Hi Dan,
It’s hard not to start this with the same sort of niceties everyone always starts emails with “hope this email finds you well!” or something to that effect. Of course I do hope this email finds you well, but given the circumstances, it feels particularly absurd to say such a thing.
I was having lunch with Peter not too long ago when he told me about your condition. It really had an impact on me. That also feels absurd to say, but I don’t know how else to put it. I was just instantly shot back in time to my first seminar at Evergreen, which was in your spring 2008 Political Economy and Social Movements program.
That first seminar you had structured so students could lead discussion, or at least the feedback towards the end, and I remember we were all supposed to add something to the discussion, but even though I was already older than quite a number of the students, at 24 years old, I was still so timid and anxious in group settings, and had no voice. That program, and that seminar, was when everything started to change for me. When I was called out for not adding anything that day, I had to say it was my first seminar, and the response was something like “you’ll get the hang of it.” I’m not sure if I ever did during that program though, but I was on the way!
In my first eval you had written: “This was also Nick’s first class at Evergreen and he wanted to figure out how the seminar process works.” and “His experience here taught him the necessity of preparation for oral presentations.” Which really makes me smile. Genuinely the most gentle criticism anyone could ever ask for. That you could be so intellectually demanding, but simultaneously handle each student so thoughtfully has always had a lasting impression on me. There’s been many times when I wish I could’ve gone back and actually been a really serious student, but I wasn’t ready for that.
From 2008 on, I have always been enamored with your passion, persistence, dedication, and moral compass. Your presence, your work, all this heart you’ve put into Olympia, the labor movement, and the Evergreen community is some of the most inspiring and meaningful I’ve ever had the chance to come across.
It’s easy to regret things, like right now I’m regretting not working on more community projects with you after my time at Evergreen, or going through those archives from the LERC we mentioned in passing via email a few years ago, or just being less of an alcoholic dumbass and a better student while at Evergreen! I’m not going to dwell on any of that though, instead I’ll always keep that seriousness, boldness, fearlessness, relentlessness, and focus on justice which you’ve so brilliantly exemplified over all this time and will keep that with me forever. With a little bit of luck, maybe be able to impart some of that spirit onto others too.
Just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you and I’m really grateful for all the beautiful and meaningful lessons you’ve shared. Truly I feel so incredibly fortunate for having had our paths cross and wanted to make sure you knew that. Thank you.
Solidarity forever,
Nicholas
