Jill Battson, Empress of Poetry, World AIDS Day Reading at Champlain Living Learning Commons

I met Jill Battson in a bar in Buffalo, New York in 1989. Great opening line to an introduction, eh? In truth, Jill was there with Adeena Karasick, performing in a reading series for the University at Buffalo Poetics Program. Jill and I connected immediately, as we were both doing poems exploring the intersection of language, desire, pornography and performance. She blessed me by inviting me to perform in Toronto in a Weird Sisters reading along with Adeena and the inimitable Sky Gilbert. She also produced my opus, "The Porno Boy Speaks" for the Toronto Queer Culture Festival in the early '90s.

Since then Jill has achieved remarkable things as a performance poet. She's currently the poet Laureate of Cobourg, Ontario, and the opera based on her latest book, "Dark Star Requiem" opened the Luminato Festival 2010 at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She'll be reading from that book at the Champlain Living Learning Commons for World AIDS Day on Dec 1 at 3 p.m.

Over the past few years, Jill has explored in depth the relationship between spoken word performance, dance, theatre, and opera. She's done remarkable work. Here's a sample of her work with the remarkable choreoghrapher and dancer, D. A. Hoskins. (Jill, D.A., and I produced a work for Peterborough New Dance's Emergency series a few years ago entitled, "Ecce Homo").




CBC Radio 2 will broadcast a recording of the world premiere of "Dark Star Requiem" later in the evening of World AIDS Day. The dramatic oratorio by Jill Battson and composer Andrew Staniland, was co-produced by Tapestry and Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, for the opening weekend of the 2010 Festival.

The Toronto Star called the oratorio “Artistically adventurous and intellectually provocative” and “exactly the kind of project that the Luminato festival wants to be about.” Classical Music Guide called it, “a ‘tapestry’ quite consistently mesmerizing to the collective senses and conscience of the rapt audience” and “a work of vital . . . lasting, thought-provoking power.” Listeners will be able to follow the text and view production images online at http://www.tapestrynewopera.com/.

Broadcast Details:
December 1, 2010
on The Signal with Laurie Brown
CBC Radio 2
Between 10 pm and midnight EST.

In Memoriam: former Master of Champlain, Jim MacAdam

As many Champlain students know, Noranne and I were very saddened to learn last week of the death of Professor Jim MacAdam, who served as Master of Champlain from 1987 to 1995. Noranne knew him very well, and I was fortunate to have met him during my first term as Head of the college. In fact, he was a part of Champlain life recently, and attended the gala opening of the Champlain Living Learning Commons early in November.

Another previous Master of Champlain, Professor Emeritus John Burbidge, gave remarks at a memorial for Professor MacAdam that was held in the former Champlain Master's Lodge yesterday, November 24, 2010. His remarks included memories shared by Professor Emeritus David Gallop, another colleague from Trent's Philosophy Department. I thought that current Champlain students and readers of this blog would appreciate reading these remarks, not only as a remembrance of an extraordinary leader of our community, but also as a window into the deep history and character of Champlain College. Many thanks to Professors Burbidge and Gallop for sharing this text with us.

JAMES MacADAM 1930-2010

A number of years ago, a young Jim MacAdam enrolled in the MA program in philosophy at Queen's University. In those glorious days, every incoming student was interviewed by the registrar, and so Jim found himself in front of the formidable Jeannie Royce. She looked at his file: “I see that you have been teaching physical education. What made you decide to take up philosophy?” “Well,” Jim replied, “I've had th-th-th-three c-c-c-concussions!”

That little story sums up a number of key features of Jim. In the first place, the fact that he was the butt of his own stories reveals how comfortable he was in his own skin. He was never overwhelmed by adversity, but always faced life with a positive and enthusiastic interest, seeing “the funny side of any situation.” As David Gallop writes: “This extended even to his own severe injury from the car accident in 1988. In recovering from that trauma, and in completing his term as Master of Champlain College, he showed the utmost fortitude and nobility of spirit.”

Second, he was a jock, playing rugby and baseball when he was young; later on, golf in the summer and curling in the winter. When his blunted left hand prevented him from holding the broom to maintain his balance on the curling rink, he would just reach out that arm as far as possible, making an interesting spectacle as he slid down the ice.

Third, he loved philosophy, even more than athletics and, quoting David Gallop again, “was unswerving in his dedication to it and inventive in its teaching. His many bold academic initiatives included the international conference on Jean-Jacques Rousseau at Trent in 1978 which initiated the North American Rousseau Society, the use of 'moots', or 'mock-trials', in philosophy-of-law courses, with collaboration from the legal profession, and two series of lectures on Great Philosophers in the Peterborough Public Library.” After he retired he discovered some unpublished writings of H.A. Prichard, an eminent Oxford philosopher, and edited them into a fine volume, published by Oxford University Press and dedicated “For the Love of my Wife, Elizabeth, and our Children”.

But there are other features that are only implicit in that little story of Jeannie Royce. Jim was committed to undergraduate teaching, maintaining a continual guerilla war against the moves made to establish graduate programs in the humanities. David Gallop: “He probably fitted, better than anyone else at Trent, the image that many people have of 'the true philosopher', a role that he filled in the most endearing fashion. [David} still remember[s] an occasion when Jim was lecturing on Thomas Hobbes, and a pneumatic drill started up right outside the lecture-theatre. He remained quite unfazed, and doggedly plunged ahead with his lecture, despite being completely inaudible for about ten minutes.” Students recall the time when, in a tutorial, he leaned back in his chair to expound on a point and, as the chair continued its arc towards the floor, Jim went on, equally unfazed, with his exposition.

Jim was committed to Champlain College. He had the only office in the university which gives directly on to the river and once, in the middle of a class, he wandered over to the window, where a bell on a fishing rod was jangling, and calmly reeled in a small bass. His interest in all aspects of college life reached its culmination when he was appointed Master in 1987, and Jim and Betty became involved closely with the many and diverse students who made up the college community welcoming them into the warmth of this room.

Finally, and most important, Jim was a friend. I don't mean simply that he was my valued friend, though that is true enough. But he was a friend to the very core of his being. As David says: “He was an ideal mentor for someone new to Trent, because he personified all that the University and its college system stood for.” The young Harry and Caroline Kitchen, uncertain as, for the first time, they approached the Master's Lodge and an initial encounter with the redoubtable William and Peg Morton, were greeted by Jim and Betty and made to feel at home. The two of them, Jim and Betty, were genial and kindly hosts, regularly entertaining supervisees and students over a meal in their home. Jim continued to follow the careers of former students and towards the end was contemplating a visit to Tony Arthur, High Commissioner from the Barbados to the Court of St. James.

Let me conclude with, once again, the words of David Gallop: “When the next history of Trent comes to be written, Jim will surely deserve to be chronicled as one of its most courageous early pioneers. For now, he will be remembered with affection by everyone who was warmed by his friendship and by his generosity of heart.”

--John Burbidge

From Trent University to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC

A shout out to Nomadic Massive who loved their stay at Champlain and the great students who helped them launch their tour this fall at Trent.

The climax of their tour (and the band's life thus far!) was this concert at the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. Champlain knows what's good, eh?

http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M4455

VOLUNTEERING IS A PART OF LEARNING

My experience in Canada, especially in Peterborough has been a great opportunity for me and volunteering is something I have particularly enjoyed. There is a big difference when I compare my country. I see and hear but still all of the news about weather is difficult to me to adapt because my home country is not cold like here. I have learned a lot of things I want to share some of them with you:

Environment. I really like all the surrounding areas at Trent University as well as Recycling. I saw some organization which deals with the issue of environment by plating trees as well as vegetables. These kinds of things that students do by volunteering are part of learning that make students to participate in various activities which they like. One of the organizations is called the Sustainable Trent garden. So through that explanation that is a good things which I learn although we have at home, but also this is good chance to explain in my community as well as school how to protect our environment by keeping it clean as well as recycling.

Education is most the most important thing. Trent University provides the opportunity for students to study as much as you can. Everything around you is a part of learning. I would like to say that education is not a way to escape poverty. Study hard my fellow friends, this is the key of success that is in your hand.

Share ideas and meet with different people. This has allowed me to better know myself and also to know each other, and also through their events, because when we meet we share ideas with some ESL students as well as some volunteer who come to the TIP office and that make me to learn through the sharing of ideas.

People are so kind,they are so helpful and they help me in all ways and now I am aware because of the people who are working with me together at the TIP office as well as my work placement counterpart (IVAN) who always try to teach me how to do some work which I don't know, and through that make my work to be a part of learning to me I would like to say I improve my knowledge although is a short time which I spend there.

The way we cooperate in my office shows how people work together. This makes me feel good always when I am here.

Also another one is meeting i like the way we made the decision or the way we do things together by sitting and talking what is going on,do you are busy enough,planning about up coming event this a some of thing which we took when we meet at the Meeting and that make a person to fill good because we got opportunity to talk their ideas.

I believe through TIP office people they can learn different things through crossing culture because people from different parts of the world they meet and cross culture and make to feel you have right to go different country and people they can aspect you with you culture,and that make to fill every where is your home and that build good partnership among the country.

I would like to say that i real like my work placement as well as host community because all things which i saw and learning are good this means no culture shock to me.
Thanks very much Champlain College,Trent international program (TIP),DR.Mike,Kate,Kllye,Julia,Cath and Elena


I LEAVE MESSAGE:
Life must be measured by thought and action,not by time.No one can do everything,but everyone can do something.What you do,depends on you.
FROM: ADOLPHINA J. MWAKILAMBO
COUNTRY:TANZANIA 2010
CANADA WORLD YOUTH (CWY)

What is Remembrance Day all about?

I was honoured to be a part of a Remembrance Day ceremony in the Great Hall of Champlain on Thursday morning. It was a privilege to share the podium with a Trent student, Ethan Mcdonald, who is an officer Cadet in the Canadian armed forces. I was very moved by the depth of thought, reflection, feeling, and commitment in the words that he shared that day. I'm grateful that he shared that text with me so that you might read it here.

What is Remembrance Day all about?

When I was young, it was about wearing a little red flower in November. Growing up, it took on a human side; a wrinkly face with white thinning hair and bright eyes despite failing health with age.

Today as I wear this uniform, it means much more and I would like to share this with you.

After taking several history courses in high school and university, I discovered that often, war was waged for political or religious reasons and very often unknown to those whom it consumed. Rarely did it bring what was promised: freedom and a better life for those it affected; and war rarely brought peace.

I was taught that long ago, men went overseas and fought for their home country in the Great War, to bring back peace and victory for the commonwealth. In 1917 our great nation was born under fire in France. Young Canadians took the untakeable at Vimy Ridge and endured the unendurable at Passchendaele, many never leaving Flanders Fields. The armistice took place one year later--the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month 1918. Never again!

In 1939, the nations of the world mobilized once again for another round, this time the Allies were off to fight amongst others, a man named Adolf Hitler and his armies who in a short time, controlled most of Europe. Once again, young Canadians answered the call and scaled the cliffs of Assoro, suffered in Hong Kong and took Juno Beach. Six years later they returned with victory and an uneasy peace. The world learned of the horrors of the holocaust and wept from the devastation. Never again!

For the next 45 years, the world held its breath while Western and Communist armies sparred in remote regions of the world. Canadians held the unholdable at Kapyong and in the 90’s when United Nations peace keeping became the political focus, Canadians in sky blue berets of hope, sat out of a politically incorrect war and watched as millions were murdered in Rwanda. Never again!

I suppose it would sound rather cynical for me to say this and suggest that war has never accomplished anything worth its cost; that by this perhaps, the deeds of veterans are meaningless. If you only focus on the big picture and not what’s in an individual’s heart, this may be all that you believe. However, I do not come to you today to preach on the politics or history of international conflict. My query is much simpler; not why we have war, but why we have warriors?

The truth is, regardless of politics, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or anything else that separates and divides humans or causes war; veterans and soldiers of conflicts past and present serve because they feel a duty. A duty to do all that is in their power to bring peace, freedom and a higher quality of life, to those who are without it. For any individual to take action on their beliefs especially with goals such as these is truly remarkable.

The truth is, even today within this great nation of Canada, there are still thousands who take up this cause. They are deployed to the Middle East, in Afghanistan and other troubled areas around the world. Regardless of their job, they all make a sacrifice, the same as those before them. Leaving their families, their daily lives and country behind and donning the uniform of a Canadian Soldier. All gave some; some 152 of my brothers and sisters gave all, giving their lives for what they believe in.

I can tell you this with absolute certainty today as I don the uniform of a Canadian Soldier as many nineteen year olds have done before me. My profession is that of arms, my job is to fight. Yet my mission is to preserve peace, to ensure freedom and quality of life for all. My mind says “Never again!” but my heart says, “I must do something!”

So today on the eleventh of November, many may ponder the question “What does Remembrance Day mean?” To me, it is a day to remember the conflicts of the past and present, but focusing on the men and women who serve instead of dwelling on politics or the outcome. Remembrance Day is about people, who became soldiers, who went off to war and fought for what they believe in.

Remembrance Day is about those who never made it home. We will remember them.

- A Canadian Soldier.

What do you think about Respecting the viewpoints of others?

I'd like to hear people's thoughts about this. It happens here at Trent all the time (yes, it happens all over the world all the time, but we're primarily responsible for our own community) We often assume that we are a community in agreement about certain things--and that assumed agreement lets us silence people, usually inadvertently, and it means we lose opportunities to learn from each other.

"I was screaming on the inside but no one could hear. My thoughts racing through my head unable to focus, slow my ideas down and put them into words. I was mute in a class of 23 people. Shut down for being different, going against the grain but following ideas I thought were ‘normal’. My experience was not in a high school class room with naive and immature teens but in a university seminar with an experienced professor of more than ten years and mature students.

Losing your voice in a crowd is easy, but to be singled out in a crowd, made to feel inadequate, different, and alone is terrifying. You have a choice: stand up to the crowd accepting your differences and standing alone or be silenced, hide from the crowd in hopes that you can assimilate back into the hole you ‘rudely’ jumped out of.

I hid.

Having never been alienated in this way before, the feeling was surreal, as if I had only imagined it. Had it really just happened to me? How to react or what to expect, I wasn’t prepared. A series of umm’s and ahh’s managed to break through my lips until I just gave up. I sunk back into my chair and tried to piece together what had taken place.

I never understood what it felt like to be different or unaccepted, but knowing that now is hard. The fear of being outcast is horrible, and unexplainable. This fear has stopped me from returning to class, as I was unaccepted and belittled by both my peers and professors."

I'd like to hear people's thoughts about this. It happens here at Trent all the time: we often assume that we are a community in agreement about certain things--and that lets us silence people, usually inadvertently, and it means we lose opportunities to learn from each other."

Has something like the above incident happened to you? It's important that it didn't happen to a person who was "visibly different"; it happened to a person who just happened to be different from the assumed norm of the classroom she was in. It happened to a person because she expressed her values and beliefs on a serious topic.

I'd love to hear from you if you've had experiences like this. I'd love for us to learn from each other by discussing how we manage these circumstances.

Tim Miller, Internationally Acclaimed Performance Artist

Champlain is honoured to host Tim Miller, whose work as a performer and writer explores the artistic, spiritual and political topography of his identity as a gay man. Hailed for his humor and passion, Miller's performances have been presented all over North America, Australia, and Europe in such prestigious venues as Yale Repertory Theatre, the Institute of Contemporary Art (London), the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis), and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. For more information, visit: www.timmillerperformer.com

Tim has been my friend for many years. I taught his book, "Shirts and Skins" as well as excerpts of his work in the book "O Solo Homo" when I taught a class in Queer Performance Art for the University of Utah (at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Salt Lake City). His performance works embody so much of the history of gay culture over the past 2 decades. And his commitment to continuing to fight, through artistic expression, for the rights and well-being of queer-identified people everywhere is an inspiration.

I'm thrilled that our Champlain community will be able to welcome him and learn with him in residence at the college for the next few days.

If you want to learn more about his schedule here, check out these links, and pick up tickets to see his show on Wednesday night at the First People's Performance Space.
http://www.facebook.com/TimMillerPerformer#!/event.php?eid=122410101153528
http://www.facebook.com/TimMillerPerformer#!/event.php?eid=101084199965203

Living Learning Communities at UT Dallas

Living learning communities are continuing to take off in North American universities. Indeed, McGill University created two new LLCs this past summer. The University of Waterloo, Brock University and Ryerson U are continuing to expand their living learning communities as they recognize the many benefits of bringing students together with common interests.

In the United States, the University of Texas at Dallas has been incredibly successful with their LLCs, check out the article here. Dr. Cynthia Jenkins of UT Dallas says:

"academic and social opportunities, along with a strong sense of community offered by the Living Learning program, has a positive impact on students and contributes to their connection to UT Dallas".

Read more about the LLCs here.