-
Identifier
-
Diso_00008
-
Title
-
Disorientation Manual (2010-2011)
-
Date
-
2010
-
Creator
-
The Sabot Infoshoppe at Last Word Books
-
extracted text
-
Il STUDETIT rnODUCED GUIDE TO Tf1E rvrnGnrrn rxrrn1rncr
Welcome
A Matter Of Place
Shit To Know About Housing
Food
TESC Food Service
The Flaming Eggplant Cafe
CELL
On Cops
The OPD: An Ongoing History
TASERs & Pepper Spray
How The Cops Got Guns
Evergreen & Prison Labor
Whats Up With The Administration?
Getting Paid To Smash The State
Anarchism
Anarchist Resources
Graffiti & Murals At TESC
Diversity At Evergreen
Graduation Speakers at TESC
Honorable Alumni
Queer People Of Color Project
Transphobia
White Race & Priviledge
A New MENtality
Sexual Violence & Consent
On The Notion Of Polyamory
Notes From A Fatty
Say the Word: Mynstruation
Basic Protest Safety
Green Is The New Red
Security Culture 101
Know Your Rights
Hell Yeah: Valentine's Day Uprising
Make Destroy Banks
Gentrification & The ODA
The Anti-Homelessness Trend
Signs Of Things To Come
Boycotts
City Council
Port Militarization Resistance
Smash ICE
The 2010 HCC Occupation
May Day
Music
lndymedia In Olytown
Go Outside
Ride A Fucking Bike
Olympia Map
Community Resource Guide
Recommended Reading
Hail and Farewell
Welcome to the 14th Annual
Disorientation
Manual
Undoubtedly, as a new student, you have received countless mailings and
I glossy handouts from The Evergreen State College admissions office and admin-
l
'
It
f
;I
istration attempting to "orient" you to the little world unto itself that is Olympia
and the Evergreen experience. Well, to their attempts to appeal to mom and dad
we say, "Fuck your whitewashed, glossed-over view of this place we love and thrive
in:' Thus, we desire to disorient you. In this manual, we want to give you some
idea of what's really been happening at Evergreen and in Olympia lately, and to
provide you with some ideas on how to get involved in the hectic, enriching community outside Evergreen so as to make the most of your time here.
We hope to expose you to some potentially new ideas and perspectives
that you will likely come across during your time at Evergreen. Depending on
where you're from, issues such as race privileges or food politics may or may not
have occured to you before. But, be sure, they will come up in seminar. We want
to prepare you here with overviews of such inflamatory ideas to help you begin
your process toward a life of thinking more critically and empathetically.
Every year, we work all summer to publish the DisMan so that you don't
have to start your Olympia experience from scratch. Hopefully you can use this
manual to inspire your own projects and feel more comfortable with Olympia as
your new home.
We recognize someofthearticles may have holes, beout-dated,oroffensive.
Deal with it. Or, better yet, get involved next summer to make the DisMan better
for those newbies to come. That said, we hope you enjoy this years Disman. Feel
\ free to contact the Sabot lnfoshoppe if you have questions or comments.
~f((~ ,_ ~
\,~----
~
.
DISC LA. IMER: The articles herein reflect the opinions of their anon~ymous .
authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Sabot lnfoshoppe,
::::!?,~~~
?
SSrntuddeenottA
Aclctivities, or The Evergreen State College.
~, c,a__~-~
-
~--=_;;,,,;;~:;¼_;;;;:
~~.-
.
• _
E1{;~i-~
~
, ~.
.)
~~~
:==~
-
1
A Matter of Place
Where Evergreen Lies & The Notion of Bioregionalism,
Long before Evergreen was built, the land our school now stands on was stolen from the Indigenous people of Puget Sound. This led to the Puget Sound Indian war, a rarely-mentioned but important
piece of local history. When the white settlers forced Indigenous people off their land, the traditional
techniques of land management went with them. While our Western mythology frames pre-invasion
America as a wilderness, there was actually little land that wasn't traditionally maintained for production
of food, medicine, fiber, and other necessities. In the Northwest, this often involved the pruning of berry
bushes to maximize production and the burning of lands to encourage certain plants and provide forage
for game animals. Areas such as the dwindling prairies south of Olympia were developed by the native
tribes through their land stewardship efforts hundreds of years ago.
Today, Evergreen rightfully boasts that it is the second largest college campus in the country.
For, while it is not uncommon for colleges to set aside a bit ofland as a nature preserve, the scale and setting ofEvergreen's approximately 800 acres of undeveloped land make it unique. Although all of the land
has been logged within the last hundred years and there are no old-growth trees remaining, the woods at
T.E.S.C. are quite amazing. Rumor has it that Evergreen is the largest piece of wild land left anywhere on
Puget Sound. Yet, there is potential danger to Evergreens undeveloped land. in that, being owned by the
state, the woods are at the mercy of the developmental whims of politicians and their ilk. Potential expansion of our organic farm into this pristine wilderness is another possibility. The Campus Land Use Committee (CLUC), a group of various staff members with a token student, is charged with the responsibility
of recommending management plans for Evergreen's land. For the most part, though, they leave things
outside the core campus area alone.
Many greeners, and non-greeners alike also enjoy the trees by setting up shop with a permanent
camp site. A very pleasant and cheap way to live, most would agree; especially in the summer months.
Sweeps of the woods have been made, and the people found living there have been ousted. Rumor has it
that Facilities is looking to hire someone to trek around in the woods, marking the location of all campsites using GPS units. They will then hire an outside contractor to demolish these campsites. Thus, if you
should choose to post up in the cut, make use of the free lockers around campus to store your valuables
and consider changing location from time to time.
A discussion of the land around us, the place we (at least for
four years or so) call home, would not be complete ifwe were to dimiss
the the beauty, uniqueness, and importance of our entire bioregion, not just
the small patch on which TESC resides. A bioregion is an area identified by
natural features such as geology; climate, water courses, and plant and animal
communities, as opposed to political boundaries. The importance of making
such distinctions lies in the natural desire humans have to connect with their
land and homebase, to understand the world around them through its history
and habits, and to interact with it on as many levels as possible. Each bioregion
hosts its own peculiarites and is usually named according to physical features. The northwest coast of the US and the west coast of Canada compose
the bioregion called Cascadia, named for the mountain range that extends
north to "British Columbia" and sou th into "California". This mountain range
was, in tum, named for the abundant cascading waters which define the area
(twenty of the forty largest rivers on the North American continent are
located in Cascadia). Some unique features of Cascadia are that it boasts
__
the longest migration of salmon in the Pacific ocean and hosts the second
""highest densities of bald eagles. Mt. Rainier, vlSlble from O!y, is Cascadia's
highest mountain at 14,410 ft. And, more locally, Olympia sits in the Sal, _
ish Sea "ecoreg10n" (a subdivison of a bioregion) along the southen edge of
--Puget Sound, one of the largest inland seas in what is call the United States.
Still, beyond such attempts at classification and definition, Cascadia
persists as a special place for all those who visit it and for those lucky enough to
call it home. Thanks to the more than 50 inches of rain we get a year in Olympia
(mostly between November and January), we are blessed to be surrounded by a
land lush with old growth temperate rain forests, abu ndant flora & fauna, countless
rivers and watersheds, mountains, and of course the beautiful Pacific Ocean (which,
as a side note, should really be at the center of any world map as it is the largest
and most distinguishable feature of Earth from space). Such a settling has helped foster
a deep reverence for the natural world in many that come to visit and stay. We hope, in
the years ahead of you, that you come to learn ever more about this wonderful part of
the world. The Evergreen woods are a great place to start, especially if you are coming
from a largely urban background.
The woods surrounding campus host many of the native plants found
throughout Cascadia. If it interests you, try to learn some of them. Start slowly,
learning a few at a time. Learn the poisonous ones, the edible ones, the one that
provide you with natural medicines, and the ones you can make things such
as cordage or baskets out of. Or learn about the different animals, their calls,
tracks, and habits alone are an endless field of study. Learn the fungi and
lichens and the rhythms of the seasons. Or just get ou t and explore! A
relationship with this land will help you develop a sense of place here at
the college, and in Olympia. As students we have the great privilege of
having this land all to ourselves. The woods are there for your learning
and enjoyment, don't squ ander them.
ECOREGIONS
of
CASCADIA
f
efs
J au t i f ~ ~ e&I
t~e J'6ods s~ittlinq'Ev~een ~ s ~ ! t h a t sZp~p~wfffne~r
learn to repect what is sha red by all. It usedto be that "the meadow" was "the place to go." Now
-·
bits of melted plastic, co rroded aluminum and broken lass lie scattered around a charred bit
f1.1i~ ·} ~ of land as a reminder of all the pa rties that took place t~ere . Now, "the bluff" is the "happen in'
\rt<,{~ _,
spot" because who really wants to kick it at that ugly old meadow? Now I find trash at the bluff
:,
every time I go to look out over the sound . So I ask you, as the next generation of greeners, please
;
don't let t his pattern continue th roughout our enchanting woods . By all means, toke, trip, drink, and
run amuck in gene ral, but take only pictures and leave only footprints . Please save your tagging for
our urban wastelands that need beautification and leave the woods as th e sanctuary from such
signs of society that they are supposed to be. Learn to recognise the endangered plants such as
W ild Ginger, Pipsissewa, and Trillium and take measures to wotect them. If you decide to camp,
please pack out what you pack in and don't leave another festering campsite abandoned . And,
above al11 I implore you, learn to develop an overall respect for the natural world and for what we
leave benind for future generations. That said, I leave you with the words of our beloved Lorax:
" Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
•
~
·
Cost:Dependingonone'sconsumption,Housingcanbeeitherawesomeorterrible.Therateisapackagedealthatincludesunlimitedutilities
(heating,water,waste,andelectricity)pluscableTVandintemet.Housingwillpayforcertaincosts(replacingthingsthatneedconstantupkeep,suchaslightbulbs)butlargerdamageswillbechargedtothestudents.Cleaningfees,whenyoumoveoutarealsosomethingtowatch
forbutwhateveryoudo,DONOTstaytocleanpastthemove-outdate;thefeeformovingoutlateisexorbitant.Also,ifaroommatemovesout
ofyourdorm,youmaybechargedhundredsofdollarsfor"ReducedOccupancy''unlessyoucanfindanotherroommateormovetoanother
dorm.
Theme:Thesehavechangedconsiderablyoverthelastfewyears.Currently,thebreakdowngoeslikethis:A,B,&C:firstyearstudents ,D:
first year quiet, E & F: first year apts., G : no theme, H: quiet, I & K: gender neutral, K: quiet, N: sustainability, R-U : no theme.
Substances:Recently,residentshaveseenaseriousriseinMIP's(minorinpossession:amisdemeanor)andpoliceinvolvement.Some
considerationsarethatEvergreenisastateinstitutionandthereisnowlesstoleranceforsubstanceuse.Asarecommendation,HIDEYOUR
SHIT. Don 't leave paraphernalia sitting out on the table or smoke weed in public places.
Contract:Asitstands,youaresigningupforthefull-year,it'snotdonebyquarters.Evergreendoesnotrequirestudentstoliveon-campus,
regardlessofclassstandingbutfreshmenlivingoncampusarerequiredtobuyafullyearmealplanatthehit-or-missGreenerybuffetinthe
Library building. The one way you can break contract(apartfrom dropping out) is if you leave Olympia fora class or contract.
MandatoryMealPlanforFreshman:SomeblamethisracketonEvergreen'slossesafterpreviousfoodservices,buttherehasalsobeena
pushfromparentswhoareconcemedabouttheirchildreneating.Mandatorymealplanswereimplementedbecauseofthefinancialbacking
neededtoprovidefoodfor4000students(includingthe900studentsoncampus);mandatorypurchasesofthemealplansensurethatAramark,anunsavorycorporation,makesahugeprofit.(TIP:youcanbypassthismandatoryrequirementbytalkingtoyourRAorRDandsaying
that you have special dietary needs that cannot be met by the food service.)
RAs:Sometimesitishilormiss.Forthemostpart,theyaregoodpeople,buttheyarealsoagentsofthestate,andtheyhavetoactaccordinglytomaintaintheirjobs,andthefreeroomand board plusstipendthattheyreceivefrom it. ltiseasytoavoidthem,butyoucouldalsoget
toknowthemfirst,thengaugehowmuchyouwanttointeractwiththem.Theycanbeyourbestfriend ,buttheyhaveajobtodo,soknowyour
boundaries .
T enantRights:AccordingtoWashington Title59,RCW59 .18.040,youasastudentlivingonstatepropertyareexemptfromtheWashington
StatelandlordandTenantslaw;youhavenorenter'srightstoprivacy.Soessentially,ifthepoliceseefit,theyarewithinthelawtoaccess
every room of your house without a warrant.
ThrowingAParty:Firstofall, you havetodecidewhethertonotifytheauthorilies. In mostcasesitdoesnothurttofillouta partyapplication
provided byHousing( askyourRAforone). Housingwillnotifythepoliceaboutthepartyandtheymayswing bybeforeitstartsjusttocheck
inwithyou.Evenifyoudecidenottofilloutanapplication,HousingandthePolicemayfindoutaboutitontheirwalkthroughsandtheywill
respond in a much more negative and confrontational way if they were not informed .
Secondly,in2002thecampusimplementedano-kegpolicyandtheyarenotafraidtoenforceit.Thegeneralruleforalcoholisthat
itmustbekeptinside. Lastly,theadvertisingofpartieson uppercampus isstrictlyforbidden, and iftheyfindflyersthere, theywill ripthem
downandun-registeryourparty.Animportantthingtokeepinmindisthatthehostofapartycanbeheldcompletelyresponsiblefortheactivitiesoftheguests,invitedornot. Don'tletanyofthisscareyou ,justactprofessionalwhendealingwiththeauthoritiesanditshouldallworkout
fine.Also,there'safairamountofmoneyavailableforstudentswantingtohosteventsthroughHousing,andthiscanbeespeciallyusefulifyou
wanttousetheHCC,thegym,orthefieldforperformances.YourRAisgivenacertainamountofmoneypermonthtospendonresidents,so
besuretousethattoo.lnadditionifyouareplanningsomethingbigger,askyourRAtoputyouincontactwiththeprogrammingRDthrough
the housing office or contact the Greener Organization for further funding .
Every bite of food consumed can be viewed as
a political, social, and environmental issue. It's hard to
make it in this economy (yes, even with Obama) by producing high quality, truely organic, non-exploitative,
sustainably-grown food. This makes the stuff your body
actually needs either hard to find or so prohibitively
expensive that your average person is forced to eat a
bunch of cheap crap. For, although bright and shitty
advertisements and conveniently overflowing grocery
store shelves entice you to chow down on the brands
you know and the names you trust as though they were
good for you, a lot of the heavily marketed "food" in
stores is full of horrible shit.
Of the many failures and societal issues agribusiness practices result in, associated health problems
are possibly the foremost concern for most people.
Looking backwards, obesity and cancer are only recent
phenomenon, having become epidemics after the second agricultural revolution. Hydrogenated oils and genetically modified (GM) crops (such as the corn and soy
products that are in most every processed food) have
unknown, barely studied effects on human bodies. A
survey of scientific studies of Aspartame (aka Nutrasweet, an artificial sweetener) showed that 92% of independent researchers identified it as dangerous, linked
to headaches, seizures, and brain-damage. (Curiously,
none of the studies funded by Nutrasweet identified
any health concerns.)
The food industry is also replete with worker
exploitation. In the US, migrant workers make up a large
percentage of the agricultural work force. For them,
safety on the job is a Joke because they're either being
exposed to toxic chemicals daily (pesticides, fertilizers,
etc.) or working in the most dangerous job listed by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, i.e. slaughterhouses. Coffee
farmers throughout the Americas work in sweatshoplike conditions, earning less than $1 (US) per pound of
"gourmet" coffee.
The environment is impacted by industrial
farming practices in more ways than can be discussed
in this article. Monoculture farming, the excessive and
hazardous use of chemical fertilizers /herbi/fungi/pesticides, shipping food half-way across the globe so we
can eat mangos in February, and the destruction of rain
forests to grow soy beans and raise cattle for US hamburgers are just tips of this frightening and completely
unsustainable system of providing the food we eat.
You'll likely come to find that many people at
Evergreen and in Olympia in _general are pretty food
conscious. Not a bad trend to follow. Here's a short run
down of ways to provide some better food for you and
yours at little or no cost.
GROWING YOUR OWN - Be it gardens, farms, or guerilla gardening (gardening in otherwise unused space), growing your own food is
extremely satisfying and surprisingly easy. Watching little hard seeds
explode into luscious edible green things is intensely fulfilling. It is this connection to your food which makes you truly
independent. It is also cheap and top notch. There are lots
of opportunities around Oly for access to garden space .
GRuB (Garden Raised urban Bounty,
www.goodgrub.org) builds planter boxes
for low income people for free! There
are always unlimited places to grow
food for free, year round , and
they are probably near your
home.
DUMPSTER DIVING - All corporate grocery stores and many restaurants throw away lots and lots of food every single day. A prime example of this can be found on campus. Dumpster diving is a skill best
learnt by getting out and doing it and not getting frustrated if you don't
get immediate results. Legality (aka theft, trespassing) varies from
situation to situation so take that into consideration . But
you may end up with thousands and
____,
thousands of
dollars worth of groceries,
doughnuts ,
piua, and beer for
the cost of a
few dollars of
~~~::::="~
gas and a new
headlamp. And trust
me, you'll never
cease to ask yourself,
"Why the hell would anyone
throw this away?"
--~~=======--
THE G L EA NE RS COALITION - This organization harvests non-saleable organic produce that
would otherwise rot in the fields and distributes it to
low income people through organizations such as the
Thurston County Food Bank, Safe Place, and Food Not
Bombs. Volunteers take what they need and share the
rest. And there is always plenty to go around . Check www.
gleanerscoalition.org/ for volunteer information and scheduling.
OLYMPIA FARMER'S MARKET - This is a great place
to support the livelihoods of locals with the purchase of
their goods of unbeatable yummy quality. And you can
use food stamps there . Open April-October: ThursdaySunday, 10-3. November-December: Saturday & Sunday 10-3. 700 Capital Way (north of 4th and State)
THE OLYMPIA FOOD CO-OP - The Co-Op is a friendly, notfor-profit, member-owned store with high ethical and nutritional
standards, and an emphasis on organic, local, and bulk food . They
have comparable prices (lowset markup of any co-op in the west),
vegan-friendly options, and community bulletin boards. The Co-Op
donates any profit to various non-profits, and is always looking for
suggestions on how to better serve the needs of our community. For
a small fee (waived for low-income individuals) you too can become
a member of the Co-op. Non-members pay 10% above the marked
(shelD price. Members can vote in Co-Op elections and also volunteer
at the Co-Op and receive extra discounts. Low income discount + Volunteer discount + Bulk Order discount = 45% off the shelf price! Go to
the Co-Op, it feels like home. 2 locations: West: (closer to TESC) 921
Rogers (754-7666); East: 3111 Pacific Ave (956-3870).
THE THURSTON COUNTY FARM MAP - A directory and map of small
farms in the Olympia-area . Take a bike ride over to one of the farms,
talk with the growers, and enjoy the beauty of small-scale agriculture .
Putting money directly in the hands of the farmers is exciting for everyone. Pick one up at the Farmer's Market or the Co-Op.
ROADKILL - Don't knock
- - - - ~ ~ it Iii you try it. A lot of happy
animals are killed by humans in their metal death boxes (aka cars) every
day. Why should they go to waste and rot in the
ditches and not at least be honored by putting their
flesh and hides to good use? Learning to skin and
process meat is an ancient skill that is fun to learn
and can provide you with healthy food , hand crafted
bone tools, and useful leathers. Venison, raccoon, rabbit.. Welcome to Yumtown .
FOOD NOT BOMBS - Food Not Bombs is an all-volunteer global
movement that shares free vegetarian meals as a protest to war and
poverty. Each chapter collects surplus food that would otherwise go
to waste then prepares community meals which are served for free
to anyone who is hungry. The Olympia chapter meets at Media Island
(816 Adams St.) on Saturdays at 2:30 to cook and serves at 4:30 at the
downtown library (8th & Franklin).
SHOPLIFTING - The corporate grocery stores fuck over their workers,
small and medium sized food producers, and you. Don't stand for it! Ultimately you'll have to evaluate for yourself whether it is ethically sound
to steal from corporations. Consumerism is consumerism whether or
not you pay for it (the manufacturer will still be paid , and the packaging
will still need to be thrown away). Consider the consequences some
workers may face by their employers if you shoplift. And be conscious
of the possible class/race prililedges you may be exercising while getting away with something others may not be able to.
·:-i'"'
\)
TESC FOOD SERTICE
As an entity, Evergreen, as well as most colleges around the
country, don't serve their own food but outsource their"food service"
to a "food service provider". In Evergreen's case, food service (like
anything over $3,300) is putout to bid by the purchasing department.
Then companies make bidsforthefood service, with both amounts and
changes theywish to make to the contract.The biggest food service providers in the United States are Sodexho, Aramark, Chartwells, and Bon
Appetit. Once every 5 years, Evergreen's food service contract goes out
to bid, opening the opportunity for a different food service provider on
campus. Hopefu Ily, some day Evergreen wi II transition to self-operated-mean i ng we operate our OWN frigging food service!
1980 - Judith, an Evergreen student, founds "The Corner" student-run
cafe after Saga/Marriott attempts and fails at a late night sandwich gig
under the governance of housing.
1988 - "The Corner" moves to the new Housing Community Center.
Much of lower campus and Cooper's Glen residents are patrons of the
cafe. Fine Host, the food service provider at the time, had poor quality
traditional foods so"The Corner" made bank on being the only simple
vegetarian option.
1998-2000 - "The Corner Coup" charismatic vegans took over. Vegans
at the time only made up six percent of the housing population and
could not be sustained by only their business. Cliquey kids, exclusive
food options, homie hookups, and "barters" (nugs for sandwiches, eh,
eh?) brought the demise of the corner, as best anyone can tel I- the story
seems somewhat lost to the ravages of time.
1990-2001 - Fine Host is Evergreen's food service provider.
2001 -Students wrote a business plan for a coffee/pastry shop and a pizza place, which became the Subterranean, located in the H.C.C. They
did pizza delivery, but lost money.
2001 - Food Service Disappearing Task Force committee decides it
would be in Evergreen's best interest to make preparations for transition to Self-Op(erated). They also recognized the first priority of getting
Evergreen's Food Program to be healthy. At the time of the DTF there
was not enough time or moneyto make the transition to self-op (college
run food service) before the end of Fine Hosts contract.
2001 - The food service contract goes out to bid again, and Sodexho
makes a pass. Masked students with a declaration to keep Sodexho off
campus becauseofits human rights abuses attend an open meeting between TESC and Sodexho. The corporate executives were intimidated
and retracted their bid to be Evergreen's food service providerdueto an
"anti-corporate climate" on campus.
Winter 2005 - SOFA organizes weekly potlucks with all of its members to show support for food service change on campus. Hundreds of
members join and attend potlucks. Potlucks happened consistentlyfor
almost 2 years despite Evergreen's attempts at cracking down.
Fall 2006 - Aramark's stustainability intern helps them achieve 17%
local or organic purchasing (based upon their definitions of local and
organic).
Winter 2006 - Convinced going self-operated is unfeasible, SOFA
membersbegintodirectenergyintoasideoperationstudentrun/owned
cafe with hopes of eventually transitioning to self-op.
Winter - Spring 2006- Seven Evergreen students complete 44 credits
in a group contract on food service issues and write a business plan and
feasibility study for the cafe. Only at a school with such great freedom
could we do what we're doing.
Spring 2006 - Using the selling point of a student run cafe, students
vote on and approve the Campus Activities Building redesign. This is
a self-imposed fee of $16 million, only $300,000 of which goes to the
student run cafe. Over the next 20years,everyfull time student will pay
a few hundred dollars a year toward thie fee.
Summer 2006 - Students vote on the Flaming Eggplant Cafe as the
name of the cafe. The Flaming Eggplant Cafe registers as an official
student group and completes their first business plan.
Winter2007 -The Flaming Eggplant writes its budget proposal to apply
to the S&A board for funding of the operation.The budget is presented
to the board in March with a record turnout of about 75 students.
2001-2004 - Bon Appetit becomes Evergreen's food service provider
and loses an average of $1,500,000 a year.
Spring 2007 - The S&A board denies the Flaming Eggplant budget request, citing depleted reserves from funding the recent million dollar
childcare center renovations. Undeterred, members of the Cafe add a
fee proposal to a student vote process already underway through the
Geoduck Union.The proposal requests $2 percreditfrom each student
registered in Fall quarter 2007. The vote passes with nearly 90% approval andgrantsabout $120,000tothecafeforstartupand operational
costs.
2003 - Subterranean reformed from pizza place to sub shop. They
lose $7000 in a year and the student-run cafe closes permanently. In
2-3 years the various incarnations of the H.C.C. student-run cafe lost
$134,000, at their worst losing around $25,000 in a year.
Fall 2007 - Evergreen and The Flaming Eggplant sign a Memorandum
of Understa ndi ng, a contractthatstipu lates the conditions u nderwh ich
the cafe may operate. This contract represents official approval from
Evergreen for the Cafe to operate.
Spring 2004 - SOFA (Students Organizing for Food Autonomy) campaigns to end corporate food service and transition to a sustainable selfoperated food service, collecting over 600 student signatures for their
petition.
Spring 2008 - Evergreen Residential and Dining Services offers to
buy a commissary trailer and lease itto The Flaming Eggplant until the
space in the redesigned CAB is completed. RAD will then use the trailer
as an emergency kitchen for its residents.
Fall 2004-2013 - Aramark is the only bidder on Evergreen's food service contract, so they win the contract, despite not meeting Evergreen's
specifications for the bid on the contract.
October 10, 2008 - The Flaming Eggplant opens!
201 O - CAB building redesign is scheduled to be complete. On the
3rd floor, there is a new space, the new home of the Flaming Eggplant,
complete with rooftop greenhouse and dining.
The Flaming Eggplant Cafe seeks to nourish people with
healthy ingredients, nurture the local economy, and help
sustain a unified community. They strive to provide wholesome foods through a locally-oriented, collectively-managed, cooperative part of TESC. And they work to enable
people to choose food that makes positive effects on the
earth and that encourages economic and social justice.
They are always looking for passionate people to get involved on staff, as volunteers, or as an internship.
Vendors
Magic Kombucha - Oly
A new Olympia company that offers the
only locally brewed kombucha.
Lattin's Country Cider Mill - Oly
Been making fresh cider for 31 years
and is proud to have won a number of
awards for having the best cider in the
country.
Hazelnut Milk
We use hazelnut milk instead of soy because soy is one of the five agricultural
commodities that farmers are paid to
farm. This system leads to grown monocrops and destroys biodiversity and local
economies. Our hazelnut milk is made
from Oregon hazelnuts.
Pixie Honey Company - Oly
We are proud to offer the yummy honey
from a business started by Evergreen
graduates.
Olympia Coffee Roasting Co - Oly
The only entirely organic coffee roaster
in Olympia and has worked with the
Cafe and the Community Agroecology
Network (CAN), a Santa Cruz organization that wors directly with coffee cooperatives in Latin America. Because of the
work that OCRC and CAN have done we
w_
ill have coffee from a coffee co-op in
Nicaragua. OCRC 1s now working with
CAN, a new relationship has been made
and there is the potential for more CAN
coffee to be used more widely throughout Olympia. Coffee is delivered to the
Eggplant once per week and brewed
daily.
8 Arms Community Bakery - Oly
This small b~siness uses mainly organic
ingredients in its pastries that we buy.
Gluten free and vegan options avialable.
Monday: 11 am-230pm
Tuesday-Thursday: 8am-8pm
Friday: 8am-230pm
Check www.theflamingeggplant.org
for more info.
WHO WE DO NOT WORK WITH
The Flaming Eggplant Cafe is committed to
working with companies that have ethical
and transparent practices. We want to work
with companies that address health, environmental, and social issues proactively, and
take responsibility for and implement changes to address mistakes made. We choose not
Northwest Natural - Oly
This wild-caught Alaskan salmon is to do business with companies that do not
processed in town with organic ingredi- act accordingly. Some companies we boycott
ents. Supporting wild instead of farmed are as follows.
salmon is important for the health of the
ecosystem because farmed salmon get The Coca-Cola Company - Atlanta, GA
Most Coca-Cola products are full of high
sick often and pollute waters.
fructose corn syrup and other additives that
are unhealthy. The company's bottled water
Oly Kraut - Oly
A new Olympia company committed to has contributed to the privatization of water.
making raw, unpasteurized sauerkraut. The company is known for having violent relations in Latin America--those who are not
complacent with imperial and oppressive
Organic produce from:
practices have been murdered.
Kirsop Farms - Oly
Pigman's Organic Produce PatchNestle - Vevey, Switzerland
Lacey, WA
Nestle is responsible for making baby forThe Evergreen Organic Farm
Organically Grown Cooperative mula that has killed thousands of infants due
to certain ingredients. The company has not
(OGC) - Portland, OR
taken responsibility for any of the deaths.
Blue Heron Bakery - Oly
The only organic bakery in town and has
been here since 1977. The breads are
a mix of whole wheat, spelt, and multigrain flours. For a fun down hill bike ride,
go visit the bakery on Mud Bay Road .
DISTRIBUTORS
Through these distributors we are able
to work with small producers on the
west coast, including Jerusalem House,
a company started by immigrants from
the Middle East that makes out tahini;
Surata Soy Foods, a Eugene company
that makes organic tempeh; and Lundburg Rice, responsible for some of the
only organic rice grown in California that
is available on the market; and Sweet
Creek Foods who supply our pickles.
United Natural Grocers Inc. (UNFI)Seattle, WA
Provides Bulk Food.
Glory-Bee Foods - Eugene, OR
Provides dry goods, oils, spices.
Monsanto - St. Louis, MO
Monsanto is the main agricultural giant that
has steadily spread genetic modification from
nation to nation, crop to crop, for the past
two decades. Genetic modification creates
dependence for farmers because they need
to buy new seeds from Monsanto every year,
due to the modified seed's inability to germinate. GM foods wreak havoc on biodiversity
and detract from the health of land. Testing
has not been effectively completed on the
long-term effects of GM foods, yet conventional markets have been flooded with these
crops and the United States government has
not acted to stop it. The Eggplant avoids
Monsanto by only buying organic food from
distributors, which cannot contain GMOs. The
Eggplant also strives not to buy from General
Mills, and Hain Celestial who hold many mutual funds mainly invested in Monsanto.
cell
Wholesome, local, farm-fresh organic food brings to mind colorful arrays of crispy vegetables, sweet-smelling
fruit, and savory foods. Unfortunately£ the "organic" label implies no techniques of sustainable agriculture. It implies
nothing of good jobs or healthy land. II is simply a list of chemicals not to be used and an expensive application process.
Agribusinesses nave co-opted the name to raise profit margins, systematically watering down USDA and international
organic standards to lower costs and raise the price. So that now Fruit Loops can be organic and monoculture farming
practices get a green stamp of approval. Since the US government subsidizes commodity crops such as corn, wheat
and soy by busnel per acre, with taxpayer money, smalrfarms with a wide range of crops struggle to compete.
'
Rather than considering food a basic human right, the wealthiest nations and corporations in the world view it
as an economic commodity. Neoliberal policies and free trade agreements have spread industrial agriculture worldwide
in the name of efficiency and more food for everyone. However, people are not usually nourishecfas a result of these
policies. Monsters of free trade have convinced governments in the global south and east to replace systems of traditiona~ sustainable and subsistence farming with cash cropping and a reliance on patented seeds. This limits access to
food ror marginalized populations.
Conversely, sustainable food production on a small scale encourages biodiversity on the farm, healthy food,
and less dependency on the flux of global markets. The Evergreen Center for Ecological Living and Learning attempts to
demonstrate local food systems based on ecological, social and economic sustaina5ilitv and justice. The CELL is located
on the far west side of campus and is accessibre by a trail behind the Art Annex and Lab Buildings as well as by road.
Stop by the farm anytime to visit and check its fac~ities listed below.
"Those who argue that the police sometimes do good things bear the burden of proving that those same
good things could not be accomplished at least as well by other means:' -Anonymous
The
illusion
of
police necessity in our everyday lives is something most
people
from
comfortable,
liberal
backgrounds
often
have a hard time questioning. "We need cops, or else
we'd be killing
each other;'
they say. But I always like
to
ask
people, "When
was
the last time a cop really
helped
you?"
Sure,
there
are
the
random
anecdotes
of an officer rescuing a cat
or
catching
a burglar.
But,
in
reality,
most
police
officers (and the Olympia Police Department [OPD] is no
exception
here)
spend
much
of their time harassing poor
people
and
protecting
the
interests
of
the
ricn
and
powerful.
Think
about
it:
how many laws and
social
problems
could
be
better
addressed
through
drug
counseleing,
job
placement,
psychological
treatment,
or anger management?
But this is not the
way
our
society
is
structured.
The
pol1ce--and
the
state
body
they
represent-prefer to keep their power
structures in place so as to keep the proletariet (that's you) in check. The rich and powerful want to stay rich and powerful and they
will use the lethal force of their hired goons
(aka pigs, aka cops) to make sure the pendulum doesn't swing too far. All the while, the
circus of corporate media keeps us so afraid
that we couldn't imagine it being any other
way. Thus, those on top tell us to be happy
below the poverty line because if we try to get
free by any means, there's a boot waiting to
stomp our collective necks.
But
what's
the
alternative?
Well,
it
starts
with
addressing many of the actual
causes
of crimes. The
vast
majority
of
people
in prison are in there for
crimes
related
to
having
low
economic
status
(think
thefts,
dru~s,
and
robberies).
Rapists
and
murders
are
certainly
harder
to dismiss but, tnen again,
many of these people likely
came
from
a
violent,
detructive
belief
system
in
their
familiy
and
culture
that
fostered
such
distortions
of reality.
Belief systems that, in time I feel, can
eventually
be
erased
from
our
collective
concscience
through
intentional
healing and the development of
truely
nurturing
and
supportive
communities
on
a
small scale.
Dealing with social devianee is not an easy task. It
requires
intervention
and
help on all fronts. But the
threat
of
cages,
fines,
or
death
is
not
the
answer.
These issues are easy to ignore if you live a comfortable life. But they are central to many of the
problems in the world today. Who knows best
how to deal with a problem at home? Those
involved, or a police force from across town
or across the globe?
Interacting with the police is the only
way to know your enemy. The next step is to
know yourself, your environment and who you
trust.
Taking
care
of our
problems
ourselves
is
the
first
step
to
emancipating
ourselves
from the police.
The
O
lympiaP oliceD epartment
An Ongoing History
June 1988- In custody death of Danny Spencer, who was beaten and
hog-tied by Olympia officers Cliff Maynard & Aldo Fantoni.
August 1988 - Inquest field in the death of Danny Spencer. Taped
for TCTV. Inquest official findings reveal "positional asphyxiation" as
cause. Death Certificate says "Homicide" as cause of death. Officers
are not held responsible.
Spring 2004 - OPD extends their deadine to
investigate citizen complaints from 30 to 45
days.
2005 -
1992 - Olympia City Council allows citizens to file complaints against
Oly Copwatch
maintains records of police use of force and puts
continued pressure on
City Council to reign in
the police.
police at City Hall rather than just at the Police Dept. Assistant City
Attorney brought into investigating process.
Feb 2005 - TASER use drops
1991 - Citizens ask City Council to establish a Civilian Review Board
to bring more public accountability to the OPD. Council rejects the
idea.
in half.
March 1996- Oly Copwatch established to push accountability. They
organize public testimony on police abuses, propose Non-Violent/DeEscalating Training for officers, are aggressive about the hiring and
promotion of women and people of color as officers, call for adoption
of a community oriented policing policy and establishment of independent civilian review board.
February 1997 - Forum organized by City of Olympia, which brought
various experts to testify on structure and organization of police departments. Accountability is a side issue. Video taped for TCTV.
May 1997 - Copwatch sets up meeting with expert on law enforcement, Eileen Luna, to discuss issues with Olympia city officials. She
says citizen review is good for the city and the police.
Spring 2005 - Olympia City
Council creates a "Chief's
Forum," in theory to serve as
a venue to citizen input and
discussion about police operations and public safety.
Spring 2006 - Chief's Forum
actually starts meeting .
August 1997 - Gary Michel (of Oregon) hired to replace Chief John
Wurner after 18 years with OPD.
May 2006 - Police display a
complete lack of restraint and
use excessive and unnecessary vio lence against
protesters at the Port of
Olympia protests.
1998 - $15,000 of Olympia's City budget earmarked to conduct po-
August 2006 - Ron Nes-
lice accountability study.
bitt, an OPD officer fired
in 2005, is calling for a citizens'
review board as a check to police power and misconduct.
2000 - A police accountability study is done by John Walters with
components of case review and small public sessions. Study finds accountability system lacking, technical system flaws, and recommends
corrections as well as a different intake system.
January 11, 2001 - l<ent DeBoer, a mentally ill man who lives in
Olympia, is shot six times by Officers Jeffrey Dale Jordan and Gregory Thornton Brown while Cliff Maynard uses his TASER on the man.
DeBoer lives, but experiences severe health problems as a result of
his injuries. His federal lawsuit was dismissed.
2001 - Olympia City Council decided to create and Independent
Auditor to oversee police complaints rather than a civilian review
board. Council elects to exclude citizen participation in the auditor
process.
Nov 2007 - Multiple, coordinated uses of political violence against
Port Militarization Resistance participants by OPD officers in full
riot gear. The scene commander during these attacks becomes Professional Standards Lieutenant for 2008-2009.
November 15, 2008 - 23 year-old Jose Ramirez-Jimenez is sh ot in
the back to death by OPD Officers Paul Bakala and Michae l Hovda.
The execution was justified as the three claimed he attempt ed to
flee in his car. Present during the murder was a woman who's faced
harassment from OPD officers several times since. Out of fear, she
has removed herself from Olympia. Bakala, Hovda and Gassett are
still with OPD.
July 2009 - John J. Towery is investigated and ousted as a military
2001- Olympia City Council buys riot gear for the OPD due to complaints about street festivals and conduct during May Day.
Summer 2002 - Oly Copwatch reorganizes after hiatus due to police
harassment of homeless people in downtown.
November 7, 2002 - Officer Jeff Jordan TASERs Stephen Edwards
four times in one minute outside Ralph's Thriftway for suspected
shoplifting and punches him in the face, knocking him unconscious.
Edwards is dead just 15 minutes later.
informant by local radicals. Towery had been planted and active in local anarchist and "anti-war" war groups for at least 2 years. Towe ry
co-authored one of the most recent intelligence publications for the
U.S. Military. During this time he went by'John Jacobs' and provided
the military and, as far as we know, local police with major protest
and demonstration intelligence.
August 15, 2009 - OPD Officer Chris Cook shoots and kills Jose ph
Leonard Burkett at Saint Peter's Hospital in Olympia.
_ _ TASERs (an acronym for Thoma A. Swift's Electric Rifle[ taken from a science fiction story) are classified
as "less ethal" weapons. This simply means that they are
less-often-lethal \f>.'.hen compared to fire arms. They are
riot, and ar~ riot . intended to be, non-lethal. This Is an
important d1st1nct1on. Today there is a booming very lucrative industry in developing "less lethal" weaponry and
new TASER technology is constantly being developed and
in:iplemented . The i_ntent of this industry Is to put a more
friendly face on police terrorism.
TASERs aren't nice. They can cause 1st, 2nd
arid 3rd degree burns; puncture wounds; bruising· car~
d1ac arrest; and death. TASER-Nation, a watchdog group
p_uts the number of police murders from TASERs are 338
since 1999. Even Amnesty International reports that 277
people in the United States died after being tasered by
police between June 2001 and October 2007: Contrary to
popular mvthology, one does not have to have previous
heart problems to die from a TASER.
. L~gal_ly, Tf'.SERs are only supposed to be used by
the police In sItuatIons when otherwise lethal force such
as firearm,s, would be used. In reality, the upholders of
law brand1,sh these w~apons at our community without
any potential threat being posed to them and without second thought.
. At Evernreen, t~e_ notoriously ruthless Officer
Perez Is respons1151e for training the department in the use
of TASERs. In the course of one week, two Evergreen
M!CHANlCAL
6""'TS
POwl!R IN0 1cATOR
ANO DATAPORT
SA Fm SWITCH
PROB ES
LASER SIGHT
I
TRIGGER
• BATTSUES
Bl.ASTDOORS
~tudents were TASERed on campus by the Evergreen Pohc;e Dep_artm_
e nt (EPD). This is quite a drastic and rather
frightening figure, especially considering that neither of
th~se stuaents posed any 1:ype of violent threat to the
officers: the use of "less lethal" weaponry was purely off~nsive, not defensive. One student was TASERed for running away from the cops that caught him drinking. The
other student was TAS~Red three days later while tie was
running around riaked in the mods and yelling happily after allegedly taking some LSD. Evergreen p61ice ordered
by2tanders to holq this stu<;Jent to tlle ground while an
officer TASERed him four times. By the third time the
people hold\ng him down sa_id _that they could feel the
current pulsing through the v1ct1m's body. Clearly neither
student could not have appeared to be posing violent
threat to the police or his community. What the fuck?
a
Evergreen & Prison Labor
A few years ago, Evergreen contracted Correctional
Despite what you may have heard, prisons simply
Industries (Cl) to provide asbestos abatement in D Dorm for
don't work. Although incarceration rates have risen in the past
$49,900 (the prisoners being paid $2.00/hr.). When a custodian
decade, there has not been a corresponding decline in crime
foundoutabouttheseplansandconfrontedsomeofhissupervirates. In fact, increasing incarceration rates may work adversely
sors, he was told that Housing/Evergreen always contracts out
against crime. Prisoners live with inadequate medical care,abuto the lowest bidder, which in this case"just happened"to be the
sive guards, and lack of rehabilitation programs. Rape and the
spread of AIDS is exacerbated by the absense of condoms. All
prison industry.
Evergreen has contracted out to Cl "several times" in
this, coupled with an environment of criminal peers,often make
the past (the furniture in Student Activites was made by prisonexiting prisoners more violent than when they went in. They
ers 30 years ago). They do so under the provisions of Engrossed
leave with pennies to their name after receiving little treatment
Second Substitute Senate Bill
or guidance within prison. With
6489, which passed the legislittle chance of getting a job or 2,soo.000 ~ ~---_~..::-.::-.::-.:I~~~.::::r===:::;;---,--.---.---..------,
lature and was signed by the
being in a supporting community,
Incarcerated
governor in 2004. Section 10,
it is not surprising that more than
paragraph 3 of that law (RCW
60% of prisoners commit a crime 2,000,000
Americans
28B. l 0.029) states that "higher
after being released.
1920 -2007
education and correctional inWhile many prisoners
only need drug or alcohol coun- 1,soo,000 Sources: Justice Policy Institute Report:
dustries shall develop a plan to
The Punishing Decade, &
buildhighereducationbusiness
seling or help finding jobs, the
U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin
NCJ 221944: Prisoners In 2007
with correctional industries to
government opts to throw these
people in cages. More than 70% of 1.000.000
increase higher education purchases of correctional indusprisoners are locked up for non-vitries products ..." Paragraph
olent crimes, most ford rug crimes
or low level property crimes. Re- soo,ooo -I--~~~~~~~~~----:
4 states that "institutions of
higher education shall. .. purhabilitation programs cost far less
chase one percent [now 2% as
- and are more effective - than
of 2008] of the total goods and
prison (which costs more than
services ... from class II inmate
sending a person to Harvard, more
work programs, operated by
than $35,000 a year).
the department of corrections:'
Mostpri soners comefrom poverty-stricken neighborAny money inmates make while incarcerated can
hoods that suffer from inadequate education, unemployment,
theoretically be used to start paying their restitution or saved to
broken families, social isolation and other factors that make
criminal activity more likely. Prison time does absolutely nothhelp them transition when they are released.Jobs allow prisoners to learn skills and not have to sit in their cells for as much
ing to address these root causes of crime.
time. However, Cl, as a business, takes advantage of the fact
Largely a result of the "War on Drugs;' America's
that taxpayers are paying for their necessities, and uses cheap
incarceration policies haved isproportionately impacted mi norilabor for their own profit. Essentially, they get paid for prisoners
ti es, especially African Americans. While African Americans
doing work while undercutting local unions. With a law requirconstitute only 13% of drug users, they represent 74% of those
ing the college to purchase some of its goods and services from
sentenced to prison for drug possession. The result is that one in
inmate work programs, Evergreen's use of cheap prison labor
three black men between 20 & 29 is under some form of correcwill continue.
tion.
~~~~+~+~+~+~_)_-
A FEW WAYS TO GET INVOLVED IN PRISON ACTIVISM AROUND OLYMPIA:
Books to Prisoners - B2P Olympia is an all-volunteer effort to provide reading material free of charge to inmates in prisons
and jails across the country. They are always in need of good books, stamps, volunteers, and donations (find donation boxes around
Olympia and TESC campus). They meet every Sunday from 2-5 and Mondays from 5-8 on the cornver of 6th and Thomas SW to
answer prisoner requests, package books, eat popcorn, and chat. http://www.bookstoprisoners.net I btopoly@resist.ca I (360)3525460
Gatewa s For Incarcerated Youth - This 16 credit program at TESC aims to bridge the gap between incarceration and education. It is a program held in a maximum security juvenile institution with Evergreen students being peer learners with incarcerated
youth. This can be an amazing learning and growing experiencelor all involved. Stop By Sem II 52 E2131 or call Tony Zaragoza at
(360) 867-6025 for more information on how to get involved.
Demand that Evergreen includes labor and wage standards in RFP's (Request for Proposal) when searching for the lowest
bidder to work for the school.
Write Letters -The Sabot lnfoshoppe plans to hold prisoner writing parties throughout the coming year. Get involved and give
a shout to political prisoners everywhere.
ADMINISTRATION?
WHO MAKES THE RULES AT THIS PLACE?
For most people familiar with it, Evergreen is viewed as a radical place. Go hang out in a bar in Lacey
if you're not sure about the college's reputation. However, underneath this revolutionary reputation lies a hierarchical institution that often resembles the fucked up shit in society that we are considered radical for opposing.
One of the reasons there was no functioning student union or separate form of governance for students
at Evergreen for so long (until the Geoduck Student Union was formed in 2007) was that the college was formed
with the idea that students, staff, faculty and administrators were supposed to write policy and make decisions
together. To this end students are supposed to be represented on the dozens of committees, boards, and Disap pearing Task Forces (DTFs). DTFs are committees that come together to research specific issues, make a recommendation to the board of trustees, and then disband. The first ever DTF wrote the colleges leashed dog policy.
There are dozens of DTFs, boards and committees although often the discussions and decisions that come out
of them are simply viewed by the administration as no more than recommendations. Despite the existence of
these (more or less) democratic decision making bodies, most decisions that affect the college are made unilaterally by the administration.
DTFs seem on paper to be very democratic as representatives of staff, facility, and students are supposed to be having open discussions about issues affecting the college. In practice, however, the faculty, staff,
and most often students are kept from having a voice. They typically have one unadvertised monthly meeting
with a representative of the administration there along with at least two staff and a faculty and maybe a token
student. The students are the only participants not compelled to be there, volunteering their time to work
through a process that has rarely been proven effective. Maybe students too should be paid to be a part of a
DTF.
Often, when controversial decisions need to be made (e.g. changes to housing, foodservice, cops, etc.)
they are often made in the summer when few students are around. Evergreen is a bureaucratic maze that keeps
many students from engaging in policy discussions. Check the campus governance structures of other progressive liberal arts colleges: some have student representatives with decision-making authority guaranteed by the
colleges' charters. Some even have town hall meetings for the entire campus. The evidence suggests that Greeners have significantly less sway in the workings of the college than at nearly any other alternative college in the
country.
HOW TO JOIN ABOARD ORDTF:
1. Visit the Vice President for Student Affairs' office
in Library 3236 and ask for a list of existing boards/
DTFs.
2. Pick one that you are interested in.
3. Contact the Chair of that board/DTP and find out
when and where they meet.
4. Show up, and keep showing up. Making a presence
and raising a stink has proven effective.
Many students suspect that corporate interests dominate our college, but few realize how bad it is. The
eight people serving as the Board of Trustees are at the top of Evergreen's hierarchy, and are responsible for
everything from hiring and firing TESCs' President, to determining the cost of on-campus living, to setting policies for the entire institution. The Trustees serve a term of six years, and are appointed by the Governor. They
are generally prominent business and community "leaders" and political supporters of the Governor. Knowing
anything about Evergreen is not a requirement.
The Board of Trustees is also responsible for how the college uses its multimillion dollar endowment fund.
The Board has always kept a tight lid on what companies it owns shares in. Although some of that information
in the past was recovered from the libraries paper recycling, the endowment is now administered as a part
of the much larger University of Washington endowment; effectively removing the possibility of socially conscience investing & boycotts like those that helped bring down the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Biographies of the BOT are at http:/ /www.evergreen.edu/trustees/trustees.htm
Student Trustee
There is a single student trustee whose position rotates every year. The candidates are chosen by the GSU
and presented to the Governor for final selection. It was a huge battle to get this position and can serve as a huge
student voice. The trustee this year is Nathan Brockett.
The President
TESC's President is responsible for implementing the policies of the Board of Trustees and shapes the
entire landscape of the college's administration. Although most everyone agrees
that Evergreen's President, Les Purce, is generally a very nice guy (he has even
been rumored to participate in late night jam sessions in the HCC) he is still a
powerful bureaucrat who comes from a corporate background. Les Purce was
formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Power Engineering, Inc., a multinational
electrical engineering corporation.
In April 2000, Purce was a keynote speaker at a conference entitled "Advancing the Northwest Economy through Science and Technology". This conference
was sponsored by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which is operated by
a private corporation called Battelle. Battelle works directly with chemical and
biological weapons, counter terrorism, law enforcement, nuclear energy, human
genome-mapping, the Army, the Air Force, the Marines and national security.
In the spring of 2008, Les Purce willingly co-operated with the Thurston _
County Sheriff's Office in their efforts to hunt down and prosecute students in
connection to the Valentine's Day Uprising. He also pressured the S&A Board to use student funds to pay for the
cost of the damaged patrol car, taking much-needed resources away from student groups on campus.
Although Les Purce has been generally supportive of students' efforts around organizing against the
war, he has refused to make a statement against the war using the college's name.
Admin vs. Students?
There are certain powerful figures in the administration that view Evergreen as dangerously radical and would
like nothing better than to move the college in a more mainstream direction. However, you should not assume that
all of the administration is bent on undermining the radical edge of Evergreen. In the past, students have found
many allies within the faculty and staff. Just make sure you use your discretion when dealing with the schools
bureaucratic process and don't let their actions discourage you and your efforts at making Evergreen a better
place.
Then again, students at TESC have been known to take matters into their own hands. In 2008, members
of the then-existing chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SOS) held a successful sit-in for over a week
in front of Vice President Art Constantino's office in response to the group being banned for hosting an event the
administration unjustly cancelled.
GETTII1G FJ\ID TO Sf1J\STT TTTE STJ\TE
Student Activities and Alternative Sources of Funding
For being such a small college, Evergreen has a huge
number of student groups and a very visible activist population-hence the school's rowdy reputation. Starting a new student group is easy. Just get a few student signatures and BAM!
you're on your way to getting sweet sweet funding to support
anything that you (and your contingent of co-conspirators) are
interested in. Speakers, overnight trips (with gas and sometimes
plane tickets paid for), movies, supplies, etc. can all be paid for
by the school (which is really from the students, who throw
down $171 each quarter) .
The Services and Activities Fee Allocation Board, or
the "S&A Board;' divies up
these funds at student group
budget hearings and consists
of nine students, a board coordinator, two staff advisors
and an office manager. The
board has traditionally been
underpaid and overworked,
yet it serves a very important
role. They allocate and over
see all funds for student groups and initiatives. The board's mission is to distribute their 2 million dollars worth of fees to student groups who prove they have lots of students behind them
and that what they propose benefits the student body's desires.
A new process for sleeting board members this year
goes like this: half are chosen by the Geoduck Student Union
(GSU) and the other half fill out an application and are interviewed by members from the previous year's board. The GSU
utlimately approves all of them. Board members are hired at the
beginning of the school year. Normally, not more than a dozen
people apply for the nine open positions, so your chances are
good if you're looking to get involved in the administration side
of student activities. Decisions regarding funding levels of the
next year's student groups, the bulk of what the board does, have
to receive final approval by the Board of Trustees.
Student Activities funds most things around campus
that are not specifically academic. KAOS radio, The Child Care
Center, Cooper Point Journal, The Bike Shop, and The Women
of Color Coalition are all granted funds through the S&A board
along with many other student groups.
TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR FUNDING
The Board, like any other administrative organ, operates like a hive-mind. The very fact that the Board has to operate
in this way is a weakness that can be exploited. To make decisions
easier the board uses the idea of "precedent" to aid in allocating
funds for a particular event or speaker or other types of funding.
Be very careful when challenging these precedents; think of them
as the ancestral traditions that the Board is indoctrinated with
during its two day retreat in November. A challenge may incite
a revolution or a reactionary retreat into narrow-minded thinking. If one succeeds in creating a new precedent, though, it clears
the ground for other groups to spend money in similar ways.
This hive-mind has good days and bad days. Straightforward,
simple answers that reflect actual planning of a project and good
documentation that the group is active are all they really ask
for. The board operates quite differently depending on the make
up of the board. The best way to feel them out and know what
to expect is to sit in on other
peoples hearings, so you know
what kind of questions they' ll
be throwing at you. The worst
thing you can do is to show up
to your student group hearing
alone. Then it really looks like
not many students support
the initiative. So, bring hella
friends .
Enter the room!
As a former Board member, nothing was more fr ustrating than watching a group gather outside the glass prison
where the board meets, while the board, inside, was discussing
said group. Board meetings are open to the public. This lesson
applies to life, too: no power structure is going to invite you to
the table if you have demands for its change-you have to make
your demands heard.
Preparation
This is the most important tip. Attach only relevant,
well marked, and easy to understand documentation to your
request. Cut and dry and to the point makes it easier for everyone and leads to less questioning that you have to defend. If you
know what you are doing, it is very unlikely the Board will deny
your request for funding. Having a clear idea of why you need
money and what you are going to spend it on makes the Board
very happy. And a happy Board is a spendy Board.
OTHER OPTIONS
Foundation Activity Grants:
Foundation Activity Grants are offered by The Evergreen State College Foundation Board of Governors and administered by the Academic Grants office. This program supports
the projects of individual students, student teams and studentfaculty teams. Activity Grant projects are usually carried out
in conjunction with academic programs and all projects must
have at least one faculty sponsor. In the past, the program has
supported a variety of efforts, including theatrical productions,
art projects and exhibitions, scientific research, video and film
productions, student literary magazines, and expenses for students to attend professional conferences and present their work.
Demand is high for these grants. The Foundation can award
about 20 to 25 grants each year, up to a maximum of$1,000 per
student. A team of two students may apply for a maximum of
$2,000. Teams of three or more students may apply for a maximum of$3,000.
http://www.evergreen.edu!sponsoredresearch/foundationactivitygrants.htm
Clean Energy Grants:
In the winter of 2005, Evergreen students voted in favor of a selfimposed clean energy fee. As a result,
every student currently pays $1.00 per
credit, every quarter, in order to purchase Green Tags from Evergreen's energy providers (Puget Sound Energy
and Tacoma Public Utilities). Because of
this student vote, Evergreen now offsets
100% of our electricity purchases with
green, renewable sources. In fact, according to the EPA, The Evergreen State
College is the 8th. largest purchaser of
green energy in the country. The sole
purpose of the Clean Energy Fund is to
provide financial support for on campus renewable energy projects. Projects
eligible for funding must fall into one
of the following categories: 1) research
into renewable energy and conservation technologies; 2) clean energy projects intended to save energy or produce
electricity; or 3) demonstration projects
which educate the community about sustainable technologies.
http://www. evergreen. edu!committee!cleanenergylgrant. htm
Diversity Fund:
The President's Diversity Fund was established by
Evergreen's Long range Planning Committee to provide funding
for activities generated by the Evergreen community that educate the community and advance our efforts to become more effectively multicultural. Challenging speakers, national discourse
and skill-building workshops are all examples of educational
activities the fund is intended to support. In order to qualify
for Diversity funds, proposed activities must aim to promote
constructive community discourse about issues of culture and
life-style differences faced by the Evergreen community, including but not limited to: issues of race, ethnicity, color, sex, class,
sexual orientation, religion, disability, and veteran status. The
fund currently consists of an annual budget of $40,650.
http://www.evergreen.edu!diversity!fund!home.htm
The Greener Organization (GO)
The Greener Organization is a group dedicated to giving the students a voice in Residential and Dining Services. GO
seeks to have a broad representation of student residential life;
one of its goals is to have a representative from every building in
housing. Unfortunately, very few people actually stick with the
group all year (or even all quarter), so the reality is that it tends
to be made up of one or two people's extended friends groups
who rubber stamp each other's proposals. Most of these proposals involve the GO's best publicized and most often used function, which is to fund events for Housing residents. GO is given
a very substantial pot of money every year (literally thousands
of dollars a quarter) to use as it sees fit, to throw substance-free
parties, bring in guest speakers, throw concerts, fund plays or
workshops, host a campus-wide pillow
fight, whatever events the board comes
up with or are brought to it that benefit
Housing Residents as a whole. If one has
.
an idea for an event but needs funding
logistical _help to pull 1t _off, pres1/..{,
··1a_, nt 1t to GO dunng one of their weekly
:
· meetings and convince them that it's an
,.,_ ~
event that benefits the whole of housing
(instead of a certain age group or dorm)
,
and that the event has some sort of fol'
lowing that will attract people to it. Obviously, GO would benefit immensely in
these activities if as many people from as
many different backgrounds and housing styles joined it and gave their input.
That representation is much more vital
for GO's other main function, which is
to act as a sounding board for Residential and Dining Policies, and proposed
Housing improvements and projects
(for example, GO approves murals or
their removal if old ones have been
damaged beyond recognition) . While it can't generate or veto
policy, it can send the policymakers back to the drawing board
until they have a policy that the GO Board feels gets Housing's
intent across without disenfranchising any group of Housing
residents. In 2007-08, the GO contributed $15,000 to campus
events.
All that you have to do to gain full GO membership is
to be a current Housing Resident (but not an RA) who shows up
to three consecutive meetings. To join or propose an event to the
GO, contact the RDP at 867-6655.
m
tPnd/or
Do It Yourself:
If none of these schmucks will give you money, talk to
the Student Government. They can approve a vote for a new student fee. The Bus Passes, The Flaming Eggplant Cafe, The CAB
redesign, The Clean Energy Fee, and the "drunk bus" were all
student initiatives voted on by students and subsequently self
imposed fees . It makes for a pile of fees, but some pretty cool
projects. Or do your own fundraising or grantwriting. Or go
raise hell at the Evergreen Foundation office.
ANARCHISM
Anarchism is the struggle against all forms of organized human domination. This includes not only
such obvious forms as the state, with its routine use of violence and the force 6f law, and capitalism,
the current global economic formation, but also such internalized forms as patriarchy, racism, and
homophobia. Beyond that, anarchism is the attempt to look even into those parts of our everyday
lives we accept as givens, as parts of the universe, to see how they, too, dominate us or facilitate our
domination of others. Anarchists reject the notion of private property and the apparatus of the state
because they are institutions based on exploitation. After departing this common grounding, several
different bodies of anarchist thought branch off, reflecting different perceptions of hierarchy and
history. The short descriptions that follow are far from a definitive list of anarchist tendencies, but
are instead an attempt to touch on a few of the most prominent sects of anarchism and briefly explain
them.
Anarcho-Syndicalism
COLORS: BLACK AND RED
The belief that a modern egalitarian society requires
that the working class be in control of the means
of production. Heavily influenced by the theories
of Marx and Engels and also very similar to a lot of
state-communist ideas of having worker-run factories.
Various sub-groups of syndicalists differ on many issues
but one core tenet of syndicalism is the belief that
the domination humans experience via the institution
of paid labor only comes from the monetary wage
that is earned and the hierarchical power structure of
capitalism, not the concept of work itself.
CHECK OUT: Emma Goldman, Mikhail Bakunin,
Buenaventura Durruti, the Industrial Workers of the
World (IWW)
UNITED COLORS
a-
BLACK BLOC
.zz
)
OF
Anarcho-Primitivism
COLORS: BLACK AND GREEN
Insurrectionary Anarchism
COLOR: BLACK
Anarcho-primitivism (also called anti-authoritarian
primitivism, the anti-civilization movement, or just
primitivism) is a shorthand term for a current that
critiques the totality of civilization from an anarchist
perspective, and seeks to initiate a comprehensive
transformation of human life. Primitivists have
suggested that the modern forms of exploitation and
degradation- including hierarchy, war and patriarchy
- appear in human history only 10,000 years ago, after
the emergence of domestication and its corollary, the
form of human organization we call civilization. Many
primitivists disagree on the finer points of modern
society's origins, but all share the belief that civilization
is the root from which all forms of domination spread.
The urge to control and dominate is the cornerstone of
modernity.
The tattered banner of an international crew of militants who believe that capitalism and/ or civilization is
not just going to collapse on it's own, tl1at we are tl1e
ones who must destroy it and we need to act now. Prominent aspects of I.A. include an amorphous structure
and rejection of many forms of "formal organization"
due to their inherently oppressive and bureaucratic nature, an emphasis on the "attack", a commitment to not
simply striving for a more comfortable form of capitalism (AK.A reformism), and encouraging the spreading
of assaults on society. Many deem an attack as anything
that causes a rupture in the normal flow of the social
order, therefore causing an interruption of capitalism,
albeit to varying degrees.
The primitivist project is a demand for the destruction of
cities, factories, slaughterhouses, roads and universities
and for a return to bioregional hunting and foraging
- the lifeway that shaped our species and sustained us
for hundreds of thousands of years before the error of
domestication. Contrary to seemingly-popular belief, the
idea of primitivism is not a call for generalized human
genocide. It is a recognition that cities and all civilized
ways of life are inherently unsustainable and will
eventually collapse. Don't believe everything you hear
about primitivists, it's better to just find out for yourself.
lnsurrectionary anarchists commonly try to push social
struggles to the point of crisis in the hope that their intervention will prevent the recuperation of those struggles by capitalism. When capitalism fails to recuperate a
struggle, it can begin to pose a threat to the structures
of domination. Although there has been a sudden resurgence of insurrectionary practice recently, many anarchists throughout history have eitl1er identified as such
or held in common most of it's core beliefs.
CHECK OUT - Luigi Galleani, Alfredo Bonnano, Fredy
Perlman, the Invisible Committee
CHECK OUT - John Zerzan, Paul Shepard, Chellis
Glendinning and Derrick Jensen
,,
LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
ANARCHIST RESOURCES
In and Around Olympia
EGYHOP- The Emma Goldman Youth and Homeless Outreach Project
(EGYHOP)'s mission is dedicated to bringing direct service items and
resources to the homeless and low-income populations living on the
streets or who self-identify as part of the street population.
Sabot I11foshoppe - Radical lending library offering books, zines, films,
and materials for the continuance of raclical thought. Also serves as an
anarchist social space for people to get together and discuss theory, plan
projects and many other things. Meetings, for now, are every Thursday at
5 pm in Semll A2109.
Black PoJllder Press - blackpowderpress.com - "Black Powder Press is an
anarchist printing and distribution (or clistro) collective from Santa Cruz,
California. We are dedicated to informing and inspiring the anarchist
movement, and stimulating discussions about strategy, tactics and ideas."
l\1odesto A11t1rcho - www.modestoanarcho.org - Modesto Anarcho Crew
(MAC) produces a quarterly journal, and is based out of the Central Valley
town of Modesto, California. MAC is a street-based organization that
exists to create revolutionary literature from a combative working class
perspective.
Blogs/Archives/News
Hit The Bricks- ''A local zine distro concerned with making critical gestures
against capitalism and the leftist forces that recuperate the struggle against
the existent. We keep our publications hot in both content and design and
mainly distribute texts that focus on capitalism and industrial civilization,
anarchist organization and tactics, and an elaboration of insurrectionary
anarchist praxis. For social war!"
Last l17ord Books - "Last Word Books is a physical and digital bookstore
located in Olympia, Washington. Founded in 2002 by several students
at The Evergreen State College, we offer an eclectic collection of books
ranging from radical politics to the books you love to read. We are the
host and benefactor of the Olympia Zine Library, amongst other things.
We are constantly filling minds and tl1e streets with much-needed radical
literature."
Pink and Black Attack - Anti-assimilationist queer publication from the
Northwest focusing on a range of issues from attacking the idea of a "gay
marriage" to hinting at an all out war on the heteros that inhabit this world.
Tune in to zinelibrary.net to see who gets more reads, PABA or F'ITE
Tacoma Aflarchist Ne/Jvork - tan.anarchyplanet.org - "This website serves
us by allowing our groups, biogs, magazines, events, literature and
demonstrations to be easily accessible to others in Tacoma and the
surrounding area without tl1e baggage and political levelling tlrnt often
comes with formal organizations."
Social Riipt11re - artculturework.blogspot.com - A blog tl1at mainly focuses
on reporting "non-political" crimes. Seeks refuge in the antisocial acts
that it reports and hopes for the immediate contamination of tl1e rest of
society.
Signal Fire - signalfire.org - One of the best sites for news about resistance
and s truggle all over the world, heavy reporting on the international.
Polisson - polisson.blogsport.de - An amazing blog that has updates about
resistance that is occurring in France as well as some other European
countries; tends to go through periods of inactivity.
A 1~1J' Nezvs
sysiphus-angrynewsfromaroundtl1eworld.blogspot.com
- Bringing you reports on unmitigated destruction (both literal and
metaphorical) from all around the world.
SUIE & CENDRES (S-oot and Ash)- suieetcendres.blogspot.com - A
French language blog dedicated ro insurrectionary ruptures. Highly
recommended.
Fires Never Exti11g11ished - firesneverextinguished.blogspot.com - "Brought
to you by Phoenix Class War Council. A fanatical, revolutionary anarchist
group pressing the attack against capitalism, tl1e state and all systems of
hierarchy and oppression. We fight for a self-determined, projectual li fe
for ourselves and all humanity."
Autoflomy//253 - autonomy253.wordpress.com , Autonomy//253 is an
anarchist anti-authoritarian magazine for theory and practice, news and
commentary, written from the Taco1na, WA area for a regional audience.
Ltmaria Press - lunariapress.blogspot.com - "We are here to provide tl1e
histories of women with stories that have inspired us through out our
experiences in obtaining our own individual freedom."
Publications/Distros/Presses (national and international)
Fire To the P1iso11s- firetotheprisons.com - The world's leading publication
on insurrectionary anarchism, features articles written about struggles
occuring all over the world and lots of sexy graphic design work.
Rn/ling Thunder - www.crimethinc.com - This is a mature, thoughtful and
incredibly well-designed anarchist publication. One for the ages.
Green Anarchy - www.greenanarchy.org - A classic anti-authoritarian
pr:imitivist publication from Eugene, OR. Currently on hiatus but will
start again soon.
325 - 325.nostate.net - One of tl1e most militant and longest running
insurrectionary anarchi st publications. Based out of the UK. They are
unstoppable. True Force.
From The Greek Streets- www.occupiecllondon.org/blog/ - Excellent
news on the resistance occuring in Greece, updated very frequently witl1
accurate info. Check it out!
Imtit11te For E:xpenn1C11tal Freedom - www.politicsisnotabanana.com - The
IEF is a small publishing, distribution and culture production project of
a few friends and their closest cohorts. Responsible for the acclaimed
"Politics Is Not A Banana."
Insurgent Desire - www.insurgentdesire.org.uk - The most extensive on.line
green anarchy archive. Yours for the destruction of civilization.
The Gree11 Anarchist lnfoshop - www.greenanarchy.info - An overlooked but
comprehensive anarcho-primitivist site.
Bash Back! - bashbacknews.wordpress.com - Fulfilling all your needs for
anti-assimilationist queer struggle since 20081
Anarchist NeJlls - anarchistnews.org - News for anarchists and their friends,
ignore the drama and the comment sections.
Infoshop NeJlls- news.infoshop.org- By far one of the best English-language
anarchist sites on the internet, it's heavily moderated but wortl1 it.
THE EVERGREEN MORALS
So Evergreen used to have some pretty sick murals,
among them was this big Malcolm X portrait in C dorm and
this huge panoramic anti-consumption mural in the lobby of A
dorm, where the grey paint is on the stairs going down. In fact,
there used to be murals scattered all around campus. But no
more. Aside from the new mural outside the library, the only
colorful piece to be found is in the stairwell of A building. It
seems housing has covered almost all of their murals over the
pastfewyears. Housing states thatthey painted overt he murals
because of the cost and difficulty in maintaining them. They
also say that when the murals were painted they were unaware
of the level of fumes that the residents were exposed to. This
new awareness has led to the policy that they will only allow
murals in the fire towers of these buildings.
It's nice to
art on the walls. It
the active viewers
disrupts the monotfor all who pass by.
for artists to paint
they live in is one of
things a school can
our administration,
sive" or "radical "
are not doing a very
It's obvious that we
out concerning the
ture' of art, freedom,
well as how to make
thefigu resthattryto
ronment and the
live in a place with
engages not only
of the art but also
ony of blank walls
Providing an outlet
the environment
themostimportant
do,and itseemsthat
however "progresthey pretend to be,
good job at this.
,, have a lot to figure
definition and 'naand expression, as
our voices heard by
control our envipathswe walk on.
If graffiti isn't your thing, there might still be a legal
way of expressing yourself on the dorm walls, or at least the
fire towers of these buildings (the fire towers are the well venti lated, nearly-outdoor staircases). All you have to do is design a
proposal fortheGreenerOrganization and they might even buy
you the paints! And hey, if they say no, at least you can say you
tried before you busted out your Krylon stash.
Diversity And Evergreen
Diversity means a lot of things at Evergreen.
TESC advertises itself as actively promoting diversify. Yetf
the school's administrative policy does nol: discuss wha
they mean when they say d1vers1ty and how or with what
they seek to support 1t. Do you define diversity as a quantitatively measurable appearance of inclusivity with statistics that depict the success of your institution because of
its ability to attract and retain a broad enough range of
constituencies? Is diversity solely a tangible elemenf that
is meant to enrich the lives and educations of the majority populace-the
white middle class-while still abiding
by laws of a state institution (i.e. thal:
they cannot intentionally segregate or
actively discriminate against certain
constituencies)?
Another thing that struck me
as especially strange was that, though
the school's social contract, as well
as its administrative policy, does not
specifically discuss or define diversity
or its commitment to diversity, The
Evergreen State College Admissions
page does. "The community of faculty, staff and students work together to ensure an environment that embraces differences, fosters tolerance and
understanding, and celebrates a commitment to culturalf
ethnic and racial awareness." How does the community or
faculty, staff and students work together to bring about
such an environment? Does the administration, or even
the faculty and staff, demonstrate on a comprehensive
level a sophisticated awareness of race and racism, let
alone demonstrate a oerceivable concern about students'
lives concerning race1 The reality is that students, administrators, faculty and staff actually don't work together.
Day
of Absence
I
In fact, there is very little in the way of communication
across these lines, esRecially about diversity itself. Many
of the administrative offices, as well as the board of trustees, are separated from the lives of students. And though
they may believe that they know what's best for us and
for the faculty and staff, they do not actively engage them
in discussions about support and awareness.
I take the meaning of diversity to mean a full
spectrum of - experiences and lives
that encompass a range of racial, socio-economic, religious, sexuality and
gender, age and ability political and
nationality identities. All oppressions
are not the same and this is one of the
key elements that are missing from
the vague statement the institution
takes on diversity. Not all oppressions
are treated equally in our society, so
why should we P,retend that we could
cater to those different experiences in
the same way?
Without creating a definitive
community and an experience-driven
definition of its commitment to diversity, Evergreen has
failed to create what they say they already nave: an
open and supportive learning environment that protects
and empowers underprivileged communities, particularly
i;,eople of color. The problem is a far-reaching and multifaceted one. Without the critical awareness necessary to
create a commitment to concerns of diverse commu nities
and methods for responding to oppression, the institution
embodies a commitment to the status quo. It's not the
numbers that matter or the bottom line, it is the experiences of people.
Day
of Presence
ord.s -to Ad,on:
a~bor":tin
for
lh~n3e.
Graduation Speakers at TESC
You may have heard about the controversy created when former MOVE activist Mumia AbuJamal spoke at TESC's graduation ceremony in 1999. One of the world's foremost political prisoners,
Abu-Jamal has been on death row since 1982 for allegedly killing a police officer in Philadelphia in
1981. His trial was a case study in the corruption of the US Criminal Justice system, and nearly every
human rights organization in the world has demanded a retrial. Students worked hard throughout
the year to raise awareness about Mumia's plight and the problems of the criminal justice system,
encouraging students to write-in Mumia for the graduation speaker vote. When Evergreen's first
choice for graduation keynote speaker (Governor Gary Locke) fell through, Mumia was chosen as
the replacement. Following significant media attention and pressure from the state government, the
administration overruled the graduation committee and selected another keynote speaker, reducing Abu-Jamal's role in the ceremonies. Before graduation, rumors circulated that during Mumia's
speech discontented seniors & opponents of Mumia would be playing horns or screaming to make
his words inaudible, but the speech went on with no disruption. Instead, the majority of the crowd
(students and guests alike) rose to a standing ovation.
Other notable graduation speakers in recent years have been Vandana Shiva and Derrick Jensen.
Looking at the past list of Evergreen's graduation speakers, Governor Christine Gregoire, who was the
keynote speaker at Evergreen's 2006 graduation ceremony, sticks out like a sore thumb. Graduation
speakers are voted on by graduating students, but there are questions as to how or if Gregoire was selected. While Gregoire was spewing out bullshit rhetoric about how globalization just means "we're
all more connected;' four banners were dropped, readin~ things such as "Gov. Gregoire Please Stop
Your Racist Welfare Policies" and "Work First = Kids Last, children were wearing buttons asking the
Governor if they needed to get a job, graduates and attendees wore patches stating "I oppose Governor Gregoire's presence today;' the Welfare Rights Organizing Coalition (WROC) had a giant mailbox set up where you could mail postcards to the Governor,
and graduates and the people in the larger audience held up
bright yellow signs that clearly said, "I OPPOSE WELFARE
CUTS TO CHILDREN:' Midway through her speech, many
of the graduates stood in silent opposition throughout
her speech, turned their back to the Governor and held
their signs toward the audience. Some graduates handed
postcards to her asking her to implement full family support as opposed to full family sanction when they walked
across stage for their diploma. These actions let Gregoire
know she isn't welcome by many at Evergreen and shows
that we are not fooled by her "liberal" image.
HONORABLE ALUM
Many colleges have interesting alumni and Evergreen is no exception. When I think of the amazing people that have graced this
campus with their presence, I feel proud to be a part of the history of the same place. No, I'm not talking about the alumni in the
entertainment industry that get the most attention here (e.g. Matt Groening and Michael Richards}, I'm talking about the more
for$JOtten alumni who have done things mainstream American society does not appreciate. This is what led me to write this
article, to briefly tell the stories of some of the alumni you don't hear about too often. Particularly, those who have died deserve
our thoughts and avenging memorials. I apologize to the dead whose story belongs here that I have neglected to mention or
never heard of. It is a trageay that I am aware of Michael Jackson's death and not yours. The best thing we can do to remember
the nameless is dedicate ourselves to destroying the society that forgot them.
SCOTISCURLOCK
Scott Scurlock enrolled at Evergreen in 1978. He studied organic
chemistry and biochemistry. He used this knowledge, along with
supplies stolen from the school to begin manufacturing crystal meth,
soon purchasing 20 acres of land to live on at 1506 Overhulse Rd. NW
where he could hang out in the woods and become one of the most
successful meth dealers in the northwest. After quite some time dispensing a definitely terrible product, Scurlock began to develop guilt
over his job and thought about quitting. What cemented this decision was his main distributor being murdered; signaling to him that
what he was doing was not only unethical, but also dangerous.
Regardless of his former job, Scurlock chose to stop, and
during those years built a local reputation as being generous with his
friends, caring greatly about the Earth, and having a lust for adventure. Previously he had lived on a tomato farm in Hawaii with friends,
frequently looking for the adrenaline rush of jumping off the highest
cliffs he could find into the water. While living on his 20 acres in Olympia, he built an amazing treehouse supported by seven cedar trees
that was three stories tall and 75 feet above the ground, complete
with a fireplace, electricity, hot and cold running water, a bathroom,
and of course ropes to swing from like Tarzan. His friend Elizabeth
Stanton recalls, "He kind of pulls you into this magical world, where it
was fun and happy and that can get addictive ... people also kind of
put him on a pedestal. He's this incredible guy. He built a tree house
and he's dashing and he's fun and then he helps people out:'
With no more income, Scurlock once again had to solve
the problem of subsisting without working, a problem many people
you'll meet in Olympia also try to solve. His thirst for adventure and
anti-work lifestyle definitely led to trying his hands at robbing banks,
but its thought he was also inspired by a recently released film adaptation of Robin Hood and Point Break were an inspiration. Scurlock
and his friends loved watching Point Break, a Patrick Swayze movie
about surfers who rob banks to avoid work.
Scurlock called on his friend and Evergreen alumni Mark
Biggins to get involved. In the summer of 1992, they robbed their
first bank in Seattle and wore masks like in Point Break. Not everything went as planned though . They originally wanted to steal and
use a car of someone who worked at the bank, but Biggins panicked
and flooded the engine, they then ran away with dogs chasing them
and had to hop fences and escape across a golf course. They netted
$19,971 from the robbery, but the entire experience terrified Biggins
and he packed up and left. He would return later though, particularly for the final bank robbery Scurlock did. With no one to help him,
Scurlock approached another friend, Steve Myers. Myers refused but
helped him launder the money by visiting at Las Vegas casinos and
getting rid of the potentially marked money by buying gambling
chips and then cashing them back in. Later though, Myers would also
return, particularly also for Scurlock's final job.
Without help, Scurlock decided to start robbing banks himself and
netted $252,000 on his sixth solo job at the Madison Park branch
of Seafirst bank in Seattle. This attracted Meyers back into the mix
and a year later they started staking out the same bank Scurlock last
robbed. Meyers was the getaway driver and sat in the car monitoring
police frequencies with a scanner and a walkie-talkie to let Scurlock
know if there was trouble coming. This was the setup they continued
to use and the pair robbed five banks in 1994. Other than two banks
in Portland, Scurlock only robbed banks in affluent neighborhoods in
Seattle, often repeatedly hitting the same banks. He also studied FBI
forensics manuals to take every precaution in make sure he left no
identifiable trace of himself behind. He was nicknamed "Hollywood"
because he'd use pancake makeup and facial attachments like false
chins to disguise himself. He figured out the shift changes for police
in the area and would often hit banks in between the shift changes
or when police were dispersed away from the area. Scurlock went to
great pains to buy cars anonymously, including ones to leave as bait
for the police to throw them off his trail. He paid banks employees to
let him know when the most money would be in the bank and the
best time to strike. He also built an underground secret room on his
property with a mini makeup studio and place to count the money.
Even now, Steve Meyers praises Scurlock's efficient approach: "Nobody ever was hurt, and nobody was ever intended to be hurt:'
Making plenty of money, Scurlock certainly did not forget
to spread it around to his friends and people he never met that he
thought deserved it. He would reportedly show up at benefit shows
in Olympia and pay hundreds of dollars as his admission. He was a
huge supporter of Earth First! and donated a good amount of money
to their campaigns, as well as to rape crisis centers. A mix of Peter Pan
and Robin Hood, Scurlock never wanted to grow up and face adult
responsibilities, nor did he want to see those that needed money go
without.
Bumbling police officers and FBI agents failed again and
again to catch up with "Hollywood:' The only idea one officer had to
catch him he got by watching surveillance footage of some of Hollywood's robberies. He noticed the walkie-talkie and decided he should
monitor common frequencies for walkie-talkies to see if he picked
up anything and could catch a robbery in process. He also staked
out a bank Hollywood had robbed before. His plan didn't work because Hollywood hit a bank in Seattle outside the range the officer
was monitoring frequencies on and got away with $141,405, laughing with his middle finger out the window of the getaway car (Okay I
made up that last part). None of this was enough thrill or money, so
Scurlock decided to rob three banks in two hours, a plan that would
include jamming police frequencies. This plan was aborted though
and they only robbed one of them.
On Thanksgiving eve in 1996, Scurlock drove to Seattle
with Mark Biggins and Steve Meyers for his 17th bank robbery, a robbery that would net $1.08 million (Bringing his career total to $2.3
million) and also be his last. Scurlock and Biggins walked into the
Seafirst branch at 2800 NE 125th St. and whipped out their guns while
Meyers waiting in the car. A teller immediately hit the silent alarm.
The robbery took longer than expected because the tellers initially
gave them a relatively small amount of money when Scurlock knew
there was much more. He had a teller lead him into the vault where
he stuffed bricks of cash into nylon duffel bags. Altough there were
dozens of officers on alert for Hollywood, they were all patroling in
the wrong neighborhoods and didn't respond quick enough to stop
the job in progress. Still they eventually caught up with them. Had
Meyers made a left at one intersection instead of a right, the gang
would have escaped successfully, but this wrong turn put them right
in holiday traffic which the police were also stuck in. They paused to
ditch the car and change to a white Chevrolet Astrovan . The cops say
they saw the van going back and forth in traffic and decided to do a traffic stop and began tailing the vehicle while the gang rummaged
through the loot looking for tracking devices that might have been in the money. Meyers says that the police knew it was them and began firing at the car, injuring Biggins and Meyers. "Scott got out with his assault rifle. And it supposedly jammed. And he got back in and they started
firing again:' Wounded and bleeding, Biggins returned 37 rounds at the cops out the window as they sped away. Soon afterwards, Scurlock
stopped the car again, getting out to fire three shotgun shells at the cops and speeding away again. Crashing into the side of a house on 77th
St., Biggins and Meyers were wounded and couldn't run, but Scurlock did and managed to get away on foot. 200 officers rushed to the scene
and couldn't find him anywhere.
Scurlock had hid two blocks away in a camper on someone else's property. The next day, those in the house reported to police that
they saw someone by Scurlock's description on the property and noticed the curtains had been drawn in the camper from the inside. Sgt.
Howard Manta and two other officers claim they went and knocked on the camper, threw tear gas inside and then sprayed two full canisters of
pepper spray through the window, but didn't notice any sign of response. Manta says he went closer to get a look with his flashlight when he
heard a gunshot, then the three officers fired 30 rounds into the camper, calling in all sorts of task forces and special police units with armored
cars to the scene, throwing more tear gas in the camper before finally busting the door down and apparently finding Scurlock with a gunshot
to the head and five other gunshot wounds to his body, with a 9mm glock pistol next to him and a discharged shell.
Meyers and Biggins were both given 21 years in prison. "I regret in a sense that it ever happened;' Meyers says. "But I can't sit and
look at this man and say I'm regretting that I ever knew the guy. Some of the best years of my life were with this guy:'True crime writer Ann Rule
wrote a book available at most major bookstores about Scurlock's life called The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up.
ANDREW MICKEL
Andrew Mickel got out of high school in 1998, the same year The End of the Dream was released. He
served in the 101 st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army before becoming disillusioned with the military and leaving to attend Evergreen. He studied anarchist texts and wrote stories about riding freight trains and breaking into
abandoned buildings on an independent contract. On November 7, 2002, Stephen Edwards was tasered to death
by an Olympia police officer for allegedly shoplifting from Bayview Thriftway on 4th Ave. The next day, iTchku ng!
was playing a show downtown and afterwards people marched into the street where an intersection was blocked
with burning barricades. There is a good account of this even in the "Hijacking Events" chapter of Crimethln c:s
book Recipes for Disaster. I mention the Bayview Thriftway murder and its response because it is rumored that
Andrew Mickel was inspired to do his action because of Edwards' death and it is likely that Mickel was part of the
march the next night.
On November 19th, Mickel went to Red Bluff, California and killed police officer David Mobilio by shooting him twice in the back and once in the head at close range. He left a hand made "Don'tTread on Us"flag next to
the body. He then posted a manifesto on San Francisco lndymedia and other sites under the name "Andy Mccrae:'
In it, he says "Hello Everyone, my name's Andy. I killed a Police Officer in Red Bluff, California in a motion to bring
attention to, and halt, the police-state tactics that have come to be used throughout our country. Now I'm comi ng
forward, to explain that this killing was also an action against corporate irresponsibility:' He also states "prior to my
actions in Red Bluff, I formed a corporation under the name'Proud and Insolent Youth Incorporated; so that I could
use the destructive immunity of corporations and turn it on something that actually should be destroyed:'
Besides incorporating to avoid responsibility for the killing, he also flew to New Hampshire and checked
into a Holiday Inn because the New Hampshire state constitution contains a passage saying "Whenever the ends
of government are perverted and public liberty manifestly endangered and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may and of right ought to reform the old or establish a new government:' Not surprisingly, th ese
efforts at legal irresponsibility for the killing did not hold up in court. When Mickel told his parents over the phone
what he did, they turned him in. After that, also not surprisingly, he refused to talk to his parents, especially after
he was sentenced to death.
Perhaps we can all take a few good pointers from Andy's manifesto though, such as "The systems of
control that surround you, which you hate, do not get better as you age. The control gets more invasive, more
complete. Smash it while your youth still helps you to see it!"
Mickel is on death row at San Quentin State Prison. You can write him at the address below.
Andrew Mickel, #V77400
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin, CA 94974
The Queer People of Color Project
Both Evergreen and the greater Olympia area
are considered, by the majority populous, to be places
that are made up almost entirely of fairly liberal minded and at least queer tolerant white people.
There is a lot going on in this construction
of Olympia's population and its regard for
underprivileged populations; the overarching issues have to do with exceptionalismthat through some virtue, our little corner of
the world is exempt from the sway of racism and homophobia. Firstly, people of color
communities are invisibilized by the white
majority and because they are invisibilized,
theirneedsare not being metbycommunity
organizations or social services provided
withinthearea.Secondly,queertolerancedoesnotnecessarilymeanqueereducatedorqueerloving.Homophobia
is something that is still very much rampant even within
queercommunitiesthemselves,sotosaythat
Olympia, or even Evergreen, has already
tackled queer accepta nee is pretty ridiculous.
Queer community and acceptance
in the Olympia area is something of a contention. Because there are queer people in
the community who are out publicly, people
automatically think that this is something of
safe haven for queer folk, which is simply not
true. Trans people still have a lot of difficulty
finding health care practitioners that can actually serve them respectably in the Olympia area and homophobia is imbedded in every institution we have here.
There are community groups in Olympia as well as one
atEvergreenthathaveorganizedspacesforqueerpeople,
but these organizations are a long way from
meeting the needs of all of their constituents,
partially due to lack of resources, but also
because there just hasn't been enough time
or consideration taken to create a fixed comm itmentto broaderissuesaffectingthequeer
community.
The problem that plagues most
queer groups is a lack of political muscle and
socialawarenessdirectedtowardsorganizing
efforts. There is a long standing presumption that queer
folks are automatically better at understanding oppressionsacrosstheboard,andthatthisunderstandingmakes
them i m mu nefrom pa rtici pati ng in or activelyrei nforci ng
oppression. Consequently,a lot of queer groups have not
even begun to tackle the racism and cultural insensitivity
oftheirorganizationsandthemembersoftheirorga nizations and the membership of these organizations sore ly
reflects this neglect. If there was much more concent ration on queer groups educating themselves
on white privilege a,nd racial/cultural issues,
thenthesecomm un itiescou Id begin to serve
queer people of color in a much more intentional way. This is not to say that it isn't
necessary for there to be more building and
organizing, specifically in order to cater to
the concerns and desire for communities of
queer people of color, but this would create
a greater and more concerted opportun ity
for coalition building and communication
amongst all queer folks and their allies. A
queer group of color would also enable queer people of
color to work through the issues that are specific to t hem
without worrying about how it may be construed or misunderstood by those who do not understand
racism and racialized experiences. For queer
people of color, race is deeply intertwined to
theirexperienceasqueerpeople,andthough
an all white queer group maybeableto relate
toconfronting homophobia, transphobia and
heterosexistthinking, they are notableto ful ly connect to the ways in which these issues
have been treated and haveaffected peopleof
colorcommunities. Homophobia and sexism
is a big issue in a lot of people of color communities, and in many of them, queer identities aren't dealt with at all, but are instead uncomfortably
relegated to si le nee, or even discussions about the affects
of assimilation on people of color, as if queer identities
were a product of white people.
Oppressions are interlocking. Race oppression is closely tied to gender oppression
and class oppression. The people of color
community at Evergreen and in Olym pia
does not function, even in its most radical
manifestations, as a wholly unsexist and unhomophobic entity because the racism t hat
we deal with on a day to day basis is also one
that is shaded with sexist and homophobic
thinking. The Queer People of Color Project
arose out of discussion on the need for safe space to d iscuss and tackle the issues we as queer people of color
face, as well as to provide a forum for organizing and
activities that can help us build our community.
QPOC can be contacted at tescqpoc@gmail.com
General GBLTQ Resources
Olympia Parents/Friends/Families of Lesbians
and Gays (PFLAC) PF LAG promotes the health and well-being of gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their
families and friends through support in coping with
an adverse society; education to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy to end discrimination
and to secure equal civil rights.
http://pflag-olympia.org/ Ii nfo@pflag-olympia.org
Free At Last GLBT Alcoholics Anonymous Weekly meetings are Mondays at 7 PM at United
Churches on 11th and Washington
United Communities AIDS Network (UCAN) Located 147 Rogers St. NW. UCAN provides AIDS
awareness education and advocacy as well as prevention and care services such as a support group,
a buddy system and a drop-in care program. They
have a volunteer program.
360-352-2375 I www.ucan-wa.org
Gender Smash-An open mic night for trans/queer
folks & allies. Third Thursday of every month at
Le Voyeur 8-1 0pm ALL AGES, 10pm-midnight 21 +
only.
www.myspace.com/gendersmash
Pastiche Foundation - A nonprofit providing for
GLBTQQIA grassroots action.
pastichefound@gmail.com
Mpowerment - Mpowerment Olympia (formerly
the Olympia Men's Project) strives to create a diverse community of guys who like guys who like to
have fun, hang out, and participate in a wide variety
of events.
352-2375 I mpoweroly@ucan-wa.org
Stonewall Youth - LGBTQ support group for people under 21 years old. Stonewall Youth has a weekly support group on Wednesdays from 5-7
stonewallyouth.org I (360) 705-2738
Evergreen Queer Alliance (EQA) - Dedicated to
servingtheneedsofallqueerpeoplethrougheducation, outreach, support and action.
867-6544
Evergreen Queer Christian Alliance
Student group working to create healthy, positive
relationshipsbetweentheQueerandChristiancommunities.
867-6143
Gender Alliance of South Sound
Meetings are held the 3rd Saturday of each month,
7-9 at Fertile Ground Guesthouse, 311 9th Ave SE
contact@southsoundgender.com
The New Boyz Club
Meets every other Tuesday, 7-9 pm, at an undisclosed location in West Olympia.
349-0134 I niksavvy@hotmail.com
TRANSPHOBIA AT EVERGREEN
Evergreen State College is known for it's liberal
students and faculty, but when it comes to issues of oppression and, more specifically, gender identity, people
still have a lot to learn.
about transgender and genderqueer issues. STAR looks to
provide support for all gender variant students, educate
allies within the community, and work towards genderneutral campus policies.
Transphobia is sadly a matter of fact everywhere
you go and Evergreen is NO exception. While there has
not been a history of violence against trans-folks on campus there is still a lot ignorance and slander against transpeople.
One of the great things about Evergreen is the
history we have of activism for transgender, genderqueer
and intersex people. Such activism has been going on ever
since the opening of the school. In 2000, Les1lie Feinberg,
a multi-issue trans activist came to speak to a large crowd
in Red Square. Many authors such as Caitlin Sullivan, Kate
Bornstein and Aaron Link have come to speak on campus
over the years. For two years, Evergreen had a Trans, Genderqueer and Intersex film festival. The festival was one
of only 3 of its kind at the time in the US. Programs have
begun to include gender identity in seminar iliscussions,
he[ping to bring a greater awareness of the subject to students.
During the 2007-2008
academic year there were accounts of people making inflammatory remarks about
gender identity via TESCcrier and TESCtalk. These
remarks included remarks
about transfolks just wanting attention and that transfolks should just make up
their mind. If this wasn't bad
enough, these remarks remained largely unchecked.
While a brave trans student
crafted a response, only one
ally "called out" the oppressive and ignorant language
being usecf on the listserves.
Ii ·t.
=·
people,
-~s-RAf)lCAL
BREAKING
DOWN
gender
~houtd~ .a
p;u, of our
R F.V< )l.lj TION
Students, even radical students, have very little
, understanding of the oppression that transpeople face in
their day to day lives, and
usually contribute to that
oppression. One way that
this expresses itself on Evergreen's campus is through
conversation. Many nontrans people assert that they
understand what it means to
be trans, that there is a right
and a wrong way to be trans
or that a person isn't actually trans. This language and
the actions they inspire are
forms of oppression and
need to stop.
There is currently a
student group on campus,
Society for Trans Action
and Resources (STAR), that
works to help promote understanding in the administration, faculty, and students
Through the hard work of students, the recreation center bas installed two new single occupancy
gender-neutral locker rooms. There have also been more
gender-neutral bathrooms throughout campus. All single
stalled restrooms in SEM II have become gender neutral
and there is one on the second floor of the library as well.
The counseling center staffs counselors who are versed
in issues of gender identity and the medical center is becoming more accommodating to trans-gender and gender
queer folks.
In the past few years Evergreen and its student have made
strides in becoming more trans-friendly, but it still has a
long way to go. A good way to get there is to educate yourself." Look into the authors mentioned above, talk to STAR
and learn correct terms and pronouns (as it is always good
to ask what pronoun people prefer, regardless of their appearance). Below is a website that is good to reference with
correct terms and definitions.
www.banyancounselingcenter.com/tsterminology.html
GENDER NEUTRAL HOUSING
A relatively new housing theme on campus is
"Gender Neutral," wherein one's gender is not the means
by which one is assigned to college housing. This makes
for a comfortable and safe living environment for members of the LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Ally)
community. Unfortunately, GN is first come, first serve,
which means spots that could have gone to individuals who really wanted a safe space may end up going to
straight couples who didn't want to do extra paperwork to
live together. Yes, our Allies should be welcomed into GN
but some kind of priority system needs to be developed.
Personally, I suggest an essay explaining why it is necessary for a person to live in GN.
Besides the petty personal bigotries that system (which disproportionately targets people of
saturate this country's north and soutn, racism is color), all the way to our schools' and workplaces'
insitutionally pervasive in the United States as well. habits and organizations. The belief that people of
What does that mean? Well, when Stokely Carmi- color have overcome all the obstacles to true equalchael first coined the phrase 'institutional racism' ity is a complete delusion. Racism, and the subsehe was trying to highlight the fact that governance quent privileges that most white people benefit
structures had failea to meet the collective needs from, creep their way into many parts of our everyof some of its people "because of their color, cul- day lives in ways that most of us are unaware of. In
ture or ethnic origin:' In other words, racism still this way, racism is also personal.
plays an integral part in the very institutions that
are supposed to take care of us and keep us safe
Despite the lip-service paid to these issues,
unconditionally. Even in our enlightened 21st cen- don't expect much to be different at Evergreen.
tury society, racism still persists. Many things that Despite its reputation as a radical institution, Everwe take for granted such as integrated schools, fair green has its fair share of problems, especially when
hiring practices, and being able to sit anywhere on it comes to race. Evergreen is 82% white. That
the ous are things that
means diversity isn't
many people have had
·
f
too great here, and
B
tf
I
B
e respec_ ~. e conscious o your
most of the time we
to live without durprivilege. Be an ally.
don't live up to our
ing their lives. These
"rights' that most of us
progressive
reputatake for granted were fought for tooth and nail.
tion. An example of white privilege that you're likely to come across at Evergreen is the tendency for a
"Race" may be a social construct, but it car- white person to dominate seminar and interrogate
ries a lot of weight in our society today. You may a person of color about their culture. This isn't good
be asking, "If 'race' has no basis in biological real- for a lot of reasons. On one hand, it may alienate the
ity, why is it so important?" To put it simply, rac- person of color and, on the other, it forces them to
ism matters because it is one way among many that become some kind of delegate of their entire race,
the powerful elite spread systems of classification even though they have their own unique experiencwhich keep us divided, distracted, and conquered. es. Such tokenism sucks and only works to accentuRacism is perpetuated through our participation ate the disconnect many white people have from
in a system which has historically treated superfi- the concept of diversity. Also, when white people
cial differences as excuses to treat other people like dominate seminar it comes off as intensely arrogant
subhumans and deny them the fruits of their labor. and this rarely sparks meaningful dialogue.
The end result of this process was an accumulation
of economic, political, and social benefits into the
Lastly, cultural appropriation (when a perhands of a certain "race:' The daily reiteration of son borrows parts of someone else's culture and
this system through the myriad of human inter- adopts them as their own) also happens often at
actions is called white J)rivilege. We can see white TESC via hairstyles such as mohawks or dreadlocks
privilege all around us, from our biased eurocentric which, while seemingly sweet dos, are actually large
school textbooks, to banks giving statistically fewer parts of some people's cultures, not just the latest
loans to people of color, to the prison and police trend.
;,
;,
.AG,\IN
,.,
(3J
A New MENtality
How Male Oppression Relates to Sexism and Homophobia
How can men help women fight sexist oppression? How can straight men or women help fight
against homophobia? The answers to those questions
are also the answer to another question: How can men
help other men (and themselves) overcome their own
oppression and homophobia? As Terrence Crowly puts
it: "As a man I accrue privilege simply by remaining
silent." However, it should be acknowledged that men
too are oppressed, consciously or not, in this patriarchal, heterosexist society. Especially men who overtly
challenge our culture's gender stereotypes and socialization.
We live in a society where overt
male to female physical violence is deplorab le by many standards, but male
to male violence is both accepted
and embraced. More men have
died at the hands of other men
than have women . Much of this
killing stems from institutions
that are designed to assert male
domination, or at very least a
social norm of masculinity. Furthermore, we live in a society
that accentuates the dominating
traits of men and the submissive
traits of women.
inability to communicate, both of which inhibit healthy
relationships.
The socialized gender boxes of patriarchy
force men and women alike to present a false im age
of themselves to each other. These are images t hat
lack both humanity and spirit, images that separate us
and mystify us. While women in our culture have the
license to show each other affection both physica lly
and emotionally, the same is not true for men . If men
do the same, fear or suspicion often follows. For men,
homophobia keeps the gender roles in place. Sh oul d a
man want to divert from any sort of social standard of
masculinity (wear pink, act effeminate, cr y in
public), he may be, at the very least, silently
judged by others as weak or as less of a
man.
men can
Homophobia
The gender boxes that are
put around both men and women can
be devastating. Especially when gender is confused with sexuality. When
we think of gender purely in sexual
terms, men and women have di fficulty forming friendships that are based
on an understanding of each ot her's
struggle. Instead, these friendships
may be based on sexual definiti ons of
gender. Many young men already associate their masculinity with their sexua l prowess.
STOP
rape
Socialization/Gender Boxes
The process by which men are
taught to be tough, aggressive, and in-control and women are taught to be pleasing, passive and
control led is cal led socialization. Socialization is subtle.
It occurs when young boys are given toy guns and blue
shirts as gifts, and their female counterparts are given
Barbie dolls and pink skirts. It occurs when teen magazines, movies and music suggest girls will be feminine
if they consider their body to be their best asset. Socialization occurs for men when we are taught that our
masculinity is analogous to our sexuality, or that our
ability to take control of a situation is a measure of our
manhood . If we listen to the media, men are supposed
to be aggressive leaders and/or aloof and mysterious.
In fact, these myths of masculinity manifest themselves
respectively through a domineering personality or an
Same gender relationships, when seen through
sexuality, become stigmatized and feared, especially
for men . This is the essence of homophobia. Homophobia is not exclusively a queer issue. It is a straight issue.
When gender is examined through sexuality, men fear
each other. Men do not develop deep or lasting rel ationships with other men because of the fear of bei ng
labeled as gay. How often do men, in society at large,
sit down and really talk to each other about their fears,
passions, hopes and sorrows? Likewise, just as women
get together and talk about their oppression and how
to liberate themselves, so too should men.
Socialized gender boxes also dictate who we
should be attracted to. How do we treat those who's
sexuality doesn't fit the mold? As straight men and
women we take our heterosexual privilege for granted.
Besides the obvious challenges of being rejected and
scorned by society at large, queer men and women face
considerable obstacles in many aspects of life. As difficult as love can be, for queer couples it is even harder.
Their validity as couples is constantly challenged. They
ra rely are allowed to live their lives outside of their
sexual identity. While straight people can be congresspersons, lawyers, doctors or teachers, queer people
are known most often for their sexuality, and secondly
t heir talent or occupation. We
as straight people have the
right to raise children without
the threat of state intervention;
few queer couples have had that
luxury. Queer men and women,
just as straight men, do not have
the social acceptance to share
affection in pub I ic. Therefore,
ending heterosexual privilege
contributes to our own liberation as loving men.
Sexism at Evergreen
Some of you reading
this article may be thinking,
"This may be the case in the
Midwest, or in some small hick
town, but here at Evergreen, we
are al I evolved men ." I wish that
were true. Many female activists often talk about how domineering some men are,
how so many workshops, activities, and trainings are
led by men, and how often the majority of comments in
meetings are made by men. If men are not willing to
, look at their own sexist, competitive, and aggressive or
domineering behaviors, which are rooted in their own
oppressive socialization, our revolution will only go so
far. We may have a kinder gentler patriarchy, but the
patriarchy will remain none the less. Furthermore, every year on the Evergreen campus women are sexually
harassed and even sexually assaulted.
So what can we as men do to help ourselves,
and thus our female comrades as well? Many believe
it starts with self-examination . Where do my notions
of masculinity come from? What did my father (or
mother) teach me about being a man? Do I feel intimidated by a powerful woman? Do I feel competitive
in the presence of a powerful man? Do I find myself
dominating the conversation a lot at meetings, in class,
or other social situations?
Examining ourselves and our actions, we will
begin to see how the heterosexist, patriarchal systems
we're involved in affect those around us. In our interactions with friends who are
women or queer, we shouldn't
feel a sense of politically correct alarm every time we try to
interact. At the same time, our
interactions shouldn't become
interrogations of how we enact
the oppresive systems of patriarchy and heterosexism. Above
all, listening and seeking to truly
understand, without reserve or
defense, is the best way to learn
how our actions affect those we
love.
Furthering a commitment to
a changed society, we can mentor our younger peers. We can
provide them with healthier
models of masculinity than what
we may have received growing
up. We can provide them with courage and support to
stand up to derogatory comments, sexist and heterosexist stereotypes, as wel I as educating them about
their own privilege as males and how not to abuse that
privilege.
Most of all, I encourage men to talk to other men
in deeper ways than you usually do, to create a new
mentality behind our notions of masculinity. Equally
important, I encourage men to listen more deeply to
other men and to other women, queer and straight.
Sexual violence is nauseatingly common: 1 in 3 women will be sexually assaulted in their
lifetimeand 1in4college-agedwomen nave been raped orsufferedattempted rape.Thesegrotesquely high rates ofoffense only account for rape and not other forms of sexual violence. Question: HOW
THE FUCK CAN RAPE RATES BE THIS HIGH? Answer: Because sexual violence is socially
acceptable.
Some statistics from the University of Pennsylvania website elucidate this point. 85% of
rapes of college women are committed by someone they knew. 84% of men who commit rape say
that what they did was definitely not rape. One third of men said they would have sex with a nonconsenting person iftheythoughttheywould get away with it. Furthermbre,42% of women whoa re
raped tell nooneaboutthe rape.That same per~entage of women expects to be raped again.Among
the 85% of women who are raped by an acquaintance, only 5% reported the rape to the police. It is
estimated that SO to 90% ofall rapes go unreported. Again, these statisticsonly address rape and not
other forms of sexual violence.
~
-
'!i"'
,-
,,
-' ~
~
Before continuing to talk about sexual violence lets give a definition, "Sexual violence is any action that makes an individual feel violated in a way that pertains to sexualitY:' Everyone has a right to
determine their own sexual expression and the role they play in the sexual expression of others. The
terms"sexual expression" and"sexuality" extend beyond physical actions into verbal, visual, and other
nonphysical actions as well. It is important to use th is definition ifwewantsexual violence to stop. Notice in the
definition above that the determining factor in an act of sexual violence is how the survivor feels. This means
that: SURVIVORS ALONE ARE CAPABLE OF NAMING WHEN SEXUAL VIOLENCE OCCURS.
Sexual violence cannot be objectively defined. It is entirely circumstantial. Sexual violence is degrading,
~
humiliating and takes power away from the survivor. It removes the survivor's ability to determine their
involvement in sexual expression.
J~
»~\.~
iJ
The statistic above stating that 84% of men who rape do not think they committed rape exemplifies
the extent to which sexual violence is not recognized. It is not uncommon for a survivor to come forward
and have others side with the perpetrator. If tnere is any excuse as to why a perpetrator may have been
justified in the act of sexual violence, then some third parties respond by trying to mediate and explain
this perspective to the survivor. This response sides with the perpetrator in invalidating the survivor's
experience and right to definezirown sexual boundaries. Sometimes third parties will attemptto help
by telling a survivor they need to calm down or are overreacting. Again, further invalidating them.
_ ~~
This reaction fails to recognize an act of sexual violence as being unacceptable. Instead, it displaces
_,
the responsibility onto the survivor, as though the way to deal with the situation is empathy and understanding toward the violator. As a third party, you have absolutely no business asking for any information about the incident that the survivor does not voluntarily offer. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HEAR
THE WHOLE STORY to determine whether or not a violation occurred, because it is not up to you to
make that call. Atthis point it might be good to add that only 2% of rapes reported to police are false
f ~ accusations, which is the same rate that any other crime is falsely reported. Note also that the legal
......,_.,....
criteria for defining rape does not hinge on a survivor's experience as it rightfully should.
~
So how DO you deal with these situations? The answer is different every time. Because sexual
violence takes power away from an individual, the most effective way to handle the situation is for
the survivor to determine the process. Control of the process helps survivors feel empowered after
having been violated. IT IS CRITICAL TO ALLOW THE SURVIVOR FULL CONTROL OF THE
RECOVERY PROCESS
With that said, there are some general guidelines: FOR ANYONE WHO WISHES TO ENGAGE
IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY EVER! The most important thing you can do is to make sure all sexual
activities (or activities that can conceivably be seen as sexual) are consensual. Consent is "the act of
willingly and verbally agreeing to involvement in any sexual contact or conduct:'
Consent is an ongoing process in any relationship. The only way to know that you are not sexually
violating someone is to always ensure there is consent. It is important to note that saying no, even
when asked, can be very hard. People will feel pressured into sexual activity and may verbally agree,
but not really want to be engaging in sexual activity. If someone says "yes'; but you feel that their
nonverbal communication is saying"no'; then you should stop. It is important to note that this does
not go the other way around. If you feel that someone's nonverbal communication is saying "yes';
but they have not verbalized consent, then you have not obtained consent. You cannot know for sure
without verbal (and physical) affirmation.
While it is possible to engage in willing sexual contact without expressed verbal consent (have you
verbally consented to every sexual encounteryou have had?), recognizethateach and everytimeyou
do this, it is possible that you are sexually violating your partner(s). If you did not gain consent and
your partner tells you that you have violated them, then you have.
FOR ALLIES
If you wish to be an ally with a survivor then it is critical that you listen and provide whatever support they request and are comfortable
giving. Having a domineering, even if well-meaning, ally who tries to make decisions for the survivor or tries to impose their own views of the
situation on the survivor, only actstofurtherdisempowerthe survivor. Be empathetic and communicateyoursupport. lfyou feel uncertain how to
help, ask the survivor what kind of supportthey need. Do nottalkaboutthe incident with anyone else unless the survivor explicitly asks you to. No
one needs to know. DO NOT GOSSIP.
Professional resources for emotional and physical assistance are listed at the end of this article. While these
resources are helpful, having support from friends and loved ones is essential. You provide a different kind of support as
a friend, which even the best professionals cannot provide (although keep in mind that professionals provide resources like
medical care that you cannot).
FOR PERPETRATORS
If you have sexually violated someone, then you need to be accountable to that person. It is essential
to understand that even if you did not realize you were violating someone, if they tell you that you did then you
are a perpetrator of sexual violence It is only up to the survivor to decide.How you process and heal from your
role as a perpetrator is different than what you need to do to be accountable to the survivor. Primarily, you have
to respect the survivor's decisions in dealing with the incident. If the survivor wants an apology, then apologize
(in a heartfelt manner that shows you understand the seriousness of what you have done). If the survivor does
not want to seeyourface ever again, then be certain as hell thatthey never do ... and so on. If the survivor wants
to communicate with you, then trust and respect their ability to determine how they need you to act. YOU DO
NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE SURVIVOR IF IT IS UNWANTED. Many perpetrators
will want to apologize for their actions, not out of a concern for the well-being of the survivor, buttheir own benefit.
•
Such apologies take the form of"I am sorry that you feel violated but I was really just meaning to have sex with you and I
&I/JJt.
thought it was consensual and we've done it before so I just thought that it was okay ..."This kind of apology is illegitimate
,_,
(aka fucked up) because it places the blame on the survivor. It apologizes for the fact that the survivor feels violated rather
than for the violent act itself. ltonlyserves the perpetrator. If the survivor wants to know what you were thinking, let them ask.
DO NOT MAKE ANY EXCUSES FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. There are none. Your perception/intentions are completely
irrelevant to whether or not you committed violence. You do not have the right to talk about the incident to anyone else. If you
need to talk about it, it must be confidentiality (professionals can help). If a perpetrator does not adequately heal and learn from
their mistakes, they are liable to commit sexual violence again.
t
FOR COMMUNITIES
Ta Ik about sexua I violence with your friends. Th ink about and discuss what you can do to make sexua I violence
socially unacceptable in your community.This could be anything from naming names of known perpetrators to hurling
bloody tampons at them. Be creative, but ALWAYS put the needs of the survivor first. Before anything happens, talk
about how you might respond to an incident. Be supportive of survivors and sensitive to their needs.
RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS
Medical- It's important to be checked for physical injuries,
sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and pregnancy after a
rape. It is best to wait to bathe, douche, or change clothing
until after the physical examination. If you have to change
clothes put the clothes you were wearing into a brown bag
and bring them with you to the hospital.
St. Peter's Hosital 491-9480 I 413 Lily Road
Provides legal rape exams and will call a Safeplace
advocate and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-folks
who are specifically trained to help you through the
1 examination. The exam is paid for through Crime Victims Compensation.
Group Health 973-7000 I 700 Lilly Road
Provides legal rape exams but on ly accepts members
of its health plan. The results of your medical exam will
not be released to the police without your written consent if you are over 18 (if you are under 18 the hospital
is legally required to do so). Remember it is always
your choice to speak with police or answer questions
they ask you. If you want to press charges against your
attacker, it is important to go to the hospital within 72
hours after vaginal penetration, 48 hours after anal,
and 12 hours after oral.
The Evergreen Health Center 867-6200 I
SEM I 2110 Cannot conduct legal rape exams but can
provide treatment of injuries, testing, and emergency
contraception. M, Tu, Th: 8-5, W: 8-7, F: 8-Noon
Emotional Support Options - Friends, family members, peer advocates, Safeplace advocates or anyone
else you know and trust can provide support.
The Counseling Center 866-6800 I
SEM I 4130 Has licensed and peer counselors
available during the academic year. Conversations are free and confidential. M-Th 8-5, Fri 8-3,
Walk-in M-F 11-Noon.
The Sexual Assault Prevention Coordinator 867-5221 I SEM I 4121 Can help decide
whether to press charges and what your options are
for support and assistance. You can call police services (867-6140) after hours. http://www.evergreen.
edu/health/osap/
Safeplace Rape Relief/Women's Shelter
Services (360) 754-6300 - 24 crisis hotline I (360)
786 8754-business line I safeplaceolympia.org
Has advocates available 24 hours a day who are
specially trained to help WOMEN survivors though
all phases of recovery including medical help and
the legal system. Safeplace also provides confidential shelter for women and children. While Safeplace
acknowledges the need for trans/intersex survivor
services and is working toward providing them, the
Survivor Project (503-288-3191, survivorproject.org)
in Portland currently provides better intersex/trans
support.
to the contrary, it is a belief that we should more deeply love our
partners without constraints. Polyamory is not for everyone.
The dominant culture of 'serial monogamy', or having
multiple loves, doesn't always work out with everyone having their
needs met. It establishes a hierarchy of relationships with all attention going to the latest prospect of 'ttze one.' It discourages deep
loving connections with friends, since love comes loaded with expectations and commitments. Keeping to one lover can feel very
stifling to queer peo£le that have to reconcile their attraction to
diJterent genders.
Polyamory is a term used to refer to the practice of having or being
open to having multiple lovers. Poly's (as practicers of polyamory
are sometimes called), are not just concerned
with sex, but also with developir;g multiple
supportive and mutually benejlcial relatwnships. The word comes from the
Greek word Poly which means 'many'
and the Latin word Amor which
means 'love.' Monogamy derives its
suffix from the Greek word Gamos
which means 'marriage.' Polyamory
differs from polygamy, which refers
to mufriple marriages. While polyamory is more common at Evergreen
and m the Olympia than other places
in the U.S., it is still poorly understood
and often misused.
Polyamory does not imply dysfunctional relationships. It requires respect, communication, trust, emotional maturity, and lots of talking with
all people involved. With multiple
partners, special attention to safe sex
and sexual health is a very important
part of expressing love for those you
sleep with. Palys go through a lot 01 the
same struggles that monogamous folks
go through in their relationships. Ideally,
they are [milt upon values of trust, loyalty, negotiation, and compasswn, as well as
tlie re;ection ofjealousy, possessiveness, and
restrictive cultural standards.Such relationships are often more fluid than the traditional
"datmg and marriage' model of long-term relationships, and the participants in a polyamorous
relationship may not have preconceptions as to duration.
What distinguishes polyamory
from traditional forms of non-monogamy
(i.e. ''cheating") is an ideology that openness,
goodwill, intense communication, and ethical
behavior should prevail among all the parties involved. Powerfuf intimate bonding among three or
more persons may occur. Some consider polyamory to
be, at its root, the generalization of romantic couple-love
beyond two people into something larger and more fundamental. Polyamory is not synonymous with 'sleeping around'
or the practice of having multiple casual sex partners, although
they aren't mutually_ exclusive vy any means. Polyamory is not a
way to have many lovers and avoid deep emotional investment;
P
o
I
y
I respect that each connection in my life will find it's own right
place, time, and spirit - with an appreciative understanding that
each connection evolves in unpredictable ways.
I realize and value that there are all kinds of love, and not all of
them are sexual. I will be open to all expressions of love. I will give
and receive love freely and often.
I do not believe in placing arbitrary limits on myself or others based
on an understanding of love as a finite commodity. I firmly believe
that the more love I give, the more it grows and that people have an
unlimited capacity to love.
I will strive to be aware of how social conditioning is effecting my
responses to love, and work towards breaking bad habits so that
love can be redefined, explored, and expressed without hindrance.
I appreciate that each expression of love is special. I recognize that
all love has value and that one kind of love can never be better than
another.
I will keep my heart open to receive love. I will keep my heart
open to give love. I will not be afraid to explore and express love
frequently in multiple ways. I will be open to vulnerability and
intimacy. I will lower my shield to let love in and will slow down
and listen when my shield goes up.
I believe that self-love is essential and without it love is impossible.
While polyamory seeks to grow our relationships beyond possessiveness, it's still ok to feel jealous when your
partner spends all their time with their new flame; ho[;efully
you can unaerstand and love them for their passwn and stzlltzave
your needs met. Honest and constant communication ofyour feelings, as in any relationship, is the key.
f
e
s
t
o
I understand that people have varied needs, that one person cannot
fulfill all needs of another, and it is our responsibility to express and
get our own needs met. I recognize that this builds community and
connection, which is the goal and helps to spread love.
I will encourage those I love to love more. I will be supportive
when someone I love finds love or expresses love. I will look inward
if any expression of love causes me to feel threatened or insecure. I
will be open to being told I am not being supportive.
I will examine my own fears and strive to not let them get in the
way of expressing and experiencing love. I will listen with an open
heart if someone's honesty hurts me. I will strive to always respond
with grace and speak authentically.
I believe in being open to change and fluidity in relationships,
even when it hurts. I believe love is the absence of guilt and fear. I
believe love is acceptance that love involves choices.
I recognize that love can become strained, love can be withhe ld,
and love can be painful. I will strive to be honest with myself and
others in order to remain compassionate to myself and others.
I respect that love fosters deep bonds, and that expressions of love
should be encouraged without the fear of threatening someone
else's comfort. I believe that compassion, safety, trust, and respect
are essential to maintaining love.
I'm fat. I came out of the womb at 10 pounds and have stayed a
healthy, strong, and cuddly soft weight throughout my life. Until I got to
college, I didn't think about fat-phobia. I thought fat-hating attitudes were
just normal, scientific, even simply just right. But fat-phobia is prejudice just
like any other. It's a bunch of sucky assumptions about people with no real interest in honest information. Here's a list of some misconceptions to watch out for.
Do your homework, respect the fatties in your life!
Fat isn't okay. it's dirty, ugly, smelly, and gross.
Fat people want to lie about our weights. We want
you to he for us too.
Being fat is a choice. Fat people are too lazy and
self-hating to be 'properly' thin.
Fatness is important. Weight matters.
Fat isn't a choice any sane healthy human should
make.
Fatties can't be, won't be, and aren't vegetarian!
vegan.
Our cultural, biological, and medical understanding
of fat is reasonable, honest, and unbiased.
Fat people eat differently than other people.
Violence against fat people isn't a hate crime.
It's OK to augh at fat in appreciation of how it
moves, feels,jiggles, looks, and is.
Fat is a flaw. "You have such a pretty face, but ... "
"Inside every ugly fat person, a beautiful skinny
person is just dying to get out!"
Cultural feelings about fat are the same across all
races and ethnicities.
Fatties can't just BE. We should, can, and will want
to change our bodies.
Fat people should never appear on television in
leading roles unless they provide comic relief, or
offer support as a sexless &est friend.
Fat people have to wear different clothes than
'normal' people because their bodies are gross, not
because the clothing industry refuses to take fat
bodies seriously as cute, sexy, and normal.
Fatties have to wear traditional 'sexy' clothing to
BE sexy.
Fat people (or anyone, for that matter) want to
hear "oooh! did you lose weight?!?!" as anything
other than an expression of concern.
Images of fat-phobia are absent in "radical" movements (Adbusters, anyone?).
Female-socialized fatties are taught to always,
if nothing else, find one person in the room fatter
than they are.
Fat people are anything other than -gorgeous-, powerful-, -smart-, -radical-, and -sexy- people!
Fatties arepeople. We love and laugh and fuck.We have strengths and faults that
have nothing to do with the size ofour bodies.Love your fat, your fat loves you.
SIU Ttlt WOITD ..
Mynstruation!
Women's bodies are not meant to
be feared, they are meant to be
loved! Radical wimmin unite, stop
putting wads of dry cotton in your
vagina!
The feminine hygiene industry's
toll on our bodies and Earth:
A menstruator is likely to use
16,800 sanitary pads or tampons in
a lifetime.
Tampons soak up more than just
blood. They also absorb vaginal
mucous, which is necessary to
maintain a healthy pH balance in
the vagina; this phenomenon has
been linked to yeast infections.
Artificial fibers (like rayon) used in
tampons are abrasive, so when a
tampon lengthens it pushes against
the cervical area, causing tiny cuts
and imbedding pieces into the tissue. This has been traced as the
probable cause of Toxic Shock Syndrome and has been shown to damage the vaginal walls by causing ulceration and peeling of the mucous
membrane.
The vaginal walls are the most absorbent part of the menstruator's
body. 25% of all pesticides are used
on cotton, which are used to make
tampons. No long-term independent testing has been done on the
health effects of using non-organic
cotton tampons.
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) has
been linked to tampon use and the
high absorbency level in tampons.
The number of reported cases has
dropped significantly in recent
years, from 55 deaths and 1,066
cases during 1979 and 1980 to 5 re-
ported cases in 1997 and 3 in 1998,
due to increased regulation of the
FDA of tampon absorbency and
changes in tampon ingredients.
Five of the top nine pesticides used
on cotton in the U.S. (cyanide, dicofol, naled, propargite, and trifluralin) are KNOWN cancer-causing
chemicals. All nine are classified by
the U.S. EPA as Category 1 and 2,
the most dangerous.
In California, it has become illegal
to feed the leaves, stems, and short
fibers of cotton known as gin trash
to livestock, because of the concentrated levels of pesticide residue.
Instead, this gin trash is used to
make furniture, mattresses, tampons, swabs, and cotton balls.
ALTERNATIVES
Homemade cloth menstrual
or Lunapads/Gladrags.
pads
Reusable menstrual cup like the
Keeper or Diva Cup (I've been using
one for 2 years, it's the best thing
ever!)
CHECK OUT
www.seac.org/tampons
www.spotsite.org
onewoman.com
Cunt: A declaration of Independence Inga Muscio; Seal Press,
1998
Women's Resource Center
Women of Color Coalition
1 ll()'l l~S'l S1ll~l~'l I
111\Sl(j
l
h/407//£ 70~~ h7' @f-y--a.
1
W
~
1
-
1
Whee~~ ei>/ku,pe
l)f)
l)f)N''l
Wear protective shoes that you can run in and clothing covering your skin to protect from exposure to
weather and chemical weapons.
DON'T WEAR CONTACT LENSES. Contacts can trap
chemicals in the eyes and cause severe pain or blindness.
Shower beforehand to get off any dead skin cells
that chemicals could stick to.
Don't wear earrings. DO tape over non-removable
piercings.
Bring a bandanna soaked in apple-cider vinegar or
lime juice to aid in breathing in case of chemical exposure.
Don't wear natural fibers (cotton, wool, hemp, or
fuzzy, absorbent fibers) .
Bring fresh clothes in a plastic bag (in case yours get
contaminated by chemical weapons).
Bring any medications you may need; especially inhalers and insulin or medications you may need in
the next few days (in case you are stranded or arrested). Wear Med-Alert tags and inform any street
medics of serious medical conditions.
BRING WATER and remember to eat & stay hydrated.
1
Don't wear tampons. Chemicals can be absorbed
into tampons, causing toxic shock syndrome.
Don't shave before a protest or wear oil-based skin
products (lotions, sunscreens, etc.).
DON'T USE AMPHETAMINES OR OTHER DRUGS DURING THE TIME PERIOD SURROUNDING A PROTEST.
Drugs such as cocaine can dramatically worsen the
effects of chemical weapons, and are associated
with the majority of electroshock weapon-related
deaths.
BE EXTRA CAREFUL IF:
You are, or are with, children, animals, or the elderly.
You have asthma, a weakened immune system, are pregnant, or have heart conditions.
You are a nursing mother. Toxins can be passed through breast milk.
You have long hair, facial hair or dreadlocks. Chemicals can get trapped in them & cops can use them to grab you.
TREATMENT AND AFTERCARE FOR CHEMICAL WEAPONS
Take as COLD a shower as you can stand. Hot water
STAY CALM!
will make your skin burn all over again. Do not to get chemiRemember: the pain is only temporary. Get away
from the 9as cloud. If you are wearing contact lenses take
them out immediately. If you can't do it yourself, have someone with CLEAN hands help you. Blow your nose, spit, cough,
etc. Try not to swallow. Flush eyes with water, making sure
head is tipped so that water is flowing out of the eye sockets.
cals into sensitive areas or wounds. Avoid alcohol and other
drugs for a while, as your body is cleaning itself of toxins.
Wash your clothes in harsh detergent.
Organic Miso and citrus fruits are the best to eat
afterwards. Also burdock, nettles, Oregon grape, or dandelions can be useful to purge your liver and systems. Use garlic
ginger, mulleinkand marshmallow root for lung support. Treat
stress with mil y oat, and use licorice for throat care.
The Olympia Street Medic Collective developed following the May 2006 port protests. It was formed by indi
viduals from various factions of the activist community to educate ourselves and keep each other safe in the streets.
The collective has since grown and now holds numerous health and safety workshops, street medic trainings, forums on
weaponry and protest preparedness, and attempts to attend all protests and gatherings in Olympia where EMTs and Para medics are unlikely/unable to attend. The collective holds ongoing trainings, scenario days, and fundraisers. If you are
interested in becoming a street medic, helping us during scenario days (make-up artist, actors, etc.). making donations
(medical supplies always welcome), or in helping with fundraising, please contact us at olysmc@lists.riseup.net
The Green Scare is a government roundup
strategy aimed at scaring ecological radicals away
from effective resistance through the targeted
repression of people the state perceives as key
members of radical environmental struggles,
who receive draconian prison sentences for
relatively small crimes . A similar tactic was used
in the 1950's (during the Cold War's "Red Scare"),
where anyone remotely considered communist was
targeted . We are seeing a similar tactic applied to
environmental and animal rights activists today.
The government's code name for most recent wave
of repression is Operation Backfire. One prisoner
support zine from the UK, Spirit of Freedom,
defined the Green Scare as, "the tactics that the
US government and all their tentacles (FBI,
IRS, BATF, Joint Terrorism Task Forces, local
police, the court system) are using to attack
the ELF/ALF and specifically those who
publicly support them ."
The ELF (Earth Liberation Front) is not an
"organization" - it is a banner which anyone can
claim . It is a label given to direct actions which
fit the philosophy of the ELF: to inflict economic
damage upon industries that destroy the planet
while taking strict precautions that no humans or
non-humans are injured in the process. To this
end, ELFers bring to light the atrocities
committed by targeted industries.
The ALF (Animal Liberation Front)
is the predecessor to the ELF. Like the
ELF, the ALF is a label given or chosen by
eco-militants. The ALF differs in that most
actions are not for economic damage but for
liberating animals from oppressive facilities, such
as testing labs, fur farms , and slaughterhouses.
However, the liberation actions do economic
damage as well as give imprisoned animals
another shot at life.
An underlying principle of the ELF
and ALF is that absolutely no being
is hurt in their actions. Further,
since both movements began,
there have been exactly zero
injuries to humans. Despite
both groups vow of nonviolence, the FBI considers
both to be the number one
domestic terrorist threat.
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Stephen Peifer said in
court that the alleged
ELF members and their
r
:::
t
r
y
t
n
C
s
9
1-
s
9
y
n
d
ir
"crimes" " ... is a classic case of terrorism , despite
their protests of lofty humane goals ... it was pure
luck no one was killed or injured by their actions ...
if that is the standard, then the Ku Klux Klan did
not commit terrorism when they burned empty
black churches during the civil rights upheaval. .. "
conveniently likening militant but basically nonviolent environmentalists to a notorious hate group
that also had the full power of the state and decades
of systematic oppression behind them. Even more
horrifying is prominent Green Scare judge Ann
Aiken 's statement that to qualify for "federal criminal
terrorism" an action "does not require a substantial
risk of injury." Aiken's comments effectively nullify
the legal definition of terrorism and open the door
to call any direct action that threatens destructive
industries or the state "terrorism. "
Both the ELF and ALF operate with the
use of autonomous cells and completely without
self-described leaders . Despite this glaring fact, the
FBI coined a core group of its arrestees "leaders"
and claimed that they called themselves "the
Family". This "Family" consisted of alleged radical
environmentals who all lived on the west coast,
predominantly in Eugene and Olympia. This "group"
was the first to see extreme FBI repression , being
blamed for several ELF actions without proof of
their involvement. The FBI became dependent on
"snitches" and paid informants for information leading
to arrests , promising shorter prison sentences and
lesser charges. What happened instead was that
all named activists became imprisoned along with
the snitches. In fact, the accused who turned into
informants statistically got much longer sentences
than those who refused to rat out their friends .
Block (Exile) of Olympia also received 7 years and
3 months. Briana Waters, once a coordinator for
the Evergreen Animal Rights Network and now a
mother, professional musician , and violin teacher,
was sentenced to 6 years for a crime at which
she was not even present. She was named as
a lookout to an arson by two people facing hefty
prison sentences with hopes of reducing their own
sentences. Throughout the entire case there were
glaring holes and unreliable witnesses , but due to
the power of the state its lapdog , the media , Briana
has been locked away for several years.
One of the larger lessons learned through
the Green Scare was that the FBI had no leads
until people began snitching , so movements with an
effective security cultu re pose a legitimate challenge
to the FBI and those they serve. The state will screw
you over regardless if you help them or not, and
the power and omnipresence of the state is not as
monolithic as they would like all to believe.
The easiest way to support political
prisoners such as these is to write them letters of
support and if you can , donate to their legal and
commissary funds . The Sabot lnfoshoppe (which ,
as of fall 2010 , does not yet have a space) plans to
hold prisoner writing parties and benefits throughout
the year.. look for flyers .
Check www.greenisthenewred.com
for info on individual prinsoners.
The Green Scare has been horrific for
the victims of this police repression . Bill Rodgers,
also known as "Avalon ", of Prescott, Arizona was
found dead in his cell two weeks after his arrest.
The FBI labeled Rodgers the leader of the ELF and
mastermind of arsons which had cost upwards of
$20 million . Eric McDavid received 19 years for
"conspiracy to destroy property by means of fire
or explosives" a euphemism for thoughtcrime. In
reality, a paid informant known as Anna was given
$75,000 to fabricate a crime and implicate whoever
fell into the net. Both of McDavid 's co-defendants,
Zachary Jenson and Lauren Wiener, pied guilty to
lesser charges and agreed to testify against Eric.
The result is a person who committed no crime
receiving a 19-year prison sentence.
Activist Jonathan Paul received 4 years and
3 months. Activist Joynna Zacher (Sadie) of Olympia
received 7 years and 8 months. Activist Nathan
Ex-Greener Briana Waters was sentenced to 6 years
Security Culture 101
A security culture is a set of customs shared by a community whose members may engage in illegal or unwanted activities, the practice of
which minimizes the risks of such activities. The main focus of a security culture is keeping information about illegal activities private and
between involved individuals only. - From Wikipedia
The core premise of establishing a culture of security is not letting be known what need not be known. If
a community has a strong sense of security culture, it matters less who's phones are tapped, what houses are bugged,
or who is or isn't wired because the information received
will not lead the feds to anything that can meaningfully
implicate individuals.
Radical and activist communities are no place
for "I'm more anarchist/militant/serious-about-the-causethan-you" posturing. If one commits illegal acts, the least
amount of people possible should know
(if you are working in a cell or affinity
group). Don't casually throw around direct action ideas in public if you potentially want to try them in the future. Don't
talk about about illegal things you've
done or hint at why you've dropped out of
mainstream actions.Bragging, directly or
implied, is simply dumb when anything
you say can be held against you in court.
Security culture is not guessing
who did what and when. There is no place
for gossip when running your mouth
can lead to someone being indicted by
a grand jury and facing years in prison.
The feds don't really care if they have the
"right" person or not. On the contrary,
government repression is about instilling
fear in radical and activist communities,
not bringing people to ''.justice." They'll
use that gossip whether or not it's even
remotely true.
The police and the FBI (and depending on the
situation, CIA and NSA) become interested in activities
when they begin to meaningfully challenge the homogeny of power and business as usual. Radical environmental and animal activists (such as the Earth Liberation Front
[ELF] or Animal Liberation Front [ALF]) are considered
the number one domestic terrorist threat, while crazy militant anti-gay and anti-abortion groups are silently left out
of the equation.
That being the reality, if you take part in radical
activist activities, it is best to assume there may be an informant in the room, that your phone is tapped, and that
your emails are being read, whether or not it may be true.
SO WHAT DOES SECURITY CULTURE LOOK LIKE?
Security culture is never talking to the police or
FBI about anythmg. Ever. Evening the most seemingly innocuous question will be used against you or your friends.
Know your rights as a citizen. The FBI will do whatever
they can to scare the shit out of you and make you talk.
The majority of what they say is posturing and they will
have no qualms lying to your face nor do they have to do
what they say they will if you do talk. They are trying to
intimidate you and pesuade you.
Security culture looks like having your
friends and allies' backs. If your friend
or someone in your community gets
snatched and is in jail, it is your duty to
support that person. Jail and prison are
about breaking people and is a political tool that is used to scare and coerce
people into becoming informants. Jail
and prison are about isolating you. Write
letters, keep up to date about where they
are being transferred to. Go to court hearings. Make sure they are getting treated
well. Fundraise for their legal defense.
And show they are not forgotten.
Security culture looks like being aware
of who is and who isn't reliable-especially when planning illegal activities. How
long have you kiiow the people you are
worKing with? What is their history in
the community? Can it be traced and
verified? Are they level-headed and responsible or do they have something to
prove? Where is sensitive information to
be kept?
Work with reliable and experienced friends you
trust. Informants, snitches and infiltrators have been a
part of the history of radical movements around the world.
But, don't get overly paranoid. The feds would love nothing more tfian for radical and activist communities to tum
into neurotic, scared, isolated groups of people too afraid
to attempt to do anything at alI disobedient.
The best defense to government repression is
having strong, healthy, loving communities of resistance.
We should strive to build longstanding communities of
interwoven relationships that span time, multiple communities, nations and even landmasses. The more interwoven
our communities, the harder they are to unwind and infiltrate. Security culture is to activism what a condom is to
sex. Its for the safety of you and your partner(s), so don't
forget it!
'
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
1. You have the constitutional right to remain silent.
8. You do not have to let officers without a warrant into
You do not have to talk to law enforcement or anyone
your home, nor do you have to answer their questions.
Enforcement cannot get a warrant based on your reelse even if you do not feel free to walk away, or if you
are arrested or in jail. You cannot be punished for not fusal, nor can they punish you for refusing consent.
speaking. It is smart to talk to a lawyer before answer9. If officers insist on searching any questions. Only a judge
can order you to answer ques- u:1 do :not. co:nse:n1; i;o ing your home do not interfere
with the search in any way, but
tions.
a, search. :I'm g;oi:ng; clearly say you have not given
consent and that the search
2. The only two ex.ceptions ~o
i;o rem.a.in sile:n1;. :I
not answering questions are 1n
is against your wishes. Get
some states you must provide
wa,:nt, t.o speak i;o a, names and badge numbers of
your name if you are stopped
searching officers and contact
lawyer."
a lawyer immediately.
and told to identify yourself. You
are not required to answer any
other questions. Second, if you
10. If you give consent to a
are driving and pulled over for a traffic violation you are
search, officers do not need to get the court's perrequired to show license, registration and insurance,
mission to do a search. Police may search your car but
only the area within reach and in containers that could
but nothing else.
conceivably contain a weapon (not the Altoids tin you
3. You have the constitutional right to talk to a lawyer
have your weed stashed in). Smelling something is
before answering questions regardless if police tell you
not grounds for a search (though a K9 unit smelling
about that right, even if you do not have a lawyer. If something is). They must have a warrent to look in the
truck. Always say you do not consent to
you do make sure you have a business card on you
to show the officer and ask to call your lawyer.
the search.
Remember to get the name, agency, and telephone number of any law enforcement who
11. If law enforcement knocks on the
visits you and give that information to your
door, do not open it. Instead, ask
through the door if they have a warlawyer.
rant. lf the answer is no, then do not
4. Anything you say to law enforcement can
let them into your home and do not
be used against you and others. Lying is a
answer any questions or say anythinQ
crime, but being silent is not. Even if you another than "I do not want to talk to you.'
swered some questions you can choose to be
If they do have a warrant, ask it to be
slipped under the door, or shown through
silent at any time.
a peephole, window, or a door that is open
5. If enforcement threatens to get a subpoeonly enough to see the warrant. If you
na you still do not have to answer any quesopen the door to see the warrant, shut the
tions right there and then. If you are subdoor behind you and ask for the warrant.
poenaea contact a lawyer right away.
Make sure the warrant contains the judges
You must follow the subpoena's diname and signature, your name and correct
rections about where and when to
address, the date, place to be searched, a
report to court but you still do not
description of any items being searched for,
have to say anything.
and the name of the agency that is conduction the search or arrest. An arrest warrant
6. If asked to meet with offithat does not have your name may still be
cers for a "counter-terrorism
validly used for your arrest if it describes you
interview" you have the right
enough to identify you, and a search warto say no, to have an attorney
rant that does not have your name may still
present, to set the time and
be valid if it gives the correct address and
place of interview, to find out
description of the place to be searched.
the questions they will ask beA warrant that is a "warrant of removal/
forehand, and to answer only
deportation" does not give the officer the
the questions you feel comauthority to enter your home. If you say
fortable answering. If taken
the warrant is not complete or accurate,
into custody you still have the
say you do not consent to the search.
right to remain silent. Never
But, do not interfere if the officers deassume that
anything
you
cide to do the search even after you told
say is off the record and it 1s a
them they are mistaken. Call a lawyer as
criminal offense to knowingly
soon as possible. Ask if you are allowed
lie to an officer.
to watch the search. If you are allowed
you should take notes, including names,
7. You do not need to answer
badge number, which agency each ofany questions if you are shown
ficer is from, where they searched and
a warrant.
what they took. Have any other people
present act as witnesses.
HELL YEAH
'l'IIE 01.Y)IPIA \ 7-DAY IJPIUSING
MakeDestro
B A N K ij
During the your first few weeks at Evergreen, you'll
Sadly, this reality is no exception to the rule. Most
notice some Bank of America (BOA) representatives. These
banks, and especially the big ones, routinely invest in operapeople are super friendly and they talk a big talk. They'll promtions that are either bad for humans, the planet, or both. Wells
ise you free checking and lots of convenience. With the ATMs
Fargo, for instance, is one of the single largest stockholders in
oncampusandthenumerouslocationsaroundOlympiatoserve
the GEO group, which owns and operates private prisons and
you, banking with BOA can seem pretty appealing. Before you
detention centers like the one in Tacoma known for its abuses
make this decision, or even decide to make a donation (that
to immigrant detainees. And banks in general are shisty as fuck.
is, pay the ATM surcharge), here are some things you should
They'll do anything to make a buck. Just look at the current
financial crisis we're dealing with, brought about by super rich
know.
In 2007, BOA began to tout an environmental platform
banks feeding off the poorest people ti I the candy coated housin which they will, "support environmentally sustainable busiing bubble popped. Internationally, the World Bank and IMF
ness ... and to address global climate change:'
routinely scheme together to"invest"in poor countries to supYet, as par usual, the high and mighty rhetoric masks
posedly pull them out of squalor. When, in reality, the heavy
policies that achieve the opposite. Bank of America calls itself fees and infrastructural changes they impose in return for their
a leader in the fight against climate change because they've
loans leave many countries"helped"by these institutions more
pledged 2% of the companies $1.1 trillion in assets to fighting
indebted and less likely to provide for themselves than when
climate change spread out over the next 10 years. Yet, BOA
they first cried out.
continues to be one of the largest financiers of coal, which atBanks are totally fucked. So what's the alternative?
Well, if you can't stuff it all under the mattress, the next best optributes 40% of annual Greenhouse gas emissions.
Bank of America has also invested billions of dollars
tion is a credit union. Credit unions, unlike banks, are owned by
into companies that practice Mountaintop Removal (MTR) such
theirmembersandarenonprofit.Theyoffercompetitiveinterest
as Massey Energy, Arch Coal, and Alpha Natural Resources.
rates, usually beating the best rates from local banks.They are
MTR is a method of getting coal by literally blowing off the
opentoallmembersofthecommunityanddirectlyaccountable
tops of mountains, causing horrific ecological damage to huto them. Members are not simply clients and they are not just
mans and non-humans alike.
beneficiaries of a small loan fund. They are shareholders with a
Bank of America has also financed billions of dollars
political voice in the institution that holds their savings.
into more than 150 new coal-fired powerplantsthroughoutthe
Locally, the Washington State EmUS. Such clients include Peabody Energy, the largest coal minployee's Credit Union (WSECU) and Tulip
,
ing company on the planet. Thus, BOA is financing hundreds
Cooperative Credit Union areyourbest
of millions of tons of new CO2 emissions every year. Each of options. Tulip was started as a indethe proposed 150 coal plants would add between 600 million
pendent learning contract aby TESC
~
and 1.1 billion tons of additional CO2 emissions each year, thus
students, is run by the Food Co-Op
;
(see map in back for locations), and
making moot every other effort currently being purposed to
1
fight climate change.
is super badass.
The Environmental Resource Center
1.
is .":'orki~g with WashPirg, Olympia
Rising Tide and the Cascade Ch.'{~-_:,_·\'.::f/F-,-j:/,4 ,
mate Network to. kic~ BOA off
,,'~ ~ - ; '=:·· 4
of campus_and bring in a_ local
~--=··~ (: · · ~- ··
credit ~n10~. If you ~re inter- _-....
ested1nth1scampa1gnk~ep :-~~-- .
-- ~
an eye out for campaign _
activiti_es or come to ERC -
ft
,).S:-,4-J.t!h
·/··:jf4';,
~~:-.·.· a
_-- .· >~:-··-:.:
0· ~ ~ - -
-2:·· · :-
_;i::. . ~-, ' ··-~
meetings.
--~~-
._ .':'-~
· .:~1iiii1:~fufu{;~~
GENTRIFICATION
THE OLYMPIA DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION
Gentrification is the rebuilding or changing of an
area, neighborhood, or city to suit both the desires of the
generally small amount of affluent people living there and
the wants of those (wealthy folks) who would live in said area
if changes were made. Gentrification discounts the needs of
the majority of the people who already live in an area. In
many cases it ultimately displaces people already living there
through a variety of ways. This includes driving up property
values (making it impossible for low income people to live
there and middle income people to own businesses), tearing
down old affordable housing units to make way for new luxury housing units, th e creation of stricter anti-homeless laws,
and the introduction of high-end chain stores that drive out
local shops.
The Olympia Downtown Association (ODA) is
a non-profit organization which works to benefit the few
well -off business owners in downtown Olympia . The ODA
(which includes less then a quarter of downtown business
owners) often claims to speak for downtown business as a
whole and uses this claim to promote various harmful and
oppressive causes. The ODA has been working to gentrify
downtown through the promotion of anti-homeless laws, the
promotion of luxury condos, and the promotion of high-end
business, the regulating of public art, and taking a "tough on
crime" stance.
Olympia is changing and with every new city council meeting it is becom ing more and more gentrified. This change is
happening throughout downtown and is most apparent by
the building of new luxury condos, stricter anti-homeless
laws, and the construction of a new city hall.
Actual crime downtown as documented by the
Olympian and the police department has remained fairly
constant-and was never really high. Still, fear of crime and
fear of 'others' is the flames fanned for decades by the ODA.
Unfortunately, the ODA and the actual residents of downtown seem to have much different ideas about what an "improved" downtown is.
Recent moves made by the ODA to "improve'; or attempt to improve, downtown:
1986: Criminalization of skateboarding
1987: Outlawing of teen dance clubs
1990: Criminalization of loud car stereos
1991 : Outlawing of "cruising"
1993: Criminalization of"aggressive pan handling"
1994/1995: Attempted stop of transitional housing for
homeless
1995: Proposed criminalization of car camping
1995: Proposed outlawing of fortified wine (against the
homeless)
1996: Outlawing of OAPP Needle Exchange
1996/1997: Attempted banning of sitting on the sidewalk
1999/2000: Criminalization of graffiti and lobbying against
designated "graffiti walls"
2000/2001 : Proposed public financing of a massive Convention Center downtown
2001 /2002: Proposed criminalization of car camping and
camping, proposed outlawing of fortified wine, proposed
ban on pan handling
2002/2003: Proposed public financing of a massive Convention Center downtown
2005: PBIA/ BID (Parking Business Improvement Area/ Business Improvement District) passed
2005/2006: Continued attempts to rid downtown of graffiti
and loitering
2006:Supports sidewalk ordinance which makes it illegal to
sit, lie, vend, or solicit within six feet of the edge of a building
2008: Publicly came out in favor of the water front rezone
which would allow for the building of high rise condos,
"strongly recommends that the Council support the Planning
Commission's position in favor of the height amendment':
ODA.
2008: Supports RV ordinance, an ordinance designed so that
unhoused people can't sleep in their RV's on city streets
2009: Continued Public support of waterfront rezone
2009:Creation of Sunday Sweep, an event to clean up downtown (including grafitti). This event will go along with the
ODA's twice a year"city clean up"
2009: Adapts a new nationally tested model of city planning
know as "Main Street''. Intended to economically restructure
downtown, "beautify" downtown, and make downtown
"safer"through continued cooperation with the police.
The Anti-Homelessness Trend
Over the last five years, the Olympia City Council
has passed severe anti-homeless legislation. This legislation is selectively enforced, only targeting those who the
police assume to be unhoused. The intention of these laws
is to keep unhoused people out of downtown Olympia. It
is city council's hope that more people with more money
will come to our city if they (the wealthy) do "not have to
deal" with unhoused people. This is part of gentrification:
ridding the city of those who live here to suit the wants of
those who someday may live here and whose money will
benefit the already wealthy.
In 2006, The Side Walk Ordinance--originally
proposed in 1996--was passed. The ordinance makes it
illegal to sit, lay, vend, or solicit within six feet of the edge
of a building. Basically, this law makes it illegal for unhoused people to sit, ask for money, play music, and/or
sleep downtown. This law is targeted at unhoused people
and is only enforced on unhoused people*.
In 2008, the RV Ordinance was passed making it illegal for RVs to be parked on city streets at night.
This was created so that people do not sleep in there RVs
downtown at night. In a town with so few public shelters,
if you tell someone who has an RV that they can't sleep
it in town, you are basically saying that they can't sleep
in town. It is yet another attempt to push people who are
unhoused away from downtown.
The City Council has been having a profound
negative effect on the unhoused communities of Downtown Oly, but they are not the only negative force. A contingent of the downtown business community, general behavior of the Olympia city government and Olympia Police
Department, and the difficulty of receiving social services,
coupled with recent cuts in services, add to the mistreatment of unhoused peoples.
For example, some members of the downtown
business community will call the police if a person is sitting in front of their store, will refuse restroom access,
enact No Trespass orders, and join organizations
such as the ODA, which lobbies for anti-homeless legislation.
The cops go through cycles of targeting encampments of unhoused people
and arresting the residence of said camps
and doing street sweeps.**
This new legislation, along with
an already oppressive environment,
makes living downtown increasingly more difficult for unhoused
people. As allies, there are some
things that we can do to stop
these trends and make Olympia a
safer place for all of its residence:
1) Holding city council people accountable for passing legislation and fighting to reverse it.
2) Holding downtown business owners accountable for their
treatment of unhoused people. Holding them accountable
if they don't allow people to use their awnings or restrooms.
Holding them accountable if they call the cops on unhoused
people who are sitting on the sidewalk in front of their stores.
3) Fighting gentrification as a whole in Olympia. The more
gentrified a town is, the less services there are for unhoused
people. The more gentrified a town is the more anti-homeless
laws there will be.
4) Participate in harm reduction services through community groups. There are many amazing organizations in downtown Olympia who do work with unhoused people (e.g. No
Gap*** and EGYHOP****). Both groups are community run
and funded and believe in the self determination of those they
serve.
*There have been times when unhoused folks and housed folks
had been standing in the same area engaging in a conversation
with each other and cops have come by and ticketed the unhoused people in the group and left the housed people alone.
**Street Sweeps are when the police kick unhoused people off
the streets and often arrest them
***No Gap is a low barrier (will serve anyone who wants their
services, regardless of financial, addiction, legal or mental health
status) advocacy outreach program that operates in Downtown
Oly. They believe in working for people to get what
they want. They are always looking for more volunteers and do monthly trainings on outreach
and advocacy work.olynogap@gmail.com
****EGYHOP's mission is to bring basic
resources, emergency intervention, information about services, small meals,
basic items to ease life on the streets,
and friendly faces to empower members of the street population in
Olympia. This population includes,
but is not limited to, disenfranchised youth and unhoused or
low-income folks. For the past
eight years, two people go out
on bikes every night with carts
full of outreach supplies to the
streets of downtown Olympia.
Donation boxes are located
around town and the Evergreen
campus, the largest of which is
by Bike & Bike in Dumpster
Values thrift shop downtown.
EGYHOP is a project of Done
& Done. Mail donations to: PO
Box 6382, Olympia, WA 98507
Signs Of Things To Come
CONDOS
The City Government, The ODA, condo developers, and two small
citizens groups are pushing to build several different mixed use (residential
and commercial) high-end properties in downtown Olympia. The proponents
of these buildings say they will bring in rich people who will spend money
downtown thus revitalizing the downtown economy, and thereby benefiting
all of us. This argument equates to trickledown economics, which history has
shown does not work.
What will actually happen if these buildings are built is that property values will go up downtown, making it so that people who already live
downtown will no longer be able to pay their rent. Storefront rent will also
go up. This, coupled with the competition that will come from the big name
high-end stores that will inhabit the commercial sections of these buildings,
will make it so that already excising, locally-owned businesses will likely go
out of business. Due to the rise in property values, police presence will increase, this will mean an increase in enforcing anti-homeless legislation and
will further work to push unhoused people from the city. In short, building
luxury mixed use structures will displace those who already live downtown
and make the city a home designed for people who do not currently live
here.
Currently there are several condo projects in the works. The shell
of one high-end structure was recently completed near Adams and Union
downtown. Another is the building of a "market rate* mixed use" structure
on Columbia between 4th and 5th downtown. The building will include highend housing and expensive storefront space. Both of these projects have
slipped relatively under the radar and work on these projects has begun with
little to no protest. But that is not the case for all attempts to build high-rise
condos downtown.
In spring 2008, the development firm Tri-way proposed legislation
to raise the building height limits on the Isthmus so that they could build
condos there costing .8-1.2 million dollars per unit. This issue became a huge
public controversy with democrats who did not want the water front views
and the environment to be destroyed teaming up with anti-gentrification
radicals to spread the word about the legislation and condos. The groups
petitioned, flyered, made their own media, and spoke up at public forums
while some people launched a vandalism campaign against the developers.
The groups got the city council to hold public forums on the issue. By the last
public forum, over three hundred people came to speak against the condos,
with less than 40 coming to speak in their favor. In the end, the city council
voted for the rise BUT all the outreach work payed off. The state decided that
the view the condos would block is an issue for them. Now the decision is up
to the State Senate, and even if they vote to allow the building and Tri-way
is still interested in perusing this project, at that point it will be held up in
legislation for quite a while giving us time to restructure our strategy.
The campaign showed us that unlikely alliances and a diversity
of tactics can halt and even stop the construction and inhabitance of these
buildings and that we should not give up. It is up to all of us to learn more
about the other condo projects that have begun so that we can figure out
ways to either stop their construction or change the building's use. Keep
your ears and eyes open as new campaigns start all the time. Do research
and get to talking with other local activist to either join in a campaign to stop
condos or start your own.
* "Market rate" does not mean affordable. Tri-way enterprise uses the term market rate to describe condos that range between $.8-1.2 million.
THE NEW CITY HALL
On 4th Ave in downtown
Olympia, between Cherry and Chestnut,
The New City Hall is being built. Construction began May 2009 and is slated
for completion January 2011. The cost of
the building- was originally estimated to
be $35.6 mi1lion but may end up costing
more. There was never a public outcry
for this building nor was there referendum passed saying that the citizens of
Oly want a new city hall. The city council and their committees decided that it
was a necessity for the city. Their official
reason being that there are a few city
offices that, due to lack of space in the
current city hall, are in buildings around
downtown and the city wants all of the
offices to be together.
The new city hall is part of
changing the face of downtown Olympia to appeal to a few people and people
who may live here in the future. The
new city hall will fit city officials' vision
of the future. Currently, the city hall and
jail share a building-. With the building of
the new city hall, fue jail, police stat10n,
probation office and other offices relating to "criminal justice" will be taking
over the entirety of the old city hall. This
will allow space for the jail and police
stations to grow. It will also consolidate
all departments of the "criminal justice"
system in Olympia. This will allow the
city to become "tougher on crime."
Changing the face of our city
and creating the infrastructure for a
stronger criminal justice department
are tell tale sig-ns that gentrification is
hitting our city. ~ore than anything else,
the new city hall is a symbol of the gentrifying of Olympia and the changing of
a really great city.
There has been a lot of ang-er
downtown about the new city hall. But
there hasn't been very much action
taken about it. It's a hot topic and most
people you talk to downtown agree that
it's a waste of money and a sign of things
to come. Keep your eyes open for flyers.
There are a few info campaigns that
will be starting up soon that would love
more people to work with.
BOYCOTTS
Olympia is a great place filled with wonderful people and business owners who are trying hard
to do the right thing. But there are many businesses downtown that work against unhoused
folks, female bodied folks, and the Oly community in general. Below is a list of some of the
worst businesses in Olympia. This is not a complete list of all that is wrong in the Oly business
world, just those businesses with multiple strikes against them.
"The goal of Port Militarization Resistance is to end our community's participation in the illegal occupation of Iraq by stopping
the US military's use of the Port of Olympia:' - From Olympia PM R's mission statement
Congress will not end the war. A new President
will not end the war. Endless solemn marches will not
end the war, countless hours of "bearing moral witness" will not end the war, and a million candles will not
end the war. (Not by themselves, anyway.) Only popular direct action, bold and uncompromising, can end
genocide.
All across this imperial motherland they call
"America;' civilian port cities are being used to fuel the
fires of t he genocidal occupation of Iraq. Despite growing opposition, both expressed and organized, munitions and war vehicles (including the infamously easyto-blow-up "Stryker" armored transport) continue to
be shipped out of publicly owned ports. Ports just like
the Port of Olympia, the Port of Tacoma, and the Port
of Grays Harbor. But this opportunity to oppose the
bloodshed has not gone unnoticed.
Port Militarization Resistance is direct action
against the occupation of Iraq. PMR organizes around
opposing military shipments through local ports as a
means of cutting off material support for the war. This
is achieved through a spectrum of tactics, including
street demos, civil disobedience, and court challenges. While the military is loathe to relent in its quest to
murder every living thing everywhere, local Port Commissioners (who are not beholden to the military) can
be made to see that working with the military isn't
worth it, or at least, that it isn't as "profitable" as they
thought it would be.
PMR, the organization, was founded in June
2006. While affiliated with the Olympia Movement for
Justice and Peace, it maintained a singular focus of opposing war shipments. PMR has succeeded in kicking
the military out of the Port of Olympia and the Port of
Tacoma. The organization now has chapters in Olympia, Tacoma, and Grays Harbor, and will expand anywhere the military chooses to export its tools of destruction.
A BRIEF TIMELINE OF PMR ACTIONS
2006 - People in Olympia set up blockades at the POr
of Olympia. At one point 22 people laid down in front o
strykers and were consequently arrested, thus setting
a new standard fo r port resistance. They cost the port
and the city over $26,000.
March 2007 - The US military planned to ship strykers
out of the port of Tacoma. For 11 days people resisted. Hundreds of people, from Bellingham to Portland,
came to resist.
This port protest saw an escalation of tactics. People
tore down fences and used materials to build blockades in the port. The police came out in force night after night. They arrested and beat protesters. The city
and the port ended up losing over $500,000 .
May 2007 - The military used the Port of Grey's Harbor in Aberdeen to ship strykers. The city was so afraid
of protest that it increased security to new, heightened levels. Nothing was blocked, but the city spen t
over $100,000 in security and will not longer accept
military shipments.
November 2007 - Strykers were coming back fro m
Iraq through the Port of Olympia. Over 50 people sat
down, forming a human barricade that the police did
not have the immediate power to move. After the
people sat, other activists tied fences behind them,
creating a barricade and strengthening the block. Another group of activists went to the back entrance of
the port, where it was decided that a barricade woul d
be built, and people would sit in front of it when police
came to tear in down.
These two blockades started the holding of the port
and the stopping the United States Army for 18 hours.
The two entrances were held through the night and
broken up brutally by riot police in the morning, but
Over the course of ten days, protesters in Olympia
stopped the military numerous times, twice for over
ten hours. People of different ideologies worked together and got shit done.
August 2008 - The military came back to Tacoma to
attempt to move strykers from Iraq back to Fort Lewis.
Numbers were small due to the time of year, but significant developments were made
the protesters carried on and took it to the streets.
At strategic intersections barricades were built and at
the on-ramp to the highway a group of activists locked
themselves together using a lockbox.
Several days later, protesters came to the port to find
that the train tracks had been cemented, a tactic that
cau sed those strykers traveling by train to be delayed
for 2 weeks.
The next morning, a group of protesters sat down in
front of military equipment stopping it for the day. In
the early evening, protesters learned that police were
gathering at the local station. The protesters moved
quickly. A group of wimmin took the front entrance
while another group of protesters stayed at the back
entrance to make sure strykers didn't move from the
front.
The wimmin inspired a large media presence, including live feed, and forced the police to change their
tactics. The police, who had used dispersement techniques such as chemical weapons and pain compliance
all week, arrested each womyn one by one. When all of
the wimmin who were
taking part in the action
were
arrested,
the news vans pulled
out and the riot police
began to gas the front
entrance and
strykers. The police attempted to disperse
with chemical weap ons, less lethal weapons and flash bangs.
The protesters
kept
in front using their
bodies and found objects, including dumpsters and sail boats to
prevent the strykers
from
moving. That
night, people stalled
strykers, broke police
cars and bank win ?ows and held strong
1n th e face of intense
police brutality.
On the first night, two wimmin attempted to get in
front of a police line to stop stykers. While they didn't
succeed, it set off a chain of events. The next night
protesters did something that had not yet been seen
during PMR: they brought resistance to Fort Lewis.
Protesters successfully blocked the entrance to Fort
Lewis, the second largest military base on the West
Coast.
The next night, people used lockboxes to lock them selves together when they went back to the Fort. The
local police didn't know what to do with the lockboxes.
The protesters shut down the main gate to Fort Lewis,
effectively blocking stryker vehicles for 20 min.
Port of Tacoma 2008 was the smallest port action
seen in the last year. However, it is important to point
out its successes. It brought our strategy to a different level by blocking the fort and it got organizations
doing their first direct action and, in that, it built ties
between NW activists who had never even considered
working together. These ties will help resistance in the
NW grow.
PMR IS STILL HAPPENING.
STAY INFORMED AND BE READY FOR THE
NEXT SHIPMENT.
ON MIGRATION
Contrary to what the right wing pundits spew about
immigration in this county, the causes of mass migration are
very simple and clear. No one willingly leaves their family and
friends to work long days, often times for less than minimum
wage, in conditions that would make most U.S citizens quit. If
one were inclined to leave their land and family they would not
be called migrants, but simply travelers or tourists.
Migration is forced displacement, a wandering search
for better living conditions. Mass displacement is caused by
wars, famine, or simply the functioning of industrial production
(the destruction of countryside and forests, mass layoffs, and so
on). The economic policies put forth by the capitalists that make
up the U.S government, both Democrats and Republicans, rob
people and families in other countries of their local autonomy.
With trade agreements such as NAFTA, CAFTA and the more
recent SPP, indigenous and rural communities are forced into
giving up their land and resources for the development of the
global economy, the profit of capitalist business abroad, free
trade, and the neo-liberal agenda -for a world where people have
no autonomy over their own resources and absolutely no say in
what happens in their communities. This simultaneously forces
workers in those countries who's resources are being exported to
countries far away deeper into poverty.
All of this is a good enough reason to leave your land
and family hoping to make enough money to send home and
feed your children. When your home is under attack from foreign business people with only the dollar on their mind, you find
yourself in a position where you stay and fight a seemingly unbeatable enemy, or you go to the country that is pushing these
genocidal policies and work, picking their food and cleaning their
homes.
The problem here is not people coming to steal Ameri-1
can jobs; the _problem is the destruction of communities abroad: 1
and _the policies that starve families far away as well as families 1 1
w1th1n this country.
1I
OPERATION ENDGAME
Operation Endgame is an Office of Detention and Re
moval Strategic Plan that was passed in 2004. Within this plan
the ODR (Office of Detention and Removal) states that it's mis
sion-is "removing all removable aliens:' It is their plan to hav
is mas ~e o.~al_o~_peo~I~ done by_~he
Y1~~-, ~C- - :.. .
'
r,
'~ ;••~•--f_
.,
•.. •' ';,,• .:.,_
-.
-Cl'!
•. ,. ..
-
-· ·•
I
.
I
It is "Operation Endgame" that has jump started mass
roundups at factories and secret raids of homes. They claim that
"... the alien will be detained in safe, secure and humane environments; he will be transported safely; his movement will be fully
coordinated with his family, legal r.epresentative, and country
of origin, whenever appropriate:' This has not been the case in
any way what so ever. Not only have there been numerous cases
of sexual, physical, and mental abuse -even death, within these
facilities, many family members don't find out for weeks what
happened to their loved ones.
ICE DETENTION CENTER
In the tide flats of Tacoma near the Thea Foss, hidden
from the view of the public, lies a Homeland Security Detention
Center. The facility has a contract with the feberal department
of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is currently the main detention facility in the northwest. The center can
imprison up to 1,000 undocumented workers.
Since 2004, sixty-four people have died in these detention facilities around the country. And over 300 people have
became very ill in this local facility alone due to food poisoning.
This detention center is run by the Geo Group, a company
that takes pride in calling themselves "... a world leader in the
privatized development and/ or management of correctional
facilities:' They "... design, build, finance and manage prisons
worldwide," including prisons in North America, South Africa,
Australia, and the U.K. The mega bank Wells Fargo is one of the
top five share holders of this murderous company, essentia lly
controlling a good portion of the company. This is one of the
two biggest prison companies in the world, as well as one of the
major beneficiaries in this plan to rob people of their families and
tear people's lives apart.
Recently, resistance to the presence of the detention
center in Tacom_a has been gaining momentu~. A coalition of
stu?ents, anarchists, act1v1sts and concerned c1t1zens have held a
series_of workshops, ma_rche_s, benefits and skillshares in solidar1 : 1ty w1!h the northwest 1mm1grant community. As the repression
/ 1 intensifies, so must our commitment to abolishing these faci liI I ties and the systems that keep them running.
II
These detention centers must be closed. Such treatI ' ment of people forced to leave their homeland due to economic
1 : tyranny reigned on them by the global north is an injustice. The
1
: , ~grants s~ould be freed.
.
: I .......~-ic°
: / ·r
t
.
I
-.d..' ·, 1-•-i- - ,:,,1;;
,J ...
I
<.':);•~+ •;-;,-; "•~·\ t '
~
:t:.,,
-
,,
.
~~i-.~.
;;1.t:;;_
•• ~•
.c H",;cl" _... ·' ..lf·,.,_.
~
.J:-_
!~,,-..~-r,~.. . .,_:; . .,__ _ ._.
~~...
·- -
~
·" ~-, _y.
. .
'.
•:
~
/
THE
2010
HCC
OCCUPATION
In 2010, from the night of February 19th till the morning of February 21st the Housing Community
center at Evergreen was occupied by both students and non-students alike. This occupation
did not occur because of students groups or organizations. This occupation occurred because
autonomous individuals thought that something needed to happen on the Evergreen campus in
response to the upcoming budget cuts, the inherent crises of capitalism, and for the abolition of
the university system in general. While it may not have changed anything the HCC was occupied
for approximately 39 hours that weekend. Whether this is for the better or the worse is subject to
opinion. As someone who was there from the beginning till the end, my only advice is to regroup
and restrategize, not surrender. Below is the communique:
We just realized we've been paying money in order to follow rules. Rules that we have no say in. We also realized that soon we
will be paying even more money and following even more rules that we still have no control over, and it makes us disheartened,
discouraged and frustrated . Realizing these things and feeling this way led us to the discovery that we can and should be able
to commandeer the facilities that we are paying for. We realized that we can stop being subjects ruled by an administration , a
bureaucracy and a campus police force . We realized that we are autonomous and free people, capable of anything .
And so, we decided to occupy the Housing Community Center (HCC).
The administration claims that the HCC is already a common space for the students. If this were truly the case , we would not have
to occupy anything : we could use it whenever we wanted .
If any of us ever hope to create spaces in which we are no longer ruled , we have to not only have no rulers , but also do a better
job than our current administrators. Otherwise, we are kidding ourselves. The administration prides itself on its coercive benevolence. "We care about you ," they say. "We only want what's best. We are here to protect and serve. Trust us, we know what you 're
feeling . Here, have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ." We'd prefer not to listen to Les Purce, the businessman with the mansion.
We can actually take care of ourselves, believe it or not. Our smiley-faced rulers are no longer necessary.
We don't need a new CAB building . We don't need to vote on a plan that they drew up without us. We no longer need to settle
for the lesser of two evils. Everything that we paid for is ours. Everything is ours. It's right there in front of you , waiting for the
intention , the desire and the effort.
They have nothing to give. We have everything to take.
Occupy Everything .
Demand Nothing .
- From a band of individuals unaffiliated with any organization or student group.
We are autonomous individuals.
Strike! Occupy! Takeover!
May Day is an international holi- state of Illinois. The trial was by no mean s
day that celebrates solidarity between a typical "fair" trial; the jury was hand seworkers of the world and is commemo- lected by the prosecution. The Haymarket
rated through public celebration intended Martyrs were later commemoratea by the
to strengthen unity between all workers. Second International in Paris, calling for
May Day was initially created in North an International Worker's Holiday to be
America, where, ironically, to this day, it is celebrated on May 1st. Many Europea n
not officially recognized as a holiday. Dur- countries have turned this day into an ofing the 1880s, wnen the typical workday ficial holiday.
was 12-16 hours, a protractea struggle was
launched demanding the 8-hour workdays
Olympia has a rich May Day hiswe're now used to. Protests took place all tory witti events that usually include a
over North America demanding workers bunch of Evergreen students in the festivrights on this issue. The events came to a ities. These events have had attendance in
flashpoint in Chicago on May 4th, 1886 the thousands and are the largest annually
when a peaceful J?,rotest was interrupted occurring political gatherings in Olympia.
by a bomb that killed and injured several Sometimes there is overnignt camping for
geople, protestors and police included. May Day celebrators witn festivities goThis event is known as the Haymarmg into the night. May Day fl as
ket affair. The bomb is a mystery
~ . lllillll~.61
also been a day to create gueri lla
of history; yet, the radical leadcommunity gardens in Olymership involved in the protest
pia. Every year many events
was blamed for the actions of a
occur on this day, and it is a
zealous individual or police
good way of getting closer
saboteur. Eight Radito the subculture in
cals were persecuted
Olympia. So get out
in order to disrupt
on the streets next
the organization ·
May 1st and start a
of labor; four of
ruckus!
them were hung
bythe
You Can't Swing A Dead Cat Without
Hitting A Musician In Olympia
The Olympia music community today is a noisy, vibrant, D.I.Y. smorgasbord that follows in the giant footsteps of
some visionary artists that have called this city home. And now,
lucky you! Here you are, all ready to be a part of it yourself, and
you'll be in good company. The independent music community
in Olympia has been thriving here for years. In fact, this little
pebble of a city happens to be one of the best music communities in the country. We are home to two incredible indie music
labels, K Records and Kill Rock Stars, as well as a handful of other
fantastic D.I.Y. labels and collectives. K Records has been around
since 1982 when Evergreen grad Calvin Johnson formed it and
began recording Oly bands and his own band, Beat Happening.
Beat Happening went on to become a bit of a big-time thing for
DIY music, doing their fair share to put Olympia on everyone's
radar. Since then, K has become a thriving independent record label that has done a lot of work towards getting many Oly bands
out there and into people's ears. And they've put out a lot of
music! Built to Spill, Old Time Relijun, Karp, Love as Laughter,
Dub Narcotic Sound System, Beck, Modest Mouse, and so many
more bands to discover!
Many people probably also know Olympia music from
the fierce riot grrrl movement that came tearing out of here in the
nineties. Revolutionary bands such as Bikini Kill, Sleater Kinney,
and Bratmobile gave no-bullshit, feminist inspired punk music a
name and made Olympia the epicenter of the movement/sound
that would change music and many lives. Which is, of course,
the point, right? From Bikini Kill, Kathleen Hannah would go
on to form Le Tigre and Tobi Vail would later become involved
with the label Kill Rock Stars. Kill Rock Stars has been kicking ass
around here since 1991 when it was formed as a spoken word
label by Slim Moon. Soon enough, it became a label for punk
rock that has since been enormously influential in the local and
international punk/indie scene. Notable bands include (drum roll
please): Unwound, Sleater Kinney, The Gossip, Deerhoof, Bikini
Kill, The Decemberists, Thrones, Hella, Gravy Train!!!, The Old
Haunts, etc. You get it right? So much good music!!!
Depsite appearances, Olympia also maintains an assortment of its own local emcees and rap artists. For anyone not
privy to these local legends, Olympia natives Hostalion have been
holding down Oly hip hop for years. Xperience released Soul Tree
a few years ago and is featured on
a Greyskul album. He is also part
of the Stepcousins with Seattle's
Macklemore. AKA,
Q-Storm,
Zhivago, Nicotine and Compost,
and the Saints of Everyday Failures (whose inner circle consists
of MC's ePrhyme & D-scribe) are
other local notables.
Gone but not forgotten are Resident AntiHero, who moved on to
bigger and better things
(such as cage fighting) in Eugene, and
Glimpse, who moved
to Seattle to become a professional
homeless person.
As for hip hop events, the granddaddy of all others has
got to be WORD LIFE which happens downtown at the Clipper
every year. WORD LIFE is a series of shows featuring local crews
and touring acts. Over the last few years, it has hosted Immortal Technique, 2Mex, Sage Francis, Awol One, Typical Cats, Pigeon John, Lyrics Born, Vast Aire, Big Jus, Aceyalone, Dose One,
Drunken Immortals, Greyskul, Existereo, Sleep, Labtekwon, Daddy Kev, D-Styles and the list goes on ...
The only way to fully discover all of Olympia's musical
treasures is to get out there and put yourself into the thick of
things. Meaning, you have to actively participate in this music
community in order to fully appreciate it. But isn't that always
the truth?
If you look hard enough, you'll find Oly's best kept secrets in venues and basements all over this city where new bands
and emcees are blowing minds on the daily. So attend a show
of someone you've never heard before, you may be pleasantly
surprised.
There are venues downtown that host great shows as
well. Of course, there are all the bars which hold shows fairly frequently. Some feature bands often, such as Le Voyeur. But let's
skip these 21 + establishments in this article, shall we? We don't
buy into that ageist crap anyway, right? Olympia boasts a number of great all-ages venues such as The Northern on 4th, the
Eagles Hall, the Midnight Sun, and Traditions. Many are holding
shows most nights of the week and have hosted some amazing
local and touring bands in the past. The music at these venues
varies, too. There are always great hip-hop, punk/indie shows,
dance music, electronic, and the hardcore scene is becoming vibrant (and fun), as well. There's also bluegrass, folk, old time,
and twang music all around, so check it out!
A qu ick word to the wise and the wonderful: like
many music cities of its kind, Olympia has a bit of a pest problem
w i t h
hipsters. Shock! Awe! They may try and
make you think that music is about
points, knowledge, or insider secrets. In essence, the will try and
suck the soul out of the art.
Don't let them fool you! Music
has always been, and always
will be, about passion, desire,
expressing the mind and the
body through sound and energy. Please, please don't become a soul sucker. Let's make
Olympia music about music
again.
It all comes down to
the fact that if you want hear
it, you gotta search it out or
make it happen yourself. Make
some noise!
Indy
Media
inOlytown
w
0 IT
D
s
The Disorientation Manual (DisMan)
A compellation of anonymous articles and essays to aquaint
TESC freshmen to the Evergeen and Olympia community in
a way the suits never would. Made by students in the summer for students to get plugged-in in the fall. New content
is always appreciated and encouraged. You can start sending
in submissions for the next issue anytime, but it will not be
assembled until summer quearter of 2010. The Sabot lnfoshoppe published this year's manual, contact them at 8676574 or evergreeninfoshoppe@riseup.net.
The Sabot lnfosquat
This student group attempts to put out quaterly zines on
whatever. But they'll publish most anything. And I mean anything. You can also go to their space when they get one and
make your own zine with their materials.
867-6574 I evergreeninfoshoppe@riseup.net
The Cooper Point Journal
The Cooper Point Journal (CPJ) is written, edited, distributed, operated, and mostly funded by students enrolled
atTESC. Any student is welcome to submit any article on
any subject at any time. You can even get paid to work
on the CPJ. SEM II C31 OS I 867-6730 Icpj@evergreen.edu
http://cpj.evergreen.edu
The Counter Point Journal
In the spring of 2009, a few people at TESC had come together with an intention of starting a monthly newspaper called the Counter Point Journal (CxPJ). All involved
in the CxPJ's creation had already tried working within
the frameworks provided by the Cooper Point Journal
(CPJ) - but had all eventually realized the many shortcom ings of the CPJ. A major failing of the Cooper Point
Journal is that it has been a predominantly professional
and reactionary perspective ; the majority of the front
page articles have been neatly wrapped stories from the
perspectives of figures such as Art Constantino, Andrea
Seabert and Ed Sorger among many other administrators whose job it is to confine the realm of debate and
facilitate the regular development of what has become
the "business of education:'
The CxPJ is guided by the belief that the main
purpose of the media is to act as a check and balance
aga inst the powers that be. When the press fails in this
aspect, it transforms from an instrument of independence and social change to a mouthpiece of oppression
and status-quo. A wholly free, democratically run and
easily accessible press fosters the growth of grassroots
social movements and helps those with the least institutional power use their voice.
If you wish to work with or contribut to the CxPJ
contact tesc.counter.point@gmail.com. Back issues
found at cxpj.wordpress.com.
Slightly West
This annual literary publication is student directed and
includes student and community member work. Contact them at slightlywest@gmail.com
The Ovarian
The Women's Resource Center publishes this annual zine
on various topics. Stop by Student Activities in SEM I for
contact information.
Works In Progress
Works In Progress is a free, volunteer-operated progressive community newspaper based in Oly that has been
publi shing for over 15 years. W.I.P.s' mission is to confront injustice and encourage a participatory democracy
based on economic, social, and environmental justice
and to provide a voice for those most affected by the exclusionary and unfair practices that seek to silence the
oppressed. Submissions to submissions@olywip.org
Student Zines/lndependent Learning Contracts
If you are a self motivated student, you have ample resources to publish anything you want for free. Many other various student groups put out periodic publications
that you can contribute to. You could also do an independent learning contract to publish your own work. If
you need funds to publish, it only takes time. Active student groups can request money, and you yourself can
get money with a Foundation Activity Learning Grant
(see the section "Getting Paid to Smash the State:')
w r
D
s
OlyBlog - olyblog.net
OlyBlog is devoted to citizen journalism, including hyperlocal news and discussion specifically about Olympia,
Washington. If you care about this community and are
tired of corporate media, then this is the place for you.
South Puget Sound lndymedia - olympiaimc.org
Seattle indymedia - seattle.indymedia.org
Independent Media Centes are a network of collectively
run media outlets for the creation of radical, accurate,
and passionate tellings of the truth. They work out of a
love and inspiration for people who continue to work
for a better world, despite corporate media's distortions
and unwillingness to cover the efforts to free humanity.
These are the local sites you can easily post to and learn
about what's affecting your world.
Zine Library at Last Word Books - zinelibrary.net
A library of hundreds of radical zines ready to print in
PDF format. What started out in the Olympia Zine Library
(at Last Word Books) scanning the radical zines is now
a place people around the world can print and upload
zines made by people like you!
Media Island international - mediaisland.org
Media Island International is a resource and networking
center for individuals, organizations, and movements
working on social justice, economic democracy, ecological sustainability, and peace. The site, like the physical
building, is underutilized.
I f1 I\ G
r
S
Thurston County Community Television (TCTV) Channe/22
Your local public access television station. Getting your
own show is as simple as a few $20 workshops.
956-3100 I tctv.net
GO OUTSIDEI
You didn't come to college to study all the time did you? The land in and around Olympia is
simply stunning, you'd be a sucker to not see all of it. Below are some sweet places to start.
GREAT HIKING SPOTS WITHIN BIKING DISTANCE
CLOSEST BACKPACKING LOCALES
Priest Point Park - Head east to downtown Olympia, take a left on
East Bay drive and head north, entrance on your right. Nice second
growth forested trails and beach trails, great for the doggie.
Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail (1 Hour Away): Take Highway
101 North about 30 miles, and go left on Skokomish Valley Road.
In 5.5 miles, veer right onto Forest Service Road 23. Stay on 23
past numerous junctions, for 9.2 miles, to the junction of Forest
Service Road 2353. Go right and down this road. Cross the onelane bridge and go left staying on paved road. The pavement ends
after another one-lane bridge. The trailhead is on the left at the end
of the pavement; park at the pull off by the trailhead. If you drive
to the yellow gate, you've gone too far. Rivers, huge trees, steep at
first, then quite flat.
Watershed Park - Head east to downtown, take a right on Capital
St., take a left toward Interstate 5, follow the signs to get to Henderson Blvd., parking lot is on the left. More lush than Priest Point but
smaller and with more traffic noise from 1-5.
Nisqually Wildlife Refuge - Get on Interstate 5 north, take exit 114
and follow directions to the Refuge. Lots of birds (especially in the
winter), plants, and a wide variety of shrubs.
McLain Creek - Take a right on Evergreen Parkway coming from
TESC and take the exit before the bridge to Highway 101. Take
a right on Mud Bay road, a left on Delphi. Look for signs for the
Creek. Big trees and lots of birds, newts and you can watch the
salmon spawn here!
Mirna Mound Nature Preserve - Take Interstate 5 south to exit 95,
head toward Littlerock, turn right on Waddell Creek Road. The entrance is on the left. Probably the most bizarre place in the county,
a massive field of several foot tall natural bumps. The wildflowers of
the pseudo-prairie peak in late April and are superior to anywhere
else within 100 miles of Olympia.
Dosewallips Trails (1 ½ Hours Away):
Take Highway 101 North
about 60 miles to Brinnon and take a left at the big sign for Dosewallips. There are tons of trails in this area. Stop by the ranger station on the right side of the road soon after you get off Highway
101 for directions. Staircase, Lena Lakes, and Lake Constance are
personal favorites.
The North Fork of the Ouinault {2 Hours Away): Take Highway
101 North about 8 miles to State Route 8 West towards Montesano for about 30 miles to Highway 12 West. Highway 12 becomes Highway 101 North-take this for about 40 miles to Lake
Quinault South Shore Road. After 12 miles turn right onto North
Shore Road-go 3 miles to ranger station. Lots of BIG trees and a
few trails with many options, like the 5-6 hike along Skyline Trail
through some of the most beautiful scenery in the park.
SWIMMING HOLES
Munn Lake: Take Caitol way toward Tumwater, turn left at Cleveland Ave which turns into Yelm Hwy. Turn right at Henderson Blvd
and left at 68th Ave. A good spot close to town .
Pioneer Park: Same directions as
Munn Lake but on the right of Henderson Blvd after turning off Yelm
Hwy. Provides access to the Deshutes
River and is a popular place for tubing
and broing down.
Spider Lake: Take 101 to the Skokomish Valley Road, turn west on
the Valley road . Drive 5.5 miles to FS Road #23. Turn right, drive
10 miles to FS Road #2353 . Veer left and continue 8 miles to Spider Lake trailhead. Beautiful, serene, and out of town.
BEACHES
Ruby Beach: Like virtually all beaches on the northern coast, Ruby
Beach has a tremendous amount of driftwood. It is notable for the
number of sea stacks there. Located on Highway 101, 27 miles
south of the town of Forks.
Second Beach: From 101 , take the 110 (north of Forks) east. Second
Beach is before LaPush. Popular with photographers and is reached
by way of a 0.7 mile forested trail that leads to a 2-mile long sandy
stretch of beach. Great for a driftwood fire and chillin.
*Putting the fun between your legs
*Training for ducking cops
*Doing your own repairs
• Never having to buy gas
*That cute bike punk ass
*Driving less, living more
*Laughing at traffc
*Groundscoring
Riding a bike is fun. Driving a
2000-pound machine powered by increasingly expensive oil that people are killed
for, creating explosions at unearthly speeds
emitting toxic fumes that are killing the
planet, and risking your life (over 40",000
people i_n the _US are killed every year
by cars) 1s stupid.
Riding a bicycle is a great way to
!mprove your physical fitness; _think of
1t as cross training for out runnif'1g cops
or any other sport you may enJoy. Or,
to ar?Peal to your vanity, think about
how liot biking will make your ass look.
There's Qrobaoly nothing more fun
in all of Olympia than bombing down
Harrison Avenue through the rounda-bouts and riding past all the suckers stuck in traffic downtown.
Bikes can be really cheap. Not
only don't you have to pay for gas,
but it's not that difficult to learn to
do your own repairs. And you are
privileged to have hella resources
here in Olytown that can help you
learn more about Y,Our bike. If you
have a car and sold it, you could
deck out a sweet bike ana still have
lots of beer money left over! \Don't
drink and bike though! BU s and
split skulls are no fun)
F
X
A
F u c k
Bike & Bike: Free bikes/ parts/repairs for low
income folks in the back of Dumpster Values
(302 4th Ave E). Open Sunday from 1-4pm and
M-Tu from 4pm-6pm. Friday is Trans and Ladies night from 5-9pm.
People who ride bicY,cles will tell
you that the world just looks different outside of a car. You'll notice
all kinds of interesting little things
from people watching to plants
growing throuqb the cracks of the
sidewall< to graffiti art. A car drives
throygh/pas~?over comn:iynities; cycling 1s travel 1n communities.
CRITICAL MASS
Critical Mass is an international
movement that started in the Bay
area over a decade ago when cyclists started riding en masse once
a month to assert their presence in
traffic. For years now that monthly
celebration has spread across the
nation and has attracted a lot of
police repression . Fuck em! The
ride happens across the world
every last Friday of the month.
In Oly, riders gather at Evergreen at 5 pm, 3:30 at Harrison
and Division, and 5:45 at Squirt
Fountain Park.
n g
B
k e
Note: The folks at Bike & Bike and the TESC bike
shop are volunteers and are there because they
want to help you, not paid bike mechanics getting paid to do the work for you. If you approach
them by asking them to help you, they'll be glad
to put in a lot of work with you, and you'll probably learn a lot. If you think they're your personal mechanics, and you can order them to
do repairs while you leave your bike in the
shop, you're not going to get very far (in life
or on your bike).
TESC Bike Shop: Free/ cheap bike stuff and
knowledgeable volunteers to service your
bike. Open as often as volunteers can staff it,
everyday in the first floor of the CAB
867-63991 www.evergreenbikeshop.
blogspot.com
Capitalist Ventures: If community resources aren't
your thing, you can get ripped off at one of the many
bike snaps in the Oly area.
□
8 9
10
,,[JQ
□ CJD
25
26
27
29
28
_ ___. r-L--•a:::AilTJ.u•,..~;a,:,r:Syllv=es=:e=!r
□□
□□
~□□
36
22
._ ___ , ._ -_-_-__,~
37
If you're new to Olympia, you may be wondering what the hell there is to do in a small town like this. Well, if all the previous articles haven't proven to you by now, there 's a Jot more going on 0/y that Just the Sweat at the Voyeur. Below is
ood start of some places to get out, spend money (if you're into tfiat sort of thing), or save it. We recommend you creite your own adventures and not rely on consumensm and capitalistic pleasures to mediate your life. But, then again,
there are some unique places here we 'd love to share with you.
FOOD
$ _ If you tip properly you can fill up on 10 bucks.
24. Traditions Cafe - $V - Liberal international restaurant, store
and community meeting place. Free lending library with DVDs.
5. The Bread Peddler - $ - Good sandwiches and pastries.
28. Urban Onion - $$ - An almost classy healthy restaurant/ gay
nightspot. Bit pricey, but tasty organic food .
v _Vegetarian and Vegan Options
7. Mini Saigon - $V- Thai , Chinese, Vietnamese
31. Darby's - $V - Hip and delicious, great for breakfast.
8. Great Cuisine of India - $V - Very good food . The buffet can
be worth it.
10. The New Moon Cafe - $V -A wise choice for breakfast.
38. Le Voyeur - $V - The most hip greasy spoon in town . Sandwiches, soups and entrees all of which can be made vegan on
request with as much grease as you can handle. It will take a
while to get your food regardless of how busy they are. Open really late, and your clothes will smell like food after you leave.
15. Quality Burrito (QB) - $V - Eat here if you like deliciously
large gri ngo burritos. Open Late.
39. Clubside Cafe - $ - Brighter than looking directly into the sun .
Greasy spoon, open super late. (Closed as of 2010)
16. Old School Pizza - $ - Classic Olympia pizza . The pizza is
good and cheap. Cool atmosphere. They have good hardcore
shows from time to time.
Taco Truck - $ - Bomb, cheap, may have lard in the beans. In the
parking lot on the NW corner of Plum & 4th Ave.
9. Ben Moore's - Old Oly joint. Laid back and quaint.
18. The Hotdog Stand at Jake's - V - Late night eats right on the
sidewalk. Cheap, basic, good.
23. El Guanaco - $V - Good Salvadorian food , get the pupusas.
Capital Market - Best asian market around . A great place for
coconut water and Thai Iced Tea. Best pho in town .
2419 Harrison Ave NW
Vic's - $V - Super chronic, best pizza on the west side, and a
popular hang . Check the vegan options . 233 Division St NW
COFFEE
12. Cafe Vita - $ - Seattle/Olympia based joint. Definitely hip,
academic, and chill. Shitty owner.
27. Starbucks - They do let home bums chill there, but there are
better places to support in town than the corporate giants.
26. Batdorf and Bronson - $ - Reliable, tasty, local and a good
place to study. At their tasting room near the farmer's market (1)
you ca n get three tiny sample cups for free .
Sizizis - A great tea selection, tasty coffee, hip atmosphere, and
vegan cupcakes. Who doesn't like palindromes? The only 24
hour hangout in town (unless you count Texaco) . 704 4th Ave E
BARS
We recommend you pick up a bottle of firewater and kick it on
your friends' front porch and drink homebrew you made 6 months
ago for some good wholesome family oriented times. But if you
must resort to paying way to much for a few beers at a semisocial creepy dude and sometimes friendly acquaintance filled
atmosphere here is a guide to a few of those places.
11. The Brotherhood - Probably the best all around bar in Olympia . HiplScenester friendly, strong drinks, nice patio out back!
13. The 4th Ave Tavern - Nothing particularly great or horrible.
18. Jakes - Queer dance club/bar. Great venue, great folks , great
grinding! Curiously straight for a gay bar.
21. The East Side - Beer only, lots of pool tables (free on Sundays), thirsty Thursdays are cheaper, definite Greener hangout.
OTHER OLY GEMS
1. Farmers Market- Mostly a tourist hangout, the seasonal market is overpriced yet local.
29. De Colores Bookstore - Multicultural indy bookstore.
30. Free Wall - Legal graffiti wall behind the Capitol Theater.
4. Procession Studio - Opens two months before the Procession of the Species so you can get crackin ' on your batiked psychedelic rhinoceros float early. The address is in the alley way
at 311 1/2 Capitol Way North, behind the Royal Lounge. But the
studio door/entrance is located in the alley connecting Columbia
to Capitol Way.
30. Capitol Theater - A really great old movie theater, they hos
many benefits, volunteer for free passes.
32. Rainy Day Records - Independent and local record store
big selection of queer and foreign films for rent.
14. Last Word Books and Zine Library- Independent and radical bookstore, new and used books, friendly and kind owners,
zine library in the back.
33. Safe Place - Safe Place connects youth to immediate hel ,
and safety and offers supportive services to both youth and the1
families .
17. Dumpster Values - Overpriced vintage, handmade and
trendy clothes. Dollar bin in the back supports Books 2 Prisoners.
Houses the following :
34. Planned Parenthood - Safe sex gear, pregnancy tests,
tests, sliding scale abortions and consu ltations.
Phantom City Records - Independent & local record store
Bike N Bike - Stop in for free bikes, bike repair, bike knowledge,
or bike parts. It is an umbrella project of Done & Done, and has
a weekly Trans/Womyns only night.
Community Print - Letterpress & book arts resource center
ST □
36. Library - Read a Book! Zines, books, internet, printing a
cess, home bums, and good vibes.
37. Media Island - Alternative literature library, activist hangou
indy radio broadcast spot (KOWA), and food not bombs kitchen
40. Midnight Sun - Performance space/ cheap place to host th
atrical performances and sometimes shows.
19. The Northern -All Ages Venue! Not so cool about discounts,
which is shitty.
20. Fire and Earth - Hookahs and shishah, rolling tobacco and
accessories, local art glass, & herbs . Local and friendly, womanowned business.
22. Artesian Well - "It's the water!" Fresh, clean, and delicious
water flows from a giant underground reservoir. Across the Street
from the Estside tavern in the parking lot.
25. Radiance - for all your Hippy-woo-woo needs: massage,
crystals, oils, books ... but especially good for the big wall of bulk
herbs.
Eagles Hall - Venue for all sorts of shows, ceremonies, gallerie
dances, parties and more. 805 4th Ave. E
THE EASTSIDE - The east side of town has its own secrets. Yo
must discover them for yourself.
THE WESTSIDE - Avoid the mall at all costs, dance at hous
shows, participate in Westside Arts Walks, and lend a hand
any of the community gardens (check the corner of Madison an
Thomas).
TRANSPORTATION
6. Olympia's Intercity Transit Center - Local fair is $1 or $2 for
a day pass. 620 to Tacoma or Seattle with at least one transfer
for under $5. Transist systems to Shelton, Aberdeen and other
distant locales stop there as well .
35. Greyhound Station - More expensive, yet faster buses that
go all over the country.
Capitol Aeroporter - Overpriced airport shuttle. It will pick you
up at any location.
Olympia/Lacy Amtrak Station - Located at 6600 Yelm Highwa
SE, take the 64 from the Transit Center.
CAP Bus or $1 Bus - To Portland-ish. Free with student ID, th
small shuttle picks up a dozen passengers at Tumwater Squar
daily. It drops you off at Salmon Creek. Catch the 105 to dow
town Portland from there for $3.
www.lccac.org/Transportation%20Schedule.htm
Hitchiking - The 1-5 ramp at the end of Plum is a great place t
get a lift to Portland and beyond . Fly a sign, don't look sketch
and jut that thumb!
FREE FOOD!
FACT! There are more low-income students at TESC than at
anY other four-year college in WA. One reason being that it's the
cheapest four-year college in WA.
MYTH! There is a strictly limited pool available for food stamps.
FACT! Just because you decide to collect food stamps in order
to supplement you food budget, it does not mean that someone
else will get denied.
2. Union Gospel Mission - Daily daytime shelter and meals.
MEAL TIMES Breakfast Mon-Sun 6 - 7 am Lunch Mon-Fri & Sun
at Noon. Dinner Mon-Fri 6 pm 413 Franklin ST. NE 709-9725.
Dental services, and safe places for all types of recovery.
3. Thurston County Food Bank - Located at 220 North Thurston
st. near the downtown transit center. Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 1-3pm. If you earn less than $970 per month in
a single person household you are eligible for food benefits from
the state of Washington.
37. Food Not Bombs - Delicious, radical, vegan food for all!
Times can often change, but for now: Saturdays! Prep at 2PM
Media Island, 4:30 PM eat at the Timberland Library, across the
street. Clean up lasts until 6PM.
Salvation Army - 365 days a year 3 meals a day 352-8596 (shelter services too) must be sober.
Free Food Box - Located at the TESC health center.
Olympia Food Co-Ops - They provide a 10% discount for low
income people and waive membership dues. This program does
not require documentation , but the co-op asks that all interested
individuals read a short history of the program before choosing
to use it. Also if you have time to volunteer you get an extra 25%
off. Also if you volunteer there you get first pick at free food that
is damaged or pull-dated. There is no hierarchy in the staff and
it is a State non-profit so they are not ripping you off. This food
is at cost and provides good jobs. Eastside location 3111 Pacific
Ave. 956-3870 Westside Location 921 Rogers St. 754-9141 Get
off the "41" at the Bowman stop and walk down the hill.
Wild Foods - 7 months out of the year you can find yummy
healthy foods growing wild . Blackberries and Dandelions; Wild
Mushrooms and Fish; come to mind instantly. Most houses
around town have fruit trees and other goodies that few mind if
you glean from.
Dumpsters - Depending on your standards you can pretty much
live off of other peoples waste in most parts of the U.S. Discover
your own spots in Olympia .
OTHER FREE STUFF!
Free Store (at the Westside Co-Op) - Open when it's open.
Hours vary because it's run by volunteers. It is an 8' by 8' by 8'
cube of fresh and stale free stuff.
weeks of June. Thankfully there are donation pods around now
for community groups, but they won 't mind if you glean from there,
and not everything makes it past the convenient dumpsters.
Hippy Christmas - You can outfit an entire 6 bedroom group
house with the things students in housing get rid of the first two
CHEAPER HEALTH INSURANCE!
Washington Basic Health - Washington State provides subsidized health care plans to low-income individuals. The waitlist
is usually very long. Apply early! Plans cost as little as $17 a
month. The application process is simple and easy. To apply
contact the Washington State Health Care Authority at 1-800826-2444 (ask for a basic health application packet), pick up a
packet at the health center, or find more information online at
www. basichealth. hca .wa. gov/.
Charity Care at Providence St. Peter's Hospital - If you go
to their emergency room and state you wish to apply for Charity
Care you may be able to receive all or part of your care for free!
All you have to do is simply explain your living situation (i.e. being broke) and if you qualify you receive discounted care for the
next 6 months!
Dental Insurance - Basic Health does not provide dental insurance. Go to the TESC Student Health Center for information on
low-income dental care options. They are extremely limited and
there is often a waiting list for most routine services. Emergency
dental services are, however, available with a minimum wait and
with costs on a sliding scale. The Mission has a community dental clinic.
I
CHEAPER EDUCATION
CLEP - If the main reason you are in school is to get a diploma ,
find out about some of the ways to get it fast and cheap. CLEP
(college level examination program) tests are cheap, easy and
will give you credits.
SPSCC - Classes at SPSCC (South Puget Sound Community
College) are also fairly cheap.
PLE (prior learning from experience) - Is a program offered
through Evergreen that offers credits for non-classroom experiences. Academic Advising (866-6312) can fill you in on these
alternatives.
Residency - Before school starts, immediately open a bank account in the state, register to vote, and get your Drivers License
or ID card IN THIS STATE and register your vehicle if you have
one. For more information about residency, contact Rafael Lozano at 867-5189 or pick up a checklist from the registration office.
It will either Cost you $20,000 if you are a resident of WA State
for a degree or $60,000 if you are not a resident. Consider it a
$40,000 donation to the college so the rest of us can go to school
for cheaper and you can never pay off your debts.
Wait - Because once you turn 25, you are legally financially independent (poor in the governments eyes), and don't make $50,000
a year the federal government will pay you to go to school. You'll
get all costs covered plus some in most cases. You will also get
more out of your education because of your life experience and a
probable increase in awareness of what you want to do with your
life and what you want to learn while you 're here.
Marriage - If you are under 24 and your parents make the big
bucks you WILL NOT be eligible for f.inancial aid even if they don't
give you one red cent of it. .. unless you get hitched! Find a friend
who you trust enough to join in eternal matrimony (or at least
for the duration of college) and you will be considered financially
independent and will be eligible for thousands in grants and subsidized loans that you would otherwise have no access to. Do
it before the deadline for financial aid! Applications are at the
county courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW, 786-5453. If you
want your application processed faster, APPLY ONLINE at http://
www.fafsa .ed .gov/. You can make around $5500 in personal income and still receive full financial aid.
EXPLORE!
There are tons of ways to lower your expenses. Try playing
around with your needs and seeing what superfluous things in your
life you can get rid of. Try living ,n the woods, using coupons, or
both! You can work with the Bike Shop to build a bike, get your
books from the libraries, or photocopy the chapters you need. You
can audit classes, or make your own beer! There are always loopholes and ways to do it yourself. Be creative. And ilf you ever run
out of ideas, there are elders and allies in town who will offer great
advice on how to never pay for anything!
r
COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE
The following is a list of non-profits and other volunteer-based organizations in the Olympia area that
didn't fit elsewhere in the DisMan. There are a lot of
amazing groups in town doing amazing things that
directly affect and support those around you. If you
have spare time, stop by one that looks interesting
and give back your community. They are organized
based on the following broad topics:
• Arts
• International
• Animal
• Legal
• Community
• Environment
• Low Income/
Unhoused
Advocacy
•Food
• Young People
• Health/Mediation
Community Print
Community Print is a Letterpress, Silkscreening, and
Book Arts resource center run by artists and students
in the Olympia area, located at the back of Dumpster
Values thrift shop. Workshops for all skill levels are
taught on an irregular basis - check postings on the
door. Costs around $10 per "project." The collective's
goal is to be accessible to all members of the community while keeping the art of letterpress thriving!
communityprint@yahoo.com I (360) 705-3772 I 302
4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501
Olympia Film Society
OFS attempts to show films that depict the experiences of under-represented people in mainstream
film industries including People of Color, queers, and
religious minorities. It supports independent film
makers and hosts a number of benefits for local to
international organizations. The OFS has a number of
volunteer positions, and hosts an annual film festival
in autumn.
www.olyfilm.org I (360) 754-6670 I The Capitol Theatre: 206 E. 5th Ave. Olympia, WA 98501
Earthbound Productions: Procession of the Species Celebration
Created by the community for the community, the Procession of the Species Celebration is a joyous, artistic
pageant, embracing the languages of art, music and
dance to inspire learning, appreciation and protection
of the natural world. Music, dance and art classes as
well as an extensive art studio are held for two months
prior to the celebration. The final parade is held annually on Saturday of Spring Arts Walk, usually the
last weekend in April. Make a costume and join the
parade!
www.procession.org I (360) 705-1087
Raccoon Arts Collective
This awesome group of artists and DIYers are responsible for the Westside Arts Walks that happen every so
often. The Arts Walk seek to take art out of the galleries of the rich and into the living rooms of all who wish
to share their creations. The Arts Walks provide an
outlet for visual artists, musicians, fire dancers, game
players, actors, and other amazing souls to share their
passions with all who want to partake. They take place
in an assortment of homes in the NW neighborhood of
Olympia every few months and are fucking badass. If
you want to open your house as a venue or have art to
share, contact them for more info.
www.raccooncollective.blogspot.com I raccooncollective@gmail.com
Heartsparkle Players
As a multicultural company Heartsparkle uses Playback Theatre and other interactive theatre techniques
as tools for community building, education and social
change. It will provide affordable performances for
the public; and for groups who lack resources. It will
be a community resource and share its artistic skills.
It will empower communities and individuals by providing a forum for stories to be heard, shared and honored. It will maintain a high level of artistic quality and
integrity by providing on-going training opportunities
for our performers.
www.heartsparkle.org I (360) 943-6772
Rad Skills
Puts out a monthly calendar of free workshops,
skillshares, and events around town.
radskillz@riseup.net
ANIMAL
Wolf Haven International
One of the world's largest and most respected wolf
sanctuaries. Located on 80 acres of peaceful forest
and Mirna mound prairie. Hosts family programming
and educational tours.
www.wolfhaven.org I (800) 448-9653
COMMUNITY
Bike and Bike
An umbrella project of Done and Done. Located in the
back of Dumpster Values, they provide bike parts and
knowhow for free. Build a bike, help build a bike.
302 4th Ave E, Oly
Building Revolution by Increasing Community
Knowledge (SPSCC)
B.R.I.C.K. is a chartered student club at South Puget
Sound Community College utilizing creative approaches to promote student awareness and advocate
for progressive social change. The group acts to sponsor events and bring speakers and films to the SPSCC
campus and Olympia community.
www.spsccbrick.org
Community Sustaining Fund
The Community Sustaining Fund provides grant support for progressive and community-oriented projects
in Thurston County. Our funding is aimed at creating
a democratic, equitable, nonviolent and ecologically
sound society.
www. traditio nsfai rtrade .com/ sustFund / sustFun d home.html I (360) 252-4332
Enterprise for Equity
Enterprise for Equity is a community supported nonprofit that helps disenfranchised people and people
with low-income turn their ideas and talents into
businesses. EfE wants to build an inclusive economy
in the South Puget Sound. Its mission is to ensure that
low-income people in the region have access to training, technical assistance, peer support and credit for
small business development. To qualify for training,
participants must have income under $18,130 (single
person) or $37,000 (family of four), or be TANF recipients, GA recipients, and Veterans Administration
beneficiaries.
www.enterpriseforequity.org I (360) 704-3375
Free School
More of a concept than a place as the free school is
currently without an physical location, this group has
been working for close a decade in the community to
bring people together to share their knowledge with
each other without cash and all the troubles that come
along with it. Check the calendar on their website fo r
class and their locations around town.
www.freeschoolunity.org
Free Store
Located at the Westside Food Co-Op (921 Rogers St.
NW), the Free Store is an all volunteer "Goodwill with
no prices." Folks donate things they no longer need.
And folks who need come to the store to take what
they need. Sounds too simple to work, but it does.
Open on a varying schedule, check the board on their
door.
www.oly-wa.us/FreeStore
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
The lWW is a non-hierarchical, directly democratic
union that organizes workers as a class, regardless
of their employment status. The !WW believes that
the employing class and working class have nothing
in common, and seeks to abolish capitalism, while
forming a new, more equitable society based on freeassociation and production for need instead of profit.
The !WW was founded in 1905 and has been a force
in establishing various workers rights for the last 100
years.
www.iww.org/en/branches/US/WA I (360) 705-0793
I olywobs@riseup.net
Media Island International
Media Island International's (Mil) resource and networking center offers a 24-hour info porch, library,
computer center, and a variety of tools for grass-roots
organizing. The Mil house can be used for meetings,
workshops, and movie nights. Food Not Bombs utilizes
the Mil kitchen. People are welcome to stop in during
office hours to browse, socialize, plan, compute, watch
a video or just sit down and enjoy a hot beverage. The
website offers an open-submission news site, South
Sound community calendar, directory of local organizations, and forums to help facilitate communication
and participation within Mil. Consider volunteering
for office hours or organizing a benefit!
www.mediaisland.org I (360) 352-8526 I 816 Adams
St. SE, Olympia, WA 98502.
MOMS Club of Olympia
MOMS Club of Olympia, WA is a group for at-home
mothers and their children. It is a wonderful way to
rneet other stay-home moms, and a fun way for your
child to meet other children. Events and meetings are
held during the day and children are always welcome.
The club caters to mothers who live in the Olympia
school district and Shelton. It does various service
projects in our community to help members get involved.
www.momsclubofolympia.com
South Sound Clean Clothes Campaign
The South Sound Clean Clothes Campaign is a coalition of Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey students, union
members, people of faith, and concerned citizens
raising awareness about the sweatshop industry, and
challenging individuals as well as public and private
institutions to create positive change by altering their
purchasing practices. Our monthly meetings are held
on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm at
Traditions Cafe, 300 5th Avenue SW.
www.southsoundcleanclothes.org I (360) 705-2819
Northwest Olympia Neighborpood Association
Thurston County Tenants Union
TCTU is a non -profit, membership based organization of tenants. The TU challenges and transforms unjust housing conditions and housing policies through
empowerment-based education, leadership development, and community organizing and tenant ownership. It provides free informational services and
promotes the rights of tenants through active public
advocacy and organizing.
www.tenantsunion.org I Tenants Rights Hotline: (206)
723 -0500
A non-profit association of your neighbors who are
interested in promoting the quality of life for the residents of our community. NWONA's mission is to enhance the livability of our community through citizen
participation at all levels of our community. Go to their
meetings and get involved to help decide how association money is used to enhance your neighborhood.
www.nwona.org
OlyGeek
An all volunteer organization that recycles used technology to provide computers , education, Internet access to those in need - in exchange for volunteering.
www.oly-wa.us/OlyGeek/ I (360) 705-9999 I
115 Olympia Ave, Oly
ENVIRONMENT
Black Hills Audubon Society
Our goals are to maintain and protect our ecosystems
for future generations, and promote environmental
education and recreation. BHAS efforts include both
education and activism on behalf of wildlife and their
ecosystems. Classes include monthly programs and
several birding and natural history field trips, available to members and the general public. Activism
includes efforts to protect local natural areas and
"important bird areas" and to strengthen local environmental protections.
www.blackhillsaudubon.com I (360) 352-7299
Capitol Land Trust
The mission of the Capitol Land Trust is to preserve
the natural heritage of South Puget Sound. It is dedicated to the conservation, appreciation and stewardship of the diverse open spaces and unique natural
habitats of the local watershed. The group purchases
land parcels and establishes conservation easements
to prevent development of natural areas, offering
landowners non-regulatory options. http://www.
capitollandtrust.org I (360) 943 -3012
Climate Solutions
Climate Solutions is a non-profit organization working to help pioneer solutions to global warming. We
are demonstrating a model of regional leadership that
strengthens communities and provides economic opportunity. Local programs include Northwest Climate
Connections, the annual Bicycle Commuter Contest,
and the Energy Outreach Center, an exhibit of technology available to energy-efficient homes.
www.climatesolutions.org I (360) 352-1763
Gifford Pinchot Task Force
The Gifford Pinchot Task Force seeks to preserve and
restore the ecosystems and communities of southwestern Washington by promoting conservation of
forest areas and sustainable restoration-based employment. The Task Force is the primary educational
resource on the region's forest conservation, policy,
and law. It engages interested citizens and policy makers through canvassing, hikes, field events, presentations and press, lobbying, and coordination with regional and national conservation organizations.
www.gptaskforce.org I (503) 221-2102 J 917 SW Oak
St., Suite 410, Portland, OR 97205.
Nisqually Reach Nature Center
The Nisqually Reach Nature Center provides estuarine
environmental education on the Nisqually River delta
in view of the river's headwaters on Mount Rainier
(Tahoma). It offers a hands-on experience for local
school kids, research opportunities for local college
students, internship opportunities for budding naturalists and educators, and volunteer opportunities for
concerned citizens. NRNC is a private non-profit organization where nature comes to life. The center has
1000 square feet of space filled with bird specimens,
interactive learning opportunities, viewing scopes, lab
equipment, and as a highlight, 3 large tide-connected
aquariums to view Puget Sound's underwater world.
www.nisquallyestuary.org I (360) 459-0387.
Nisqually Land Trust
Established in 1989, the Nisqually Land Trust is a
nonprofit group of farmers, business and professional people, homemakers and others. It is working
to protect the Nisqually River basin through private,
non-governmental means. By doing so, it protects fish
and wildlife habitats, particularly sensitive salmon
runs. The land trust provides for the conservation of
wetlands, scenic areas, recreational lands, agricultural
resourcts, open spaces, and historic, cultural and archaeological sites.
www.nisquallylandtrust.org I (360) 458-1111
Nisqually Stream Stewards
Works to help protect and improve the health of our
streams and salmon. NS Stewards monitor the health
of streams by taking benthic macroinvertebrate
("stream bug") samples and finding other stream and
riparian data. They can improve stream health by removing invasive plants or planting native plants along
stream banks. Stewards help distribute valuable nutrients in salmon-bearing streams through the salmon
carcass return program. Interns interested in gaining
both office and fieldwork in the field of salmon habitat
protection/restoration and volunteer project implementation are hired. Volunteers are always welcome
in tree plantings, stream health monitoring and salmon carcass flings.
www.nisquallyriver.org/stewards I (360) 438-8715
Olympic Forest Coalition (OFCO)
The Olympic Forest Coalition promotes the protection,
conservation and restoration of natural forest ecosystems and their processes on the Olympic Peninsula.
The programs of OFCO focus on educating members
of the public, officials, agencies, and other environmental, community and recreation groups on issues
of importance to help achieve these goals.
www.olympicforest.org
People for Puget Sound
People For Puget Sound is a citizens' group working to
protect and restore the health of Puget Sound and the
Northwest Straits through education and action. Its
vision is a clean and healthy Sound, teeming with fis h
and wildlife, cared for by people who live here.
www.pugetsound.org I (360) 754-9177
South Puget Environmental Education Clearing.
house {SPEECH)
SPEECH is a nonprofit organization dedicated to informing and educating citizens of the Olympia area
about environmental news and issues. It is an environmental education center and information clearinghouse providing support and resources to those who
seek to preserve, protect and restore the environment
of the Pacific Northwest. The group publishes the annual South Sound Greenpages, a monthly environmental journal of environmental news and commentary
about South Puget Sound
http://www.oly-wa.us/GreenPages I (360) 528-9158
Sustainable Community Roundtable of South
Puget Sound
The mission of the Sustainable Community Roundtable is to facilitate dialogue, vision, action, and celebration to help create sustainable community in South
Puget Sound. The Roundtable seeks to build consen~
sus on how we can become ecologically, economicall
and socially sustainable. It publishes the annual State
of the Community Report, on local environmental and
health concerns, seeks out businesses that operate
in a sustainable mind-set, and sponsors events yearround.
www.sustainsouthsound.org I 360-754-5352
Washington Environmental Council
WEC is a statewide environmental organization and
works primarily on the state level to protect our land,
air and water. The Electronic Waste Recycling campaign works to launch a program to provide for safe, ,
simple and free recycling of TVs and computers for the
people of Washington. The Sustainable State Forests
Campaign seeks to improve the management of Washington's state forests, creating a model of sustainable
forestry. The Water for Washington Campaign focus es
on restoring and protecting the quality and supply of
water in rivers and streams. The Protecting People
and Places Campaign aims to improve fish and wild life
habitat across Washington through updated and bet·
ter enforced shoreline and land use protections.
www.wecprotects.org I (360) 357-6548
Woodland Trail Greenway Association
The Woodland Trail Greenway Association is dedicat·
ed to the creation of a linear park and trail along the
Olympia Woodland Trail corridor from the Chehalis·
western Trail in Lacey to the shores of Capitol Lake.
The WTGA, formerly the East-West Greenway Association, is a non-profit coalition of active, interested
citizens and organizations which serve as a public
voice to promote the funding and development of the
Olympia Woodland Trail corridor for recreation and
natural open space preservation.
www.wtga.org I info@woodlandtrail.org
FOOD
Garden-Raised Bounty
GRuB is a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to nourishing community by empowering people
to grow good food. It sprouts inspired, self-confident,
and community-minded youth through educational
and employment opportunities. The Kitchen Gardens
project h_elps l?w-income families to h~lp themselves
by building raised-bed gardens at the1r homes. The
quality of life and nutrition of low-income seniors are
improved through therapeutic garden programs.
www.goodgrub.org I (360) 753-5522 I 2016 Elliott
Ave NW Oly, WA 98502
Terra Commons
Terra Commons is a non-profit building network. It
seeks to create lasting social change by researching,
designing, and implementing natural building technologies in the Salish Bay ecoregion. It holds work parties
and presentations to demonstrate the applications of
natural building, sustainable agriculture, appropriate
technology and habitat restoration. Projects include
sites at Fertile Ground Inn, Media Island International,
and Culture Seed.
www.oly-wa.us/Terra I (360) 339-3329
Left Foot Organics
A non-profit organic farm which supports the inclusion of people of all abilities. Employs people with
developmental disabilities and rural youth in the production of high quality organic food.
www.leftfootorganics.org I (360) 754-1849
HEALTH/MEDIATION
CHOICE Regional Health Network
Helping seniors understand Medicare, assisting low
income people access health and social services.
crhn.org/www/index.html I 1-800-981-2123
Dispute Resolution Center
The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County
(DRC) is a community based non-profit agency empowering people in their relationships by providing
conflict resolution services. Trainings on mediation
and conflict resolution are also available (at a price!).
www.mediatethurston.org I (360) 956-1155
Feminists In Self-Defense Training (FIST)
FIST provides basic and advanced self-defense workshops open to all women and children, covering mental preparation, assertiveness, strategy development,
and physical defense skills. Workshops are facilitated
by female-identified folks in a self-affirming, nonthreatening atmosphere. Cost is usually sliding scale
from $5 to $35. FIST publishes a free quarterly newsletter.
fistselfdefense@riseup.net
Fern Haven Center
The Fern Haven Center is a non-profit educational
program center that offers public workshops, trainings, and counseling services for individuals and organizations in the areas of communication and relationships, creative and intuitive arts, community building
and service, women's support, spiritual psychology,
personal growth, and conscious organizational process. This includes a variety of workshops based on
Non-violent (Compassionate) Communication (NVC).
www.fernhavencenter.org I rod@fernhavencenter.
com
Free Herbal Clinic
Just what is sounds like, this amazing group of people
offer education, personalized health consultations,
botanical remedies and other supplies free of charge.
They serve to empower anyone and everyone, regardless of financial or other circumstances, to take charge
of their own health care. They are currently without a
location but keep a look out for them to reopen soon.
olyfreeherbalclinic@riseup.net
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
The Olympia Chapter of the Fellowship of Reconciliation seeks to replace violence, war, racism, intolerance,
and economic and social injustice with nonviolence,
peace and justice. Olympia FOR collaborates with the
larger community to educate and to engage in nonviolent and compassionate actions. The bi-monthly peace
and social justice newsletter contains feature articles
on various peace and justice concerns, announcements about other resources, and calendars of local
and out-of-town events.
www.olyfor.org I info@olyfor.org
Planned Parenthood
Your one stop cheap clinic such things as emergency
contraception, STI testing, birth control, abortions,
and pregnancy testing.
www.plannedparenthood.org I (800) 230-7526 I 402
Legion Way, Suite 201, Oly
Puget Sound Network for Compassionate Communication
PSNCC - pronounced 'peace-nik' - is a regional nonprofit association of volunteers who envision a world
in which all needs are met compassionately. Its mission is to contribute to this vision by living & teaching the process of Nonviolent Communication (NVC),
which strengthens the ability of people to connect
compassionately with themselves and with one another, to share resources, and to resolve conflicts.
http://www.nwcompass.org I (206) 382-8576
Safe Place
SafePlace is the only advocacy agency and confidential
shelter for survivors of domestic violence and sexual
assault in Thurston County. Business hours are 9am.
12pm, 1-5pm M-Th and walk-in advocacy hours are
10am-12pm, 1-3pm Tu & W.
www.safeplaceolympia.org I· (360) 786-8754 I 314
Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98501
Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
WCSAP is a membership agency comprised of individuals and organizations dedicated to ending sexual
assault in their communities. WCSAP's mission is to
unite agencies engaged in the elimination of sexual
violence through education, advocacy, victim services,
and social change. It offers trainings throughout the
year and an annual two and a half day conference on
topics ranging from advocacy, service provision, prevention, to management issues. It also has a sexual assault prevention resource center.
www.wcsap.org
INTERNATIONAL
Bridges Not Walls
A coalition of community members from the South
Sound region of Washington State who have united
to address issues of immigration in our community.
We believe immigrants, regardless of legal status, deserve to be treated with dignity. We seek to make our
communities a place where the contributions of immigrants are valued and respected.
www.oly-wa.us/Bridges
Centro Integral Educativo Latino de Olympia (CIELO) Project at Radio Ranch
The CIELO Project is to facilitate programs with the
focus of providing services to the Hispanic community in Thurston, Mason, Lewis and Grays Harbor
counties. Free ESL (English as a Second Language)
classes are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 to
8:30pm. Proyecto Familia' is a multicultural mental
health services team that works with families. Support to Leadership develops self-sufficiency for Latino
families through development of parent leadership.
Parenting Wisely provides culturally competent parenting classes to the Latino community. Programs also
include Spanish Literacy /GED Preparation and HIV/
AIDS education. The Radio Ranch is an eight acre lowcost conference center close to Olympia and Lacey.
www.cieloproject.org I (360) 709-0931
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES)
CISPES has been working since 1980 in solidarity
with the FMLN (Farabundo Marti National Liberation
Front) and the Salvadoran social justice movement to
promote an alternative to the oppressive US-backed
policies of the Salvadoran right. CISPES currently
works within the solidarity and anti-corporate globalization movements, to build a cross-border movement that can confront the injustices of the neoliberal
economic model that is ravaging El Salvador and much
of the globe. In particular, CISPES is now helping to
launch a hemisphere-wide campaign against CAFTA,
a proposed free trade agreement between the United
States and Central America modeled on NAFTA.
www.cispes.org I (360) 866-6513
Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project
The sister city project that bonds Olympia, Washington and Rafah, Palestine was envisioned by lo cal
peace activist and friend, Rachel Corrie (1979-2003).
Through her dedication to social justice and acute
cognizance of the Israeli military occupation, she believed that cultural exchanges between our two com·
munities could result in significant social change. The
project will collaborate with the people of Rafah to
create lasting friendships across borders and bridge
I
1
1
1
.......----cultural gaps through popular education, advocacy,
communication, and community exchange. These
friendships help members to educate themselves,
increase awareness, and demonstrate solidarity in a
common struggle for a just and prompt peace in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Meetings are on the 1st
Thursday of each month at The Olympia Center (222
Columbia Street) at 7 p.m.
www.orscp.org
lEGAl
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Thurston County Chapter
The ACLU is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership
organization devoted to protecting the basic civil lib erties of all Americans, and extending them to groups
that have traditionally been denied their basic civil
rights . The Thurston County Chapter acts as the "eyes
and ears" of the Affiliate Office, ACLU-WA, reporting
civil liberties abuses. It testifies at local and state hearings and performs as an activist group to defend civil
liberties. It also does outreach to educate the public
in understanding, appreciating and protecting their
rights.
www.aclu-wa.org I (206) 624-2184
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political
organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase
understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Citizens of voting age may become League members.
It takes action on selected governmental issues, sponsorship and coordination of voter registrations, meetings with candidates, and publication on specific topics.
www.lwvwa.org I (206) 622-8961
Olympia Civil Liberties Resource
Olym~ia ~ivil Libe~ties Resource is an Olympia-based
orgamzat1on workmg to defend the civil liberties of
ali cit!zens - particularly activists exercising their const1tut1~nal nghts. OCLR seeks to educate the public
regardmg current threats to civil liberties, and to act
as a general resource for activists. The group provides
legal assistance, information about your rights, and
solidarity during the isolation of arrest and trial.
http://olycivlib.blogspot.com I olycivlib@riseup.net I
Support Line: (541) 687-9180 (For information if you
are contacted by the FBI).
Thurston County Draft Counseling Center
Protect your rights. Learn how the system works. The
Draft Counseling Center provides free, confidential information and counseling about how a military draft
would work and how to pursue conscientious objection and other alternatives. It also provides help for
people who want to get out of the military.
(360) 491-9093 I 5015 15th Ave. SE, Lacey
lOW INCOME/UNHOUSED ADVOCACY
Done&Done
Done & Done is a non-hierarchical 501(c)3 non-profit
which umbrellas projects, such as EGYHOP and Bike &
Bike, with a primary focus of providing items and services to empower the unhoused, youth, low-income or
otherwise marginalized populations of Olympia and
Thurston County.
Mail donations to: PO Box 6382, Olympia, WA 98507
Emergency Shelter Network: Homeless Resource
Advocacy
The Family Support Center is a community resource
center offering a variety of services for children and
families. 5 member agencies work together to offer
affordable, accessible, and preventative services that
help parents raise healthy children. Resource Specialists work with families in crisis and those seeking information about community resources. ESN provides
shelter and resources for families and single women in
Thurston County. Information and referrals regarding
resources, employment, rental assistance, voice messaging services, homeless child care and more. ESN is
a program of the Family Support Center in collaboration with Associated Ministries of Thurston County.
www.familysupportctr.org I (360) 754-9297 I 108
State Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with
people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. Houses are built in partnership with
the buyer, and sold at no profit with a 20 to 25 year
non-interest mortgage. Working with donated materials, home owners are required to invest sweat equity
(500 hours) into the construction process, working
alongside other volunteers. Donations of funds and
materials are accepted. Habitat owns and manages
the Sound Builders ReStore, a non-profit store dedi-
cated to diverting used building materials from the
local transfer station as well as providing educational
and volunteer opportunities for the community.
www.spshabitat.org I (360) 956-3456 I Restore: (360)
753 -1575 I 210 Thurston Ave. NE, Olympia
Homeless Resource Advocacy
HRA is a program of the Family Support Center. In
conjunction with the Emergency Shelter Network, we
give homeless individuals a supportive environment
to work on life skills directly related to establishing
and maintaining stable, permanent housing. The program offers a variety of resources and opportunities
based on individual needs. Case management services
are provided. Job skills training, nutrition, parenting,
problem solving, legal issues, and credit matters services are provided through community advocacy.
www.familysupportctr.org I (360) 528-8999
Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic
Rights (POWER)
POWER is an organization of low-income parents and
allies advocating for a strong social safety net while
working toward a world where children and care giving are truly valued, and the devastation of poverty
has been eradicated.
www.oly-wa.us/power I (360) 352-9716
Thurston Union for Low Income People (TULIP)
Tulip's unique mission is to fight poverty and promote
social responsibility by bridging the gap between low
income and more affluent people. Tulip links low-income members with the financial products, services,
and education necessary for financial independence.
At the same time, it offers more affluent members the
opportunity for community investment through the
loans and deposits they make with Tulip.
www.tulipcu.coop I (360) 570-2292 I 3111 Pacific Ave
NW, Olympia, WA 98501
Welfare Rights Organizing Coalition
WROC is a coalition of individuals and welfare rights
groups organized around their own welfare offices
whose mission is to empower people on welfare to effect positive change in their lives, the welfare system,
and other institutions that impact their lives. WROC
empowers recipients through education, leadership
development, grassroots action, and through the
creation of a support network for its members. We
network with other organizations and individuals to
dispel the myths about welfare and to create a broad
power base to effect change on the local, state, and na tional levels.
www.wroc.org I (360) 352-9716 I 701 Franklin SE,
Olympia, WA 98501
YOUNG PEOPLE
Avanti High School (AHS)
Avanti is an alternative high school residing within the
Olympia School District. With its small numbers and
low student to faculty ratio, AHS is very open to community involvement, ripe for input from Evergreen
students. Evergreen students have contributed to the
Avanti curriculum as student teachers and assistants,
as well as leaders of mini-units, and hosts of community service projects.
avanti.osd.wednet.edu I (360) 596- 7900
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Helping children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships. They
contribute to brighter futures, better schools and
stronger communities for all.
www.thurstonbbbs.org I 360-943-0409
Freechild Project
The Freechild Project seeks to advocate, inform, and
celebrate social change led by and with young people
around the world, particularly those who have been
historically denied the right to participate. We offer
resources, programs, and training to aid in youth-led
community organizing and activist projects.
www.freechild.org I (360) 753-2686
The Little Red Schoolhouse Project
Our goal is to see every child start school with basic
school supplies, a backpack and 2-3 outfits of new or
clean used clothes.
www.redschool.org I (360) 438-1100 x 1143
A List of Recommended Reading
~ - George Orwell
The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein
&J_g.inst Civilization - ed. by John Zerzan
The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman
flg.o.eath the Paving Stones - Darkstar Collective
Gone to Croatan - ed. by Ron Sakolsky and James Koehnline
!lliJck Elk Speaks - John Nierhardt
Guns. Germs and Steel - Jared Diamond
!lliJck Looks: Race & Representation - Bell Hooks
How Nonviolence Protects the State - Peter Gelderloos
The Bonnot Gang - Richard Parry
Lame Deer: Seeker of Visions - John Lame Deer and Richard Erdoes
Caliban and the Witch - Silvia Federici
Letters of Insurgents - Fredy Perlman
On Walden Pond - Henry David Thoreau
Lies My Teacher Told Me - James W. Loewen
The Coming Insurrection - The Invisible Committee
Th e Many-Headed Hydra - Peter Linebaugh & Marcus Rediker
coming Home to the Pleistocene - Paul Shepard
Medicinal Plants OfThe Pacific Northwest - Michael Moore
Days Of War, Nights Of Love - Crimethinc.
The Mismeasure Of Man - Steven Jay Gould
Direct Action - Ann Han sen
The Monkey Wrench Gang - Edward Abbey
Dynamite - Louis Adamic
Mujeres Libres: Free Women of Spain - Martha Acklesburg
Ecodefense - Dave Forman
A New Green History of the World - Clive Ponting
Endgame - Derrick Jen sen
On the Road - Jack Kerouac
Engine Su mmer - John Crowley
Our Enemies in Blue - Kristian Williams
Fahrenh eit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Pedagogy of the Oppressed - Ira Shor & Paulo Freire
Fight Club - Chuck Pahlaniuk
People's History of the United States - Howard Zinn
Gender Outlaw - Kate Bornstein
Plants OfThe Pacific Northwest - Pojar & McKinnon
The Practice OfThe Wild - Gary Snyder
Quiet Rumours: An Anarcha-Feminist Reader - Darkstar Collective
Rebels Against the Future - Kirkpatrick Sale
Red Emma Speaks - Emma Goldman
The Revolution of Everyday Life - Raoul Vaneigem
A Room Of One's Own -Virginia Woolf
Sabate: Guerilla Extraordinaire - Antonio Tellez
Simulacra & Simulacrum - Jean Baudrillard
Stone Butch Blues - Leslie Feinberg
Touch The Earth: A Self Portrait Of
Indian Existence T.C. McLuhan
We - Yevgeny Zamyatin
The Way To Rainy Mountain - N.
Scott Momaday
The Wretched of the Earth - Frantz
Fanon
CAPITALl•M
MIIUL'IWkt
WI,OOL"°U
,,.,.... 1111 lJ Tia: laitt11
Diso_000008.pdf