• Alex Matheson, Representing Working Wildcats, opposing S&A funding on behalf of student workers. • Christina Barrigan, Professor and Chair, Department of Theatre Arts, S&A funds for student employment. • Katharine Whitcomb (Virtual), Professor, Department of English, S&A funds for the Lion’s Rock Visiting Writer’s Series. • Adrienne Zimny, Client Care Coordinator, Central Access, cutting CWU Men’s and Women’s Rugby. • Hondo Acosta-Vega, ASCWU VP for Academic Affairs, S&A funding. Work Session President Wohlpart began by spending a moment reflecting on our current moment as a nation and then explained that he would connect this moment to Central Washington University during his presentation. In 2020, Robert Putnam published a follow-up to his book, Bowling Alone , a national bestseller which described the decline in American social interaction—a decline which negatively impacted our ability to engage in civic community and to support a robust democracy. The Upswing takes a longer view of history and considers the movement through the 20 th century from a society that focused on community in the middle of the century to a society that focused on individualism at the end of the century. Interestingly, the turning point came in 1965. Putnam points to the Newport Folk Festival in July 1965 as an indicator of this shift. In The Upswing , Putnam charts social change in four dimensions: economic, political, social, and cultural, over a 125-year period. The rise in emphasis on community from 1900 to 1960 “shaped an America that was more equal, less contentious, more connected, and more conscious of shared values” (285). This is not to say that all problems were solved. As we know, our country still had a long way to go in dealing with racism and sexism and the environment. But consider what did occur as a result of this focus on what is best for the community as a whole:
• the 1964 Civil Rights Act • the 1965 Voting Rights Act • the 1963 Clean Air Act
All legislation was supported by both parties. While we had challenges, we were coming together across our differences to engage and solve problems. Since the 1960s, we have seen, according to Putnam’s analysis, an America that “has become steadily less equal, more polarized, more fragmented, and more individualistic” (286).
3 Board of Trustees Minutes May 15-16, 2025
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator