The Iraqi Student Solidarity Committee is pleased to announce the implementation of a waiver program at the Evergreen State College, collaboratively designed by the ISSC and a college workgroup. We have been working since October to make tuition waivers available to students from Iraq whose educations have been disrupted. This tuition award will help to make an education available to Iraqi students and many others. The following description is also available at the Evergreen Financial Aid site.

Displaced Student Tuition Waivers

The Displaced Student Tuition Waiver is a fund offered to international and domestic students attending The Evergreen State College whose educations have been interrupted by military conflict or natural disaster.

• Displaced Student Waivers are contingent on the availability of funds.
• Waivers are renewable up to four academic years.
• Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving the waiver.
• Financial need may be considered.

Many thanks to all of our supporters throughout this process. We are continuing to raise money to cover all non-tuition costs for a student from Iraq to attend Evergreen in the fall. Please consider attending "A Night in Solidarity," a dinner on June 27th to benefit the ISSC's fundraising efforts. The dinner will be prepared by Miranda Crone, former executive chef of the Dockside Bistro and Swing! Wine Bar. Follow the link for more information and RSVP instructions- seating is limited!  This event has been canceled.

This is just a repost from the Olympian, and I know that's discouraged but this is really interesting information.

The article focuses mostly on the Port and the City, and mentions at the end that this is the first time the port has ever been reimbursed by the military. I'm pretty shocked about that decision, just based on the precedent that it sets.

I imagine that this means the military would like to continue using the Port of Olympia for shipments.

Port receives $70,000 payment from military

The military has reimbursed the Port of Olympia $70,000 related to November's protests of military shipments there, and an Olympia city councilman wondered Tuesday why the city isn't receiving some of that money from the port. (continued at the Olympian...)

[I wrote this and sent it out as a press release, so this is both hyperlocal news and written by me! The Olympian wrote a story about it, posted here]

Olympia, WA- Over 4 million Iraqis have been displaced both within Iraq and externally since the U.S. invasion in March 2003, yet only 1,608 Iraqis were admitted by the United States for resettlement of any type during in 2007. Displaced Iraqis living in Jordan or Syria cannot attend universities or obtain work, and the Chronicle of Higher Education has reported that the university system inside Iraq is near collapse.

In response to this educational and humanitarian crisis, the Iraqi Student Solidarity Committee (ISSC) at the Evergreen State College has asked the college whether there are tuition waivers that could assist students displaced by the war in Iraq to complete their undergraduate careers. Evergreen has replied that there are waivers available for displaced students and that a student designated by the group would have access to that waiver program in Fall 2008.

What should be done to improve relations between The Evergreen State College students and Olympia police?

• Nothing. Let them hammer things out. It's the only way both will learn.
• The police chief and college president need to meet, form committees and educate each other so trust and respect can be developed.
• Get the police some training. They have no clue how to handle protests.
• The school needs to hire some instructors who aren't anarchists, so the students' education is balanced.
• Close the school. There is no hope.

Dear OlyBlog,

I am a frequent lurker and newly registered member. While there is much to discuss and consider around the events at TESC the night of the 14th, I'm here with some questions about the Olympian and general media coverage.