Shimer Alumni Bulletin
June 2023
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On June 11, at 1 PM local time, the Chicago group will be discussing Brave New World Revisited (first published in 1958). Brave New World is a novel, whereas Brave New World Revisited is a nonfiction exploration of the themes in Brave New World. When the novel first appeared in 1932, its shocking analysis of a scientific dictatorship seemed a projection into the remote future. Here, in one of the most important and fascinating books of his career, Aldous Huxley uses his tremendous knowledge of human relations to compare the modern-day world with his prophetic fantasy. He scrutinizes threats to humanity, such as overpopulation, propaganda, and chemical persuasion, and explains why we have found it virtually impossible to avoid them. Brave New World Revisited is a trenchant plea that humankind should educate itself for freedom before it is too late. For more information, or to join, contact Margie Sejbl at msejbl@yahoo.com
Also, Huxley gave a lecture at Shimer (and at many places across the country) in 1962 on "Human Potentialities." Russell Dobson was there. If you would like to hear the great man's voice here is a link to the same lecture given at another location
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Cellar Fellas Concert Was a Hit! |
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The Cellar Fellas, a 4-man band including David Shiner (Shimer faculty 1977-2017), Danny Fraser (S'80), and Ric Sutherland (S'81) had a blast at Archies cafe! Every seat was filled and the music ran the gamut from oldies to newer covers. |
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From Steve Zolno (S'71)
I received a couple of responses to my article about school censorship. Also, here is the link for a Washington Post article lamenting the decline in college enrollment. Further thoughts are welcome.
From Paul Jordan (S'72)
Rightfully, education is the pursuit of knowledge, not comfort. Confrontation with an awareness of what you don't know is inevitably at least a bit uncomfortable, and learning more is the only lasting solution to that discomfort. The tension between pursuing knowledge or comfort has existed from time immemorial.
From Joy Ibsen (S'62)
One of the enormous problems especially now has to do with definitions. What is a Human Being? Is a fetus a human being? How one defines a human being or for that matter, Life brings about major disagreements. Also defining FREEDOM is important. To me, freedom is not freedom if it takes away another individual's freedom. Not everyone agrees. Education should create common definitions-- but the definitions sometimes reflect powerful interests, not even society's majority values.
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Heirloom Books Support the Civic Humanities Project |
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On May 7, the Eriks - Graff and Badger (’98) - the managers of Heirloom Books (6239 N Clark St in Chicago) - presented a check for $800 to Stuart Patterson, chair of the Shimer School. The funds, donated by the Heirloom Books Foundation, will cover tuition for two Freedom Scholars, rising high school seniors, who this summer will inaugurate the Shimer School’s new summer program, the Civic Humanities Project. This June, 19 Freedom Scholars will complete a Shimer course on “Politics and Human Natures” while planning their college applications and civic engagement projects in their home districts across western Chicagoland. The funding from Heirloom Books will allow the Freedom Scholars to begin their college careers with two academic credits from the Shimer School and the invaluable experience of a Shimer seminar to guide their future learning. The Heirloom foundation has begun giving generously to local youth over the past year, and we are honored to be among the beneficiaries. Their support will help us extend the reach of other funding, including from the Teagle Foundation in NYC. We invite you to join in support of this new aspect of the Shimer School’s work by visiting the following page and contributing to the fund for the Civic Humanities Project.
We celebrated the Heirloom donation at the summer kickoff concert by the Cellar Fellars at Archie’s Cafe in Rogers Park. We plan to reconvene at Archie’s this fall for another round of old favorites from the Fellas, so look for that announcement in future editions of your alumni bulletin.
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From David M. Goldenberg, ScD, MD, (S'56)
After retiring from a career in academic medicine and developing a biotechnology company, I have turned to writing spy novels, heavy on science and seduction. My second book in the Milt Davidson, M.D., Ph.D., series, The Scenturion Spy, Book Two: Settling in Moscow (Booklocker.com), is now at the printer and should appear at the usual book distributors in a few weeks. The Scenturion Spy: Book One: Becoming a Spy, was published in September 2022. I find this a wonderful change in lifestyle and challenges. My website is davidmgoldenberg.com. I would love to hear from other Shimer octogenarians.
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From Zandra Huston (S'22) |
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It's been quite the whirlwind for me the past two months. About a week and a half ago, I moved from my condo on the Northside of Chicago to Indianapolis. All of my family is in Indiana, and I've missed being closer to them. My brother and sister, in particular, have been living their dream farmstead life without me, so I didn't want to keep missing out on the fun. They have chickens and a big garden if that gives you any idea of what they're up to. And as always, I'm up to a lot of things as well. I'll be doing a Massage Therapy certificate program in the Fall and I've decided to go full-time with my bookkeeping and finance consulting business! It's a scary step, but it's so freeing. All of this is good timing because it's giving me the chance to do some deep work with the business and even create a new website. I'd love to connect with other entrepreneurial-minded alumni if you're out there! Feel free to connect with me via email: zandrachuston@gmail.com.
And in about a week and a half, I'll be back up in the Chicago area helping Stuart out with the Civics Humanity Program! Upward and onward!
Oh, and I have a Great Dane as a roommate! 😅
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As We Were: Nine Days in October
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From Jan Maher (attended 1962-63)
My play As We Were: Nine Days in October will have a reading on June 24th and 25th, at 7 p.m. at The LAVA Center in Greenfield, MA. It will be videotaped as well, with the taped version available for two weeks in July. It is inspired by my experiences and observations as a first-year student at Shimer the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis. A "sacred flame" talk is referenced.
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New and Improved Donation Link |
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Courtesy of Yoshie Whan, Director of Development, there is now a more streamlined donation link available specifically for Shimer-related pledges. If you're interested in donating to the Civic Humanity Program, the Shimer Great Books School general fund, or the Shimer Great Books Annual Scholarships, please click the button below to be taken to the new site. |
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From Mark Garrison (S'76)
In December, the Morgan State University School of Graduate Studies, for which I serve as Dean, received the 2022 CGS/ETS Award for Innovation in Promoting Success in Graduate Education: From Admission through Completion. This international award recognizes a program we developed for the intensive training of doctoral teaching assistants. I was the primary creator of the program. The award funds additional work of the program. (CGS is the Council of Graduate Schools and ETS is the Educational Testing Service)
In April, I had an art exhibit at the Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City, Maryland. We had a gallery talk on April 17. Twenty-three of my paintings were mounted in the exhibit, and I spoke with students ranging from high school to kindergarten.
Finally, we have been restoring our family home in Kentucky for many years now, and it has been in the federal and Kentucky historic rehabilitation program for most of its reconstruction. The house and our family are being honored with the 2023 Ida Lee Willis Memorial Award for Outstanding Preservation Project. The Director of the Kentucky Heritage Council said: “As you may know, this particular award represents the highest recognition in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for extraordinary effort to rehabilitate or restore irreplaceable historic structures.”
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From Edward J Juracek (S'70)
It is with deep sadness that I report the passing of Mike Neuschwanger on April 22, 2023. Her obituary can be found here.
Mike graduated from Shimer College in 1963. She was a lifelong student even completing several courses at the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies, and establishing the Museum at the Savanna Army Depot, having produced all of the exhibits and finding many relics going back to the Base founding in 1916. Mike was a good friend, and knowledgeable about Shimer, the Depot, and Carroll County. She is dearly missed.
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From Frank J. Parry (S'65)
This past summer Carole and I drove to Alaska from South Carolina for the third time. (I published “Driving to Alaska” with Fulton Books two years ago.) I wrote a brief article chronicling our 2022 drive which was published as a two-page article in the Hilton Head Sun in October 2022. (If you want to read the article here's the link.) Highlights of the trip were driving the gravel-surfaced Top of the World Highway and the, also gravel-surfaced, old Denali Highway plus a flight around Denali. Now, at age 80, we’ve decided that it was our last long trip.
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From Steve Zolno (S'71)
We have received our shipment of Shimer mugs for distribution to our grads. We (that would be me) have been a bit remiss in not ordering them for the last few years. These were designed in 2017, the year we moved, and include the Shimer logo on one side and the North Central logo on the other. They are great souvenirs – I use mine every day. Thanks again to the generosity of Dan Shiner, Jonathan Goldman, and Brad Englert for contributing to this purchase. Grads who have not yet received them can pick them up for free. Otherwise, the fee for the mugs and postage will be $15. You can use our PayPal account: paypal.me/ShimerSchool
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From Zandra Huston (S'22)
The rest of us are curious :) Please share the work you've been doing, the places you've been seeing, and anything in between! While it may not always seem like it, the Shimer community is vast and there are plenty of connections still to be made (especially for more recent grads!)
Email shimeralumnigroup@gmail.com for your blurb to be included in next month's bulletin.
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T-shirt Selfies and Self-Reports, Please! |
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Now that it's t-shirt-time-of-the-year again, send us a selfie of you in your shirt(s) and permission to run them in the Bulletin.
And send us your news - let's read all about each other!
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