November 1, 2001

CIIS Alumna Wins 2001 Buddha-Krishnamurti Scholarship

Jennifer Bruce with Nicholas, a child in the DrawBridge program

Jennifer Bruce, '00, M.A., Integral Counseling Psychology, is the first American and the first woman awarded the Buddha-Krishnamurti Scholarship by the Krishnamurti Foundation, India, since it was first offered in 1996. Every two years, the Foundation grants a scholarship to an individual interested in conducting research into the connection between the teachings of the Buddha and those of J. Krishnamurti. Offered for a period of one to two years, the scholarship includes board and lodging at the Krishnamurti Educational Centre, Varanasai, U.P., India, as well as a stipend. The center is only seven kilometers from Sarnath, where Buddha preached his first sermon. Jennifer has been an avid student of Krishnamurti's teachings since 1992. A registered Marriage and Family Therapist intern, Jennifer has worked in the biotechnology field for the last eight years. Her decision to pursue an M.A. degree at CIIS came after several years of working as a research assistant in an organic chemistry lab while simultaneously pursuing her own spiritual development in therapy with Gary Sall, Ph.D. Jennifer also works with DrawBridge—An Arts Program for Homeless Children (created by Gloria Simoneaux, '98).

Women's Spirituality Offerings
Dr. Carol P. Christ to Speak at CIIS, November 7

Feminist theologian Carol P. Christ, Ph.D., whose work has helped to revolutionize the teaching and study of religion in North America, will speak on "Nine Touchstones for Planetary Healing," in Namaste Hall on Wednesday, November 7, 7:00-9:00pm. (Suggested donation $15, $10 for students.)

A Study Tour and Spiritual Journey to Greece, June 7-21, 2002
Spend 15 days in Athens, Eleusis, and the islands of Nidri and Madouri with Charlene Spretnak, M.A., and Drs. Brian Swimme, Mara Keller, and David Ulansey. For more information, click here or call 415-575-6268.

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Student Alliance News

New Student Life Coordinator
The Student Alliance welcomes the new student life coordinator who is working with the Dean of Students Office. Chen Bentov-Hamam, an international student from Israel, is completing her B.A. degree at CIIS and will be continuing in the Expressive Arts Therapy Program. Chen's office will be located in the community space behind the third floor cafe. Office hours will be announced soon; watch for flyers or check the Student Alliance bulletin board outside the cafe. Chen may be reached by emailing chenb@ciis.edu or calling 415-575-6463.

Call for Proposals
Each year, the Student Alliance funds a variety of student projects. If you need financial support for a project relating to your work at CIIS--for example, to present at a conference, create an event at CIIS, or bring a film or film series to the community--come to a Student Alliance meeting and present your proposal.

Student Alliance Meetings
All students are invited to attend Student Alliance meetings which will be held on Thursdays, November 1, November 15, and November 29 at 6:30pm in the community space behind the cafe on third floor. Food will be provided.

Watch for news and flyers about elections that will be held soon.

Students--News You Can Use

CIIS Student Handbook
If you do not yet have a copy of the CIIS Student Handbook, visit the Dean of Students Office on the fourth floor, Room 401. The Handbook covers many topics, including information on housing, parking, health, parks, CIIS resources such as the Student Alliance, Rockefeller Library, InnerLight Bookstore, registration and financial aid information, disabled student services, academic policies, grievance procedures, ecological awareness, and much more.

Attention Job Seekers!
The Field Placement Office (fourth floor) has set up several listservs for networking with fellow students and alumni and searching for jobs. If you would like to sign up for one or more of these listservs, please contact Kim Rusher, Room 401, or email kimr@ciis.edu.
Please indicate which listserv(s) you would like to sign up for:

SCTgrad: Networking forum for SCT graduates and current students interested in finding out what life's like after graduation

SPPgrad: Networking forum for SPP graduates and current students

Psymajob: Job listings of interest to graduates of Psychology Masters Level programs

PsyDjob: Job listings of interest to graduates of Psychology Doctorate Level programs

SCTjob: Job listings of interest to graduates of SCT programs

Kranzke Scholarship Deadline Extended
The deadline for the Kranzke Scholarships has been extended to November 15. These scholarships are awards of up to $5,000 per year for research and study of psychedelic/entheogenic plants or substances. The research project may be from a range of perspectives, including psychology of consciousness, historical, literary, ethnographic, shamanic, spiritual, therapeutic, indigenous or traditional healing practices, educational, and others.

For application or further information, contact the Financial Aid Office, 415-575-6122.

Tutors for International Students Needed

This fall, the Institute welcomed twenty new international students from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Congratulations to the recipients of the CIIS international scholarship: Ai Kuroda (Japan), Chiaki Sasaki (Japan), Eli Puterman (Canada), Kathryn Rickard (Canada), Martina Dannecker (Germany), Shyamsundar Kotagal (India), Tejal Deolankar (India), and Miles Neale (United Kingdom).

The Institute is looking for English tutors to work with some international students. If you would like to find out more about becoming a tutor, please contact Dexter Young, 415-575-6153, or email dyoung@ciis.edu.

CIIS Co-Sponsors Spiritual Prison Reform Conference:
Prison Yoga and Meditation
December 6 - 8, 2001
by Stuart Sovatsky '89

Why and how do yoga and meditation work in helping prison inmates resolve their problems? How can the worldwide movement of prison reform be brought into more prisons? During a December 6-8 Spiritual Prison Reform Conference at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, California, ex-convicts, yoga and meditation teachers, and corrections officials from around the world--including Kiran Bedi, who inspired the making of the film Doing Vipassana, Doing Time, and Sadguru of the Isha Foundation Prison Project (India)--will address these questions and more. For more information, email Stuart Sovatsky at stuartcs@jps.net or call 510-232-8262.