[recomposingUNC] next semester

[nyerere at riseup.net]

Dear all,

Hope everyone is enjoying their break from school and work.  i wanted to
open a conversation via email since we're not meeting over break to
reflect on this past semester and begin brainstorming about the direction
of our discussions for this next semester.  As I understand it, this
conversation began in the last meetings that I missed unfortunately being
out of town, so this is just to continue that conversation.

If people are interested in sharing their own thoughts on the direction of
the group this semester I'd like to suggest you do that over the next few
weeks via email so we hit the ground running in January.

for my part, i'd like to propose getting back to the weekly readings, so
that we have something always to ground our conversations each week.
again, i still think these should be optional, but they will provide more
directed conversations as we begin to reflect about possible interventions
in our own environment.

I'd like to propose we pick one book and read it this semester.  I have
two proposals:  Either Marc Busquet's HOW THE UNIVERSITY WORKS or
Edu-factory's edited collection called TOWARD A GLOBAL AUTONOMOUS
UNIVERSITY.  The advantage of the latter is that it is already in pdf form
online, and is already set-up in easily digestible articles which we could
do one or two at a time per week.

The advantage of just picking one book and sticking with it is that we
don't have to decide on readings each week, which inevitably we end up not
having time for or forgetting to decide, and then we miss a week without
readings.  Also, both these books come highly recommended and I think
would be right up our alley.

That is my contribution as far as brainstorming.  I'm looking forward to
getting back in the groove and really getting this group going and
expanding. This semester I know my schedule will be better as well so I
won't have to leave meetings early for class as I did this past semester.

Ciao for now,
Yousuf