedication of my teachers. I have felt the
pinch of paying tuition and bills while on fi-
nancial aid in an affluent city and in a coun-
try that compels most students to assume a
burden of debt before they have graduated.
As a trustee, I have seen how the founder’s
visionary sparkle for contemplative education
has been sustained and articulated in a culture
of leadership that celebrates creativity, tradi-
tion, and social responsibility. And I have seen
how the economic recession has had real mate-
rial consequences on Naropa’s budget, endow-
ment, and our ability to transform our institu-
tion into the place that we all dream it can be.
The Student Trustee position provides
an excellent opportunity to participate
in student government, meet some of
Naropa’s pioneering leaders, and serve
the University by bringing a student
voice to the most far-ranging decisions.
My term will end in the fall so the Student
Union of Naropa (SUN) will be hosting
an election in September for the next Stu-
dent Trustee. This position plays an inte-
gral role in our community so it is impor-
tant for every member of our student body
to participate in the evaluation and election
of the candidates. I hope you will consider
nominating a candidate who can repre-
sent the values and interests of the student
body. Further, I hope each of you express-
es your vision for our future with a vote. Courtesy of Naropa University
Phil Battos, Student Trustee
Page 7 The Sycamore April 15, 2010

Featured Student Group

Integral Naropa (iN)

Erik Lenderman & Jesse Seavers

iN Co-Founders

Integral Naropa (iN) is becoming a potent

gathering place for some of Naropa’s bright-
est and most embodied minds. Every Wednes-
days at noon, the founders of “iN” create a
new way of translating the greatest teachings
of the East and West in order to cultivate a
common language for personal development.

Integral Naropa includes a group of dedicated

spiritual practitioners whose aim it is to ground
Integral Consciousness on the University Scott Kaplan of Pranaphoto.com
iN members at weekly meeting
campus through a plurality of perspectives.

iN upholds the intention that while every- While the psychologies of the West can see how necessary an integral world view is. home and make a friend. Leadership and
body cannot be completely right all of the become consumed by the analysis of ex- personal development are key focal points
time, everybody brings a valuable piece of terior frames of development, the Con- When people are able to hold an integral of this rapidly maturing student group
truth that reveals an ever present whole. This templative Traditions are often dismissed perspective, western psychology and con- that is currently accepting new members.
integral framework allows members to bring as arbitrary and fantastical. At Naro- templative practices begin to compliment
together diverse parts of their human experi- pa, however, students are acutely aware and strengthen each other as friends. Wit- To join the iN mailing list, please e-mail:
ence as a way of expressing the slogan “the of the power that both traditions offer. nessing the elements of truth in all perspec- jseavers@students.naropa.edu
whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” tives can also enable people to view tradi-
As iN begins to radically reevaluate what it tions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Shinto,
The language of Integral Naropa has means to be human, and what it means to live and Judaism as agreeable and compatible,
become an essential tool for the emer- in a world that holds both the span of science rather than contradictory. iN is cultivating a
gency that is faced today: fragmentation. and the depth of spirit, participants begin to space for every piece of the puzzle to find a

Events
The Simple Tradition of Tea
Ania Chapska
Senior Staff Photographer
“Spread peace through a bowl of tea,” was the mes-
sage passed down from Sen No Rikyu of the 16th
century, and that message resonates in traditional tea
ceremonies to this day. Chado (the way of tea) is
not just a gathering for tea lovers, but a way of life
incorporating the Zen Buddhist concepts of wabi
and sabi, or “beauty in simplicity.”
On April 7, Michael Ricci, a certified instructor in
the Urasenke lineage of Chado, lead a group of
community members in the traditional Chado Tea
Ceremony at the Tea House at Naropa. The Tea
House, which was moved from Chögyam Trungpa’s
house after his death, is now a sanctuary at the Uni-
versity.
At the event, the ceremony’s four principles of har-
mony, respect, purity and tranquility were put to
practice. Mastering each of these principles in the
ceremony and then incorporating them into daily
life helps one to find the place of tranquility that
resides within each being.
As there are around 850 documented variations of
the ceremony, the mastery of Chado can take years
to complete, and the studying of the finer nuances
may take a lifetime as they get more complex and
formal, consisting of deeper teachings.
The master practitioner of the Chado must also be
familiar with other disciplines that are interrelated,
such as calligraphy, flower arranging, and pottery.
Michael has studied with various instructors across
the U.S. and Europe, but his most prominent studies
took place at the Urasenke Headquarters in Kyoto,
under the original 15th generation grand tea master
himself.
The Urasenke lineage of Chado has been passed
down in tradition to what is now the 16th genera-
tion of blood descendants. Although it originated in
Japan, there are centers all over the world offering
intense study of mastering the ceremony.
For Michael, the way of the tea has become his way
of life. Immersing himself in the Zen Buddhist tra-
ditions over a decade ago, he noted that, “tea is a
contemplative practice that cultivates awareness.”
And this contemplative practice is what he has spent
the last six years devoted to, teaching eager students
so that they too can understand the peaceful way of
this sacred practice. Michael noted that it was his
hope that the Tea Ceremony would one day become
a part of Naropa’s Traditional Eastern Arts curricu-
lum.
Ania Chapska of The Sycamore
Tea Ceremonies take place on Mondays from 3 to 6 PM at Michael Ricci performing traditional tea ceremony
the Naropa Tea House located on the Arapahoe Campus.
Students interested learning more can contact Michael Ricci
at: riccimjr@hotmail.com
Page 8 The Sycamore April 15, 2010

Dr. Paula Green Speaks to the Community

Isaac Eide
Staff Writer
On April 7th, as part of The Lenz
Foundation Series of Distinguished
Lectures, Dr. Paula Green spoke be-
fore a packed Performing Arts Cen-
ter about her work as an international
peace builder.
Introduced by Provost and VP of
Academic Affairs Stuart Sigman, Dr.
Green discussed her career in working
with people throughout the world that
have been affected by the “cycle” of
violent conflict.
In 1994, Dr. Green founded the Ka-
runa Center for Peace Building, which
Chee Xiong of The Sycamore hosts expeditions into countries where
Dr. Paula Green speaking in PAC
conflict has occurred and holds pro-
grams to support dialogue and conflict
resolution.
Dr. Green’s work as a facilitator and
lecturer has spanned six continents,
including countries such as Bosnia,
Rwanda, and Azerbaijan.
Speaking on her personal path toward
becoming a peace builder, Dr. Green
noted she began her professional ca-
reer as a psychologist, but after accept-
ing a teaching position at the School
for International Training (SIT), she
became increasingly drawn to the field
of peace building through dialogue.
At the event, Dr. Green said, “What I
do is not magic, but I allow people to
bring their full, authentic self.”
Throughout her lecture, Dr. Green
expressed her enthusiasm for Naro-
pa and its mission. She noted that,
“Peace is in our reach - and it is up to
you to apply what you are learning at
Naropa [for peace].” She concluded by
saying, “The world needs every one of
you.”
The event’s sponsor, The Lenz Foun-
dation, has been an important donor
to Naropa. Throughout the years, they
have provided the University with stu-
dent scholarships, a visiting fellows
program, curriculum development
funding, as well as the Distinguished
Lectures.

Brian Stone Bi-Weekly Events Calender Sponsored by S.U.N

Calendar Manager

Thursday, April 15 Friday, April 16 Saturday, April 17 Sunday, April 18 Monday, April 19 Tuesday, April 20 Wednesday, April 21
Second Issue of The 12:00PM 8:00-10:00AM 9:00AM 12:00-1:30PM 3:45-5:00PM 12:00-1:00PM
Sycamore Released Performing Arts Center Nalanda Events Center 47th St. at Kalmia Field 4 Performing Arts Center Dana, Paramita Campus Upaya Cottage North
Available on Concert Percussionist Lecture: The HW Myth Naropa Soccer Game Congressman Polis Lion’s Roar Meditation Naropa AA 12 Step Meeting
All Campuses 7:30PM 9:30-12:00PM 12:00-1:00PM
1:00-3:00PM 3:00-4:00PM
Nalanda Studio, Rm: 9190 Paramita, Virya Rm Rm: 9180, Nalanda Naropa Tea House Paramita Meditation Hall
4:30-5:30PM American Dreambox Focusing:Deep Listening Maitri Bhavana Practice
Lincoln Shrine room Partner Yoga Wrkshp Chado: The Way of Tea
Sit with Lama Tenpa 8:00PM 12:00PM & 4:00PM 5:00PM
Performing Arts Center 8:00PM 5:15-6:30PM Paramita Hall
Rm: 9190. Nalanda
Exploring body/voice Performing Arts Center Lincoln Shrine Room The Dharma of Addiction
7:00-8:30PM From Inside a Junk Pile
Exploring body/voice Zen Style Meditation
Wesley Chapel 9:00PM 12:30PM 6:30-8:30PM
1290 Folsom St Nalanda Studio, Rm 9190 KGNU Radio, 88.5 FM Sycamore 8120
Boulder Pride Forum Puffs: A Thesis Show Prof. Kapur on MLK Get a Great Job

Thursday, April 22 Friday, April 23 Saturday, April 24 Sunday, April 25 Monday, April 26 Tuesday, April 27 Wednesday, April 28
12:00-1:20PM 9:00AM 8:00-9:30PM 9:00AM 3:00-4:00PM 3:45-5:00PM 9:30-10:20AM
Shambhala Hall Arapahoe Campus Green Virya and Paramita Halls 47th St. at Kalmia Field 5 Naropa Tea House Dana, Paramita Campus Shambhala Hall,
Asana Community Yoga Love in Action: Concert MA Psyc: Presentations Naropa Soccer Game Chado: The Way of Tea Lion’s Roar Meditation Asana Community Yoga
4:30-5:30PM 12:00-1:20PM 10:00-12:00PM 5:15-6:30PM 12:00-1:00PM
Lincoln Shrine room Shambhala Hall Meditation Hall Lincoln Shrine Room Upaya Cottage North,
Sit with Lama Tenpa Asana Community Yoga Dharma Ocean Nyinthun Zen Style Meditation Naropa AA 12 Step Meeting
3:30-6:30PM
7:00PM-8:30PM 6:00-7:30PM
Boulder Recreation Cntr
Nalanda Events Center Paramita Meditation Hall
Dharma Basketball
Blood of the Earth: Col- Zen Peacemakers Meditation
orado River 8:00PM
Performing Arts Center
World Dance Concert

Thursday, April 29 Friday, April 30 Updates: thesycamore.org/events.php

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Lincoln Shrine Rm
12:00-1:20PM
Shambhala Hall
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