Its Here

Focus the Nation is today! The long hours and days of hard work are about to pay off (or not). Every time I hear that a professor mentioned this in class, or that someone's excited to go to a panel discussion, or even a remark that there's just so much going on, it makes me feel good.

The organizing team itself has done an amazing job at coalescing into a lean, mean, event planning machine. Over the last few weeks I've been able to step way back and let people do the work that they know needs to get done. In terms of organizing, we've already achieved a major goal, which is empowering students, many of whom have no experience doing this, to take on big things.

I met some of the presenters tonight and could hardly control my emotion as they shared their stories of mountain top removal and dirty industry in West Virginia and the Bronx. This day is not only for the attendees, but it is also for the people who will be brought together here and get to know each other.

Ok, time to try and sleep before the big day.

Teach-in Details

(Cross posted from ephblog)
I think its worth responding to David's thoughtful speculations about the nature of the upcoming Focus the Nation teach-in on Tuesday.

Will the teach-in on global warming on Tuesday be any different? I doubt it, but I respect Morgan Goodwin a great deal. If any of the presenters argue that a) global warming isn’t that serious a concern or that, b) however serious, there isn’t much that we can do about carbon emissions via government fiat or c) that the most important human value is freedom and that you have no more right to control my carbon emissions than my speech or d) that Williams, as an institution, should have no more involvement with the political issues surrounding global warming than it does with those involved with fighting malaria, then I will be proved wrong. Perhaps TNG will surprise me with their open-mindedness and commitment to free-wheeling debate.

First, the numbers: Currently 92 professors are 'participating' in Focus the Nation. That means 15 professors will spend the entire class period on Monday or Tuesday discussing climate change. Another 9 will spend part of class time doing so. The majority will spend at least 5 minutes discussing why climate change is relevant, interesting or concerning to their discipline, and a final 12-15 have agree to make an announcement to their class about the day's events and encourage students to attend panel discussions or the talk by Christopher Flavin. These numbers aren't final, and we expect to cross the 100 mark tomorrow.