Class of ’73 Zoom Discussion on Oppenheimer with Kai Bird ’73
Please join us tomorrow, September 12 at 8pm EST for a Zoom discussion on Oppenheimer and American Prometheus. Kai Bird, Carleton classmate of ’73, talks about the much publicized Christopher Nolan film based on Kai’s and Martin Sherwin’s Pulitzer Prize winning biography. Kai will discuss and answer your questions about Oppenheimer, the threat of the bomb, the role of scientists as public intellectuals, how he came to write the book that became the movie, and his experience with filmmaker Nolan. Come share and listen to some fascinating stories.
We hope you have a chance to see the movie (maybe with some classmates?) before our discussion. We certainly encourage you to read American Prometheus, available at an independent bookstore near you (unless they’ve sold out as it’s been number one on the NYT best seller list for paperback nonfiction). Video and Podcast interviews with Kai just keep coming across the national stage and we’re posting links on our class Facebook page.
– Kathy, Kathleen, Janet, Lou, and Ken
Previous Events
The Class of ’73 DJ Booth: Take 2
Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 7–8 pm CT
We had so much fun at the first DJ Booth event that we decided to do it again! Like before, it’ll be a lot like swinging through a friend’s room back in the day to chat and listen to a few favorite tunes. But this time around, we’ll pull up the best theme songs from some of the signature movies during our Carleton years. And there are classics on our list for sure!
So don’t miss the Class of ’73 DJ Booth: Take 2 at 7–8 pm CT on Wednesday, May 17th. Just click on the Zoom link below and you’re there! Hosted by roommates for the evening, Bill Greenberg, Kirk Jones & Paul Stiegler, feel free to bring the beverage of your choice and don’t forget a comfortable chair. By the way, it’s OK if you stick your head in the door for a quick listen, or if you grab a seat and chill for the full hour. And why not – there’ll still be plenty of time left in the evening to get back to that paper you’ve been working on, right?
Click here to download an album cover Zoom background for the event!
The Soundtrack of Our Carleton Experience
View the list, find your favorite songs, and add something if you don’t see it.
Truth, Education, and Democracy
Monday, May 1, 2023, 7 pm CT
The Truth, Education, and Democracy subcommittee for the class of ’73 reunion is excited to announce a special online Zoom event to be held on Monday, May 1, starting at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Featured speakers will be Carleton Professor and Associate Dean of Students Sindy L. Fleming and Professor Chico Zimmerman who teach Civil Discourse in a Troubled Age, one of the foundational Argument and Inquiry classes that are given for incoming students at Carleton. The course deals with many of the core issues that will be at the heart of the reunion session on “Truth, Education, and Democracy: An Inclusive Conversation in Polarized Times.” Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to engage with fellow alumni, Carleton faculty, and some current Carleton students regarding the challenges facing truth, education, and democracy in our divided time and the ways Carleton is equipping students to navigate the current climate of social and political discord!
Class of ’73 Story Hour and Conversation Zoom
Thursday, March 9, 2023 – 7 PM CT
“Did I ever tell you about the time….?” Join us for the Class of ’73 Story Hour and Conversation Zoom on March 9, 7 PM CT.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? An adventure gone awry? A life-changing event? A memorable run-in with a celebrity? We are looking for some good stories – 5-7 minutes, that will kick off an evening of conversation, sharing, and memories.
Please contact Kathleen Boe at kathleenkboe@gmail.com with your story. Or, you can sit back and hear others remember. Mark your calendar for March 9 at 7pm CT.
’73 Environmental Stewardship, Global Warming, Climate Change, and Sustainability
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
When the class of 1973 graduated, we faced fuel shortages, gas lines and skyrocketing costs of petroleum. We were obsessed with where would we get oil and gasoline to survive. As we celebrate our 50th reunion our concerns have shifted from how and where we will get oil to how we must transition rapidly to maintain our lifestyles sustainably without oil.
The program committee for the class of 1973’s 50th reunion is challenging our classmates to reflect on the consequences of our excessive use of fossil fuels during the past 50 years, and what we, our children and grandchildren can and must do now and during the next 50 years to spare the world catastrophic warming and associated ecosystem, climate and societal disruption.
To this end, the program committee is sponsoring a Zoom presentation by classmate James Haynes on the environmental consequences of global warming caused by the profligate use of fossil fuels in the 20th century and the viable solutions available today to create a sustainable future for humanity.
Supplemental Readings
The Lorax – Dr. Seuss, 1971: Commentary, in rhyme, on individual liberty and ecosystem health re: natural resource destruction, pollution and consumer demand. This is also a great introduction to environmental stewardship for our grandchildren.
Beyond Catastrophe: A New Climate Reality is Coming into View – The New York Times, 10/26/2022: How much hotter the earth becomes in this century will range from 2-3 to 5+ degrees Celsius, depending entirely on whether governments keep and sufficiently expand their pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The world is already 1.2 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times. Experts say that any warming beyond 1.5 – 2 degrees likely will lead to conditions that humans cannot mitigate and adapt to.
What Does Sustainable Living Look Like? – The New York Times, 10/05/2022: Uruguay is setting an example for sustainable living re: energy production and life style.
Free Carbon Footprint Calculator: We invite you to use this link to calculate your household’s carbon footprint then compare it to a) the 4 metric ton carbon footprint per person in the world today and b) the 2 metric ton per person carbon footprint that experts say would allow our world of 8 billion humans to live sustainably on the earth.
Post Cards from a World on Fire – The New York Times, 12/13/2021: Stories of on-going global warming impacts and climate change from 193 nations across the globe.
The Tragedy of the Commons – Science, 1968: Why human population size is unsustainable re: natural resource availability, pollution and environmental health, and maintenance of civilization as we know it.
Smurf’s version of The Tragedy of the Commons
James’ Biography
PhD, 1978, in Ecology and Behavioral Biology focusing on fish ecology and fisheries science, University of Minnesota. Professor of Environmental Science and Ecology, 1978-2020, State University of New York at Brockport. Taught upper division/graduate courses in fisheries, pollution biology, evolution and related subjects. During the last 15 years of career, taught two freshman courses (50-200 students each semester), Environmental Science for majors and Science and Society: Evolution and Biodiversity for non-STEM majors. Over time, increasingly large portions of these two courses were devoted to global warming and climate change, the existential threat to our planet at this time in human history.
’73 DJ Booth
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Be sure to stop by the Class of ’73 DJ Booth at 7 PM CT on Wednesday, December 7th. The DJ Booth will be a lot like swinging through a friend’s room back in the day to chat and listen to a few favorite tunes. Just click on the Zoom link below and you’re there!. Hosted by roommates for the evening, Bill Greenberg, Kirk Jones & Paul Stiegler, feel free to bring the beverage of your choice and don’t forget a comfortable chair. By the way, it’s OK if you stick your head in the door for a quick listen, or if you grab a seat and chill for the full hour. And why not – that paper you’ve been working on is almost done anyway, right?
Click here to download an album cover Zoom background for the event!
The Soundtrack of Our Carleton Experience
View the list, find your favorite songs, and add something if you don’t see it.
Class of ’73 Philadelphia Mini-Reunion
Saturday, April 30-Monday, May 2, 2022
Class of ’73 Discussion of the IDE Plan
We’re so pleased to see this update from the IDE Steering Group and we hope you will register for the Alumni Town Hall on Tuesday, February 22 at 11:00 a.m. CT.
Then, we’d like to offer another gathering to discuss the plan, among classmates: Class of ’73 Discussion of the IDE Plan via Zoom will be Saturday, February 26 at noon CT.
What excites you in the plan? How can we of ‘73 help? What feedback would you offer?
Your homework for this gathering: read the plan that Carleton plans to circulate on February 1, take a look at the guide,and save these dates.
Class of ’73 Conversations on Race at Carleton
Saturday, May 1, 2021
We recently joined together for a virtual gathering and to participate in Carleton’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) work.
We got to reconnect, share stories, reflect and, once again, be a force for Carleton’s future!
Watch a video recording that was the focus of this event (you will need to sign in using your Carleton username and password).
This article inspired us and is encouraged reading for all classmates.