November 16, 2000
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November 16, 2000 |
| One-hundred and sixty donors, supporters, faculty, students, alumni, and consulates of the Institute gathered together in the grand space of the Asian Art Museum on 23 October for a gala evening of fine food, visionary speeches, and sacred dance performances. Keynote speaker Dr. Riane Eisler spoke from the heart when she shared her concerns for the future and her hopes for a new kind of passionate engagement. The musical and performance component of the evening included Tibetan singer Tsering Wangmo, and Aushim Chaudhuri, son of Bina and the late Haridas Chaudhuri, as well as CIIS performance artists Michael Sigman and Xavier Caylor, who performed a centrifugal dance akin to that of the Whirling Dervishes, which induces a trancelike state that connects one to the divine. The performance of Nepalese dancer Prajwal Vajacharya kept the audience spellbound. Everyone appeared to be deeply affected by the dance, which captured the spirit of CIIS. Go to the CIIS Website for further details and more pictures of the event!
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| Bina Chaudhuri Wins Award, Extends Invitation
Bina is president of the Cultural Integration Fellowship, which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, extends a warm welcome to those at CIIS and in the Bay Area to join the festivities. For a full listing of anniversary events between March 3 and October 13, 2001. For more information about CIF, go to Bina and Haridas founded the Fellowship -- which is located at Third Avenue and Fulton Street across from Golden Gate Park in San Francisco -- in 1951, and it is the organization out of which CIIS arose. The Fellowship promotes intercultural understanding, non-sectarian universal religion, and creative self-development and self-fulfillment. It has hosted programs on many of the worlds spiritual, philosophical and artistic traditions, from African religion, Chinese philosophy, Kabbalah, and the contemporary Goddess to Japanese flower arrangement and dream work. You are invited to attend these programs on every Sunday morning at 11:00 am. | Art Receptions Planned
Tuesday, November 21 Thursday, November 30
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| Report from the Finance & Planning Office
On a personal note, I have enjoyed my first six weeks as a full-time staff member at CIIS. I feel deeply connected to the mission, I find the people engaging, and the work -- well -- it is challenging to say the least! I look forward to the months ahead of making my contribution to helping the Institute build on its strengths and to working with all members of the community. As we come up to the season of Advent I invoke a Jewish blessing! "May you all be inscribed in the book of life."
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Farewell to: Reminder:
Evening Parking Still Available If you are looking for evening parking, Monday-Thursday, take note! For the remainder of this semester, for just $15, you may have a parking spot in the back lot (Minna Street ONLY-those who use other lots will be towed) for a given evening (e.g., every Monday evening from now through the end of the semester).
If a monthly renter or an evening renter is already parked in a double space, the evening renter cannot park there. Violators will be towed.
Annual Institute Scholarships: Deadline: Friday, November 17
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| by Aaron Testard, Student Alliance Secretary Hello -- do you even know who we are?! The following are active members of Student Alliance (SA) so far: Sarah Aminoff, Lauren David, Melinda McBride, Jana Paradiso, William Peters, Dennis Richards, Riko Robinson, Derek Trlica, Christy Amschler, Diarmid Baillie, Adriana Lyles, Suzanne Quentin, and Aaron Testard. Our names and positions are listed on the SA bulletin board outside the cafe.
Another hot issue right now: community space. Our space utilization sub-committee (Lauren and William) has been talking extensively with CIIS's space utilization task force. Our goal is to attain more practical and lively space for students. Tell us your ideas about how our space here can enhance student life. A third issue: guest housing. As usual, students are having problems with housing needs. If you want to help, you can apply to guest host someone for a period of time. In exchange, you will receive $20-25 per night from SA. Ask Sarah from the housing sub-committee for more information: 415-731-1441. The next meeting of SA will be on Monday, November 27 at 6:30 pm in the third floor cafe. Dinner will be provided. Your interest and input will always be welcomed. Finally, I would ike to thank you for your concerns and comments thus far. We sincerely appreciate your support as we gain momentum for the rest of the school year. Stay posted for our phone number and Website. Also, don't forget to check the SA minutes, which are posted on our bulletin board two days after each meeting. To contact us, or to be placed on the SA e-mail list, email: ciisstudentalliance@yahoo.com.
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Dear Colleagues, As we get closer to our WASC focus visit in February, I want to update you on two major institutional activities that we have been working on throughout the Fall semester: preparation of the WASC report, and strategic planning and budgeting. Thank you for your thoughtful comments on the responses to the twenty recommendations from the past WASC visiting team. As soon as the second part of the narrative report is drafted, I will send you copies for review. In light of our many initiatives over the past year and a half, we have much progress to report to WASC. Also, we have time to add to our list of achievements and to enhance a number of initiatives before the team arrives. Our new Vice President for Finance and Planning, Annabel Beerel, is providing creative and professional leadership in our strategic planning and budgeting process. Presently, Annabel is working with the President's Council in developing an implementation plan that will be reviewed by the Institute's Strategic Planning and Budget Committee and the Board of Trustees in 2001. To ensure the integrity of the budget, Annabel has been meeting with budget managers to help them control expenses and enhance revenues. With the Budget Committee, Annabel is addressing a variety of budget issues and formulating an inclusive and effective budget process. We are indeed fortunate to have Annabel join our Institute community. I am extremely grateful to Jo Burrows for her imaginative and persistent leadership in producing a festive Gala at the Asian Art Museum at the end of October. Thanks to all who attended and contributed to making the event reflect the distinctive values of CIIS.
|  Ask the Dean of Studentsby Richard Buggs, Dean of Students In response to the question in the last issue about the Student Survey, here are some highlights. Age, Gender: The average age of female students in the survey is 39.9, while average age of male students is 34.8. A majority of students drive to school and reported they could find parking within a ten-minute walk of the building. Student Services: The majority of students chose to register in person for their classes instead of mailing or faxing registration forms. The registration process was rated as going smoothly by the majority of students in the survey. In Financial Aid, the majority of students reported that staff is available to answer their questions most of the time, and that the loan application process went smoothly. Academics: Students rated the quality of their education as "about what I expected" and "about the same" as the quality of education at comparable institutions. The quality of the faculty was rated as "about what I expected," and faculty received above average rating in supporting our mission statement, vision, and seven ideals. The time allotted for academic advising was rated as slightly below adequate; the quality of the advising was rated fair. The Academic Affairs Task Force is working towards significant improvement in this area. Weaknesses of CIIS: Many students commented on the the ineffectiveness of administrative procedures. This is being actively addressed by the Academic Affairs Task Force. There were also comments about feeling a lack of community, and a lack of space for students to gather, study, rest, and interact with others outside of the classroom. This issue is being addressed by the recently reconvened Space Committee that has Student Alliance representation. President: The President was rated as above average in supporting the mission statement, vision, and seven ideals. Overall Satisfaction: The majority of students had two responses: somewhat satisfied and satisfied. Students assessed the value of their degree as being "valuable." A copy of the entire report is available in Room 401. Thank you to all of the students who took the time to respond. | ||||||||||||
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Secrets of the Stacks
Student assistant Sandy Bassett (ACS) also selects from the library's holdings, Michel Foucault's History of Sexuality: An Introduction. It posits that "the repression of sexuality actually leads to its proliferation and our misconceptions about power and subjugation." Circulation assistant Michael Moore recommends a recent read, Pilgrims of the Stars, by Dilip Kumar Roy, "an account of . . . a musician, seeker, and teacher, and his student adept, Indira Devi. Together they come in contact with many renowned spiritual teachers of India . . . such as Sri Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi, and Papa Ramdas. It is a rich, humorous, and poignant read." Michael, a Bachelor of Arts Completion graduate who travels regularly to India and who joined the library staff this year, adds, "I'm continually amazed at the books in our library, many of which can't be found in bookstores here in America." Cynthia Matison, cataloging coordinator, has many favorites, "but Marguerite Porete's Mirror of Simple Souls will always be special to me. She was burned at the stake for writing in the vernacular, among other charges. Although her tale was a simple portrayal of a soul's quest and transformation, it certainly did disturb those priests." Finally, systems and circulation coordinator Josh Boatright reports that Edna St. Vincent Millay's poems most appeal to him -- because they give "a lovely light." The library's Website address is http://library.ciis.edu; for current news and information, visit http://library.ciis.edu/new.html. | New PCs for Computer Lab The third floor computer lab has been upgraded with new Dell PCs. The PCs also have sound and video capability for multimedia reception over the Internet. Remember to bring your own headphones. Special CD-roms are available in the lab for students, staff, and faculty who want tutorial training on Word, Excel, Access, and Power Point.
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| . . . And the Gold Goes to IN PRINT Ben Tong, Psychology PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING Judye Hess, Integral Counseling Psychology Joanna Macy, Philosophy, Cosmology, & Consciousness, "In Conversation with Julia Butterfly Hill" Note: If your listing isn't here (and you submitted it) look for it in the next few issues of Inner Eye.
HINT: This professor is one of two individuals who have been at the Institute for at least a quarter of a century. He was hired by Dr. Chaudhuri. ANSWER AT: InnerGate-mail.ciis.edu. Each issue of the Inner Eye features a photograph of staff or faculty from another time in their lives. (Please submit photos along with a "hint" to Candice Chase in Communications.)
| Welcome to: Euler Baudista, who will fill the position of technical assistant in the Institutional Systems Technology Office, beginning October 23. Farewell to: Reminder:
It's In the Stars by Cathy Coleman
Inner Eye The Inner Eye is published by the Communications & Marketing Department. Articles may be submitted to candicec@ciis.edu via email or disks may be put in the Inner Eye mailbox. Articles are subject to editing for clarity, length, and appropriateness.
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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS | |||||||||||||
| Friday, November 17 Friday & Saturday, November 17-18 Monday, November 20
Wednesday, November 29 Saturday, December 2
| Sunday, December 3 Monday, December 4 For additional details on these events, go to www.ciis.edu, unless other
Office Hours President Subbiondo's walk-in hours are Tuesdays between 2:00 and 3:00 pm, no appointment necessary. Dr. Janis Phelps, Dean, School of Transformation & Consciousness, walk-in hours are Mondays between 3:00 and 4:00 pm, Room 412; other times by appointment by calling 415-575-6257. Dr. Leland van den Daele, Dean, School of Professional Psychology, appointments available Mondays 3:00 - 5:00 pm and Tuesdays 3:00 - 5:00 pm. Call 415-575-6210. |
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In October, CIIS co-founder Bina Chaudhuri was given the "Lifetime Achievement Award" by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. In the ceremony, which was held in Fremont, Bina was praised for the major role she has played in helping two significant institutions in the Bay Area to flourish: the Cultural Integration Fellowship and the California Institute of Integral Studies.
It is a pleasure for me to issue my first report on the current financial position of the Institute. The 2000/2001 fiscal year began on a positive note with an increase in new enrollment of around 10% and an increase in tuition revenues of the same order. While the plan for the year includes a balanced budget, we hope to generate a modest surplus, something that the Institute has now managed to achieve for three years in a row. The cash position provides us with an opportunity to make some needed investments in technology and infrastructure without threatening our liquidity. All in all, this year should be one of further financial stabilization, giving us a sounder base on which to make some strategic investment decisions for the future. 
Joshua Lachs, as director of Continuing Education. Joshua spent the last several years in New York City working on a doctorate in Politics and Education Policy
at Columbia University's Teachers College. He spent his undergraduate years across the Bay and subsequently taught for some time. 
To purchase a pass, go to the Front Desk. The bearers will be entitled to park in any CIIS space, with each double space to be treated as a single space after 5:30 pm. If you arrive in the lot after 5:30 pm and someone else is in your space, then park in any open CIIS space. (Again, the double spaces should be considered as one single space after 5:30 pm.) 
Although the huge crane has obstructed our usual access to the Minna Street Lot, the bicycle cage is still a safer place than the street to park bicycles. While two bicycles have been stolen from street parking meters in broad daylight, during regular building hours the bikes in the cage have not been tampered with. It is not safe to leave a bike anywhere in the neighborhood overnight, even in the cage. Our solar powered light was stolen about a month ago, but a new, more secure one is on it's way; when you step up to the cage to use the combination lock, the light will automatically come on. You may sign up to use the cage and get the combination through the Greeter or the Dean of Students Office by presenting your student ID card. Thank you and happy bicycling! 
The first order of business is that from Monday, November 13 through Monday, November 27 at 6:00 pm, the Student Alliance will be holding elections. There are openings in the following groups for student representatives: Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, Faculty Council, Educational Policy Committee, and the Strategic Planning Council (one from School of Consciousness and Transformation, one from School of Professional Psychology). Please see the SA bulletin board for position descriptions and nominees. Voting results will be reported on Tuesday, November 28. The ballots and ballot box will be in or near the Cafe. Please check it out and cast your vote today! For more information, contact the Election Subcommittee at ciisstudentalliance@yahoo.com. 
Inner Eye's inquiring editor prompted library staff to talk about their favorite books. Lee Olivier, reference coordinator, responded, "My favorite would be Money and the Meaning of Life, by Jacob Needleman. "This book had a life-changing influence on me. It talks about how to 'render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's.' It helped me to recognize and honor the importance of both the material and the spiritual in my life. It also taught me to be careful to maintain a balance between them." Needleman is a member of the Institute's Council of Sages and Professor of Philosophy at San Francisco State University.
Attention Students!
The Sun will be completing its movement through the sign of Scorpio next week, providing an opportunity for transforming deep feelings, releasing resentments and outworn ideas or possessions, and overcoming jealousy and deep fears. The deeply personal, dark time of Scorpio fades as the Sun moves into the sign of Sagittarius on November 21. Thanksgiving takes place on November 23, Jupiter's Day, with the Sun in the sign ruled by Jupiter, Sagittarius. The day is replete with symbolism for ideals, devotion, abundance, and blessings. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 25, ushers in the holiday season with a bang -- Mercury squares Uranus and there is a New Moon in Sagittarius. This energy can be helpful in the final push to bring forth creative, expansive ideas and get those final papers written for the semester, or to create new, more meaningful ways of celebrating the holidays. Sagittarius rules the thighs, so it's a good time to dance, hike, walk, or climb -- physically or metaphorically. Time to put on your shoes for parties, hiking, travel, adventure, or philosophical pursuits.
Tuesday, November 28