lots of action...

since last post--where to begin. First, the "difficult" news. Hopkins wants to have a private, armed police force for its campuses. I find this repugnant. Hard to think of the campus that I spent four years on being inhabited by armed police. So yes, I know that times have changed, but still---the campus and the surrounding neighborhood have always been safe. Around the medical school and hospital it is a little different--but still, a police force cut off from the rest of Baltimore---not right. So here I am, asked by old friend to attend the reunion coming up when this happens. And one of my classmates (no named mentioned) is very for it. There have been many strong protests on the campus and maybe during my day at Homecoming, I could meet the students who have been protesting this and show my support. And at the dinner...? Well, we will see---I will call Jeff, the classmate who has been talking to me on the phone soon and discuss this with him. Its only fair, I don't want to touch base with him in March and then bring it up. But do I still want to go? Yes, in a way I do---but let's see how it plays out.
 What else---well the talkback with the brother of the man who killed himself after being destroyed by three years at Rikers was very revealing--the guy was very "cool" and articulate. I was surprised and impressed by how many students attended---now we will see how they carry this through. Also, there was a solitary confinement "experience" that I took, along with many other students---it was terribly "depressing" (not really a goo word for it) and I could not even complete it. Again, I was impressed by how many students allowed themselves to go through it.
  Chaperoned the debate club at Friends to Dalton---did not become a judge, so spent a lot of my time reading, but a good experience all in all. Friday and Saturday was a long day.
 Last night---with friend Clint and Kim, went to the mufti version of The Day Before Spring, an early musical, all but forgotten by Lerner and Loewe. Quite revealing---some wonderful songs, even if the plot was extremely predictable. Had a good time and went to a nice irish bar afterwards. A long day, but at the end I was not tired.
 Finally, today I will see the middle school play at Friends--I know a lot of the students in it---and then...? Not sure. Will report soon.