San Quentin News
THE PULSE OF SAN QUENTIN

VOL. 2008 NO. 2

AUGUST 27, 2008

SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA 94964

Hope Realized Coming
Through the Front Gate
By: David Marsh
& Michael R. Harris
With a message of hope and
inspiration for the graduates of
the San Quentin Education Department’s 2008 class, Willie
Rahman Green returned to the
institution from which he was
released only 90 days ago. Only
this time, as Green pointed out
to an attentive audience of over
Willie Rahman Green and Julio Medina after the graduation
300 gathered in the Garden
Chapel, his entrance to the degree from Patten University of personnel for the organizaprison had been made through through the Prison University tion.
“I learned never give up, never
the front gate as an invited Project at San Quentin. And by
guest, while his previous trip to doing so, he became one of the give up hope, and never allow
San Quentin prison had begun 74 men who have received lib- anyone to define you,” Green told
thru R&R while wearing hand- eral arts degrees through the his listeners, who can, perhaps,
define who Green is most aptly
program.
cuffs.
In addition to his involvement by looking at the man he has be“What I bring back is hope
and a message to the men here as a student, his determination come, during, and despite, his
at San Quentin,” Green told the to help others achieve their own long period of incarceration.
Julio Medina, himself an expacked crowd. “You don’t have goals and to realize their
to keep coming through R&R to dreams led him to become a convict who served 12 years in
come back to prison. You can tutor for Project R.E.A.C.H., an New York’s Sing Sing prison,
come through the front gate!” acronym for Reach for Educa- also spoke to the graduates, and
Green received a special invita- tion, Achievement and Change emphasized the education he retion to deliver the commence- with Help. R.E.A.C.H. trains ceived during his incarceration as
ment speech to an audience inmate volunteers as tutors. the foundation for what his life
which included graduates of the Green used his math skills to has become today. Medina, the
GED, vocational and college help many fellow inmates to Executive Director/Founder and
programs, their relatives, staff develop academically, includ- CEO of Exodus Transitional
of the Education Department, ing one of the three valedictori- Community, Inc., or E.T.C.,
and various prison officials ans of this year’s graduating earned a Master’s Degree from
the New York Theological Semiincluding Warden Robert classes.
Green was one of the found- nary, and is presently enrolled as
Ayers. If the three minute ovation he received was any indica- ing members of the San Quen- a candidate of that school’s Doction, his message was well re- tin T.R.U.S.T. (Teaching Re- toral program.
Medina’s organization is a faith
sponsibility Utilizing Sociologiceived by those in attendance.
based re-entry
After serving
program that has
more than 25
over
years of a 33 “Education,” said Medina “is the most significant thing that helped
exy e a r s - t o - l i f e is going to help us when we get back to the communities.” 3 , 0 0 0
convicts, both
term for a murder Green says he did not com- cal Training). The T.R.U.S.T. is male and female, transition back
mit, Green walked out of S.Q. a a group of ethnically diverse into the community. E.T.C. profree man after a Los Angeles men whose goal is to educate vides counseling, employment
county superior court judge and empower inmates to assist preparation, job, housing, health
threw out his conviction after them for a successful transition and education referrals, court and
ruling that a key prosecution to a non-incarcerated life. The parole assistance and computer
witness had lied during the trial. group also works with various training. Medina founded E.T.C.
Prosecutors declined to retry citizen groups and elected offi- in 1999.
“Education,” said Medina “is
the case. Green says that he is cials in the communities of
slowly adjusting to the pace of Richmond and Oakland in an the most significant thing that is
life on the outside, and is not effort to reduce crime, violence going to help us when we get
bitter against anyone, including and recidivism, and to prepare back to the communities.” His
the witness who lied during his inmates from these communi- message, much like Green’s,
ties for reintegration back into resonated with hope to those
trial.
The audience listened atten- the community. Green served wearing blue in the audience. “I
tively to a man who only re- the group for over five years, started from behind prison walls, I
cently was himself a 14 year- including the past two as chair- think that’s what’s important,” he
added.
long resident of North Block. man.
Medina credited education as
For Green, life outside the
During his time behind the
walls at San Quentin prison, prison walls does not mean an the most critical component in
Green became heavily involved end to involvement with the state’s rehabilitation efforts and
in many of the programs run by causes that came to play such a attempts to make substantial cuts
the Education Dept. as both prominent role in his life. He in inmate recidivism rates. Educastudent and tutor, giving and remains in close contact with tion, he emphasized, empowers
David Cowan, the man whom inmates to make changes in their
receiving.
Many in the audience know he mentored and prepared to own lives, and only with that
him personally through one of succeed him as the chairman of power can the cycle be broken.
“Let’s stop allowing other peohis many roles as friend, fellow T.R.U.S.T.. Green’s plans are
student, tutor, associate or men- to remain active networking ple to solve our problems,” Metor. Green has himself gradu- with the various community dina told the audience. “We solve
ated with an Associate of Arts groups, and in the recruitment our own problems!”

POPULATION:5,274

MARCHING FORWARD
By Kenneth R. Brydon
On June 19, 2008, the entire class for the six recipients of
education department was the Patten University Associate
closed to in order to allow the of Arts degree. The college
staff to attend a graduation crer- here at San Quentin is operated
mony in the Garden Chapel. without any taxpayer support.
Those who had spent their time A long list of volunteers from
and efforts in improving their all walks of life make up the
own lives, were recognized by faculty of the “Prison Univerthe San Quentin administration sity Project” (“PUP”). Jody
for their hard work accom- Lewen and Jennifer Scaife are
plished in attainting diplomas in the PUP coordinators.
Of particular note in this
the areas of GED, vocations,
Associate of Arts and Bachelor years graduation is Vince
Russo. Russo completed reof Art.
All who came to the podium quirements for his bachelor’s
were loudly applauded for their degree through Ohio Univeraccomplishments. Depending sity. After finishing his AA
upon their individual accomplishments, they were
handed their diplomas by
those who had seen them
through. Many families
were in attendance. Loud
shouts erupted from the
various areas where particular members were
seated, but everyone was
applauded loudly.
Vince Russo, Michael Carter
Steve Welch completed
&
his graduation from MaMarvin Mitchell
chine Shop, actually requesting that his parole (on degree, Russo then began his
graduation day) come in the studies to complete the more
evening so that he could attend advanced degree in January
the ceremony. Eleven individu- 2005.
Cookies and refreshments
als were handed their Vocation
certificates by Vice Principle of followed the ceremony, and the
proud families were able to
Vocations, William Reeves.
Marvin Mitchell was the vale- have photos taken together.
dictorian of the 34 inmates in Many who spoke to the audiattendance who received their ence told of their journey, and
General Education Diploma how it gave them motivation to
keep moving forward, and for
(“GED”). Mitchell received the
setting higher goals for their
highest scores of those who had
lives. To each and every one,
been tested this past year. Cer- much kudos are deserved; furtificates were handed out by ther recognition of the compleChris Wittick and Phil Leonida.
tion of even higher educational
Michael Carter was valedicto- goals is expected of those who
rian for the 2008 graduating remain here.

TOBIAS WOLFF SPEAKS TO US
‘We choose how to behave; no other animal does that.’
By: Kenneth R. Brydon
If you were standing in line for tryouts for American Idol, and
they pulled you aside and sat you down with Bruce Springsteen to
talk, that would be about how it felt to have a conversation with
Tobias Wolff. For his many accomplishments in writing, he is considered a Literary Icon. In addition, he is a Vietnam Veteran, an
Army Green Beret, a B.A.
Graduate from Oxford (with
honors), a reporter for the
Washington Post, and currently directs the English and
Creative Writing department
at Stanford University.
Wolff was the featured
guest for Judy Breen’s
“Video Literacy Project.”
Professor Breen is doing a
series of video interviews
being aired on San Quentin
Television to promote literary reading. “Literary Work” is writing that is believed to have a
depth of meaning that speaks to generations. Ms. Breen made the
necessary connections for him to be among us.
See: Tobias Wolff Page #5

AUGUST 27, 2008

SAN QUENTIN NEWS

SAN QUENTIN PRISON MEDICAL
By the Medical
Department Staff
NEW FACES IN MEDICAL
Dr. Tootell, the previous
CDCR Central Regional Medical Director and consultant with
UCSF, has joined San Quentin
Prison as the new Chief Medical Officer (“CMO”). She is
well-versed in correctional
medicine and is glad to become
part of the new San Quentin
Prison Medical Team.
Dr. Pratt has also joined San
Quentin Prison as the Chief
Physician and Surgeon. She
also worked as a consultant for
UCSF, and was the Medical
Director of public health clinics
in San Francisco. She has extensive experience with correctional medicine, addition medicine, and primary care physicians.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Medical Receiver in charge
of medical upgrades has a web
site at: www.cprinc.org.
PHARMACY OPERATIONS UPGRADE

As one of the many steps being taken by the Office of the
Receiver, San Quentin Prison is
in the process of upgrading the
Pharmacy operations with the
installation of a new computer
software program. SQ is the
seventh institution within
CDCR to receive this program.
This software came on-line here
on June 23, 2008. The installation of the new software program will not change what

ROUTINE CHECKUPS &
SCREENING FOR INMATES
By: Dr. Alvarez

New San Quentin Hospital construction built to accommodate original 1885 facade

on time.
If you do not report as instructed on the ducat, then you
are subject to discipline as
stated in Title 15 § 3014, “Call
and Passes.” However, it is not
our desire in health care to
write you up, but to provide
necessary or requested health
care services. When you don’t
show up as ducated, you put
your own health at risk and may
need more extensive care or
treatment later on, which could
have been avoided if you had
reported to the health care as
scheduled. Additionally, if you
don’t report as scheduled, you
just took away an appointment
from another inmate-patient
who could have been scheduled
and seen by health care staff.
You need to report even if
you don’t want the assistance or
care. Health care staff want
(and need) to make sure you
understand the decision you are

The health care staff is looking forward to this
improvement and is excited about getting into
the 21st Century.
medications you are prescribed
by your Primary Care Provider.
It will not change where you
pick up your medications or
how the medications are administered. What the software will
do is improve the health care
services to the entire population. The medical staff will be
able to better track all of your
medication needs as well as to
respond quicker to any problems related to medication administration. The health care
staff is looking forward to this
improvement and is excited
about getting into the 21st Century.
HEALTH CARE DUCATS
Inmate movement throughout
the institution is scheduled via
the inmate ducat system, including health care appointments. Our health care staff
submits their list of inmatepatients they want to see each
day to the Inmate Assignment
Office. Inmate Assignments
generates the ducats issued to
each inmate-patient.
Once you receive the health
care ducat, it is your responsibility to report to the health
care appointment at the designated time. All health care
ducats are priority ducats and
allow you to leave your assignment or not report to your assignment in order to report to
your health care appointment

Page 2

making by not being see or
treated. Health care staff will
educate you on what could happen if you are not seen or
treated. It is your decision, but
the job as health care professionals is to ensure that you are
informed of what could happen.
If you don’t want treatment it
will not be forced upon you and
health care staff will ask you to
sign a CDCR Form 7225,
“Refusal of Treatment” form.
REQUESTS FOR HEALTH CARE
SERVICES
All health care services, including Medical, Mental Health,
and Dental, that you need are
requested by submitting a
CDCR Form 7262, “Health
Care Services Request.” Copies of this form are available to
you in the housing units as well
as all clinic areas. When you
wish to see a health care staff
member, you need to complete
the form and place it in the designated sick call box within
your housing unit.
Health care staff (usually a
nurse) picks up the requests on
a daily basis and reviews each
one. The nurse makes a decision, based upon what you
write on the form, if you need
to be seen that day (urgent care
needed), the following day, or
forwards the request to Dental,
Mental Health, or other health
care service areas for action.

Once you submit a form, it is
reviewed and processed as
quickly as possible. If the reason you requested to see a doctor is urgent based on the
nurses review of your request,
you may be requested to report
to the clinics or custody staff
will escort you to the clinic
area. If your request is not
urgent, you will be scheduled
to be seen by health care staff.
How soon you are seen is
based on the nature of your
health care problem. Some
issues can reasonably wait several days while others need to
be seen sooner.
Please do not submit duplicate requests for the same reason, as this only slows down
the review and scheduling of
necessary appointments and
puts everyone behind in ensuring that all patients are seen as
soon as possible.
Additionally, the CDCR For
7362, “Health Care Services
Request,” is not to be used to
ask questions such as, “When
am I going to be scheduled?”
or “When am I going out to the
specialist?” The CDCR Form
7362 is only to be used to request health care services and
not as a way of trying to get
information.
S AN Q UENTIN P RISON ’ S
MEDICAL FACE-LIFT
There is construction aplenty
at SQ these days, as the Receiver moves forward with
plans to improve medical delivery and support space.
All systems are go to proceed
with the creating of the fivestory “Central Health Services
Center,” providing 50 beds,
mental health, and dental services, clinics, R&R, administration, lab, X-ray, medical
records, and pharmacy for the
entire institution. That $146
million project will become a
reality in the year 2010.
Soon, a modular unit for
clinical and administrative
space will open on the upper
yard. Another project – to
build out the West and East
Block rotundas for clinics – is
on its way. We are also working on the design for a new
personnel building and a medical warehouse.
MEDICAL INFORMATION
A complete copy of the
“Statewide Inmate Medical
Services Program Policies and
Procedures, Volume 4, Chapter
4, Access to Primary Care,”
can be found in the Law Library, if you want additional
details regarding this process.

Routine checkups can find
health problems early. For
many health problems, early
treatment can help prevent
more serious problems. A
“screen” is a test used to look
for a disease that has not already been found or diagnosed.
Screens are recommended
based on your age, health history and family health history.
The advice listed below is
based on guidelines designed
by the American Academy of
Family Physicians and the U.S.
Preventive Health Task Force.
They are guidelines for how
often you should see your
health care provider for routine
exams and tests. These schedules should be used for "well
care." If you have any ongoing
health problems, you will need
checkups more often.
A dental exam should be
done every 6 months to 1 year
in all men.
Blood pressure and weight
should be checked every 2-3
years in healthy men age 18-39,
and every year for men age 40
and over.
Cholesterol should be
checked every 5 years starting
at age 35, or earlier in men with
risk factors for heart disease.
Blood sugar should be
checked every 3 years to look
for diabetes.
Men over 40 may need to
have exams of the skin to look
for skin cancer, they should ask
their doctor if this is necessary.
Men over 50 should have
their stool tested for blood
every year and/or a colonoscopy (using a camera to look
into the colon) every 10 years.
Both of these tests are used to
search for colon cancer.
There is a lot of debate about
the need for prostate cancer
screening with a “PSA” blood
test. Men over 50 should ask

their doctor if they need this
test.
Men over 50 should have a
check for hearing and an eye
exam every 1 to 3 years.
All men should be screened
for HIV even if they don’t have
any risk factors, according to
the Center for Disease Control.
People with diabetes and high
blood pressure are recommended to have additional
screening tests, because they
are at higher risk to get certain
diseases, such as, heart attacks,
blindness and kidney disease.
In Diabetics, a Hemoglobin
A1C (blood test) is needed
every 6 months and a foot exam
should be done at each doctor
visit. In both diabetics and people with high blood pressure a
screen for protein in the urine is
needed. This test looks for early
kidney damage. A cholesterol
test and an eye exam should be
done once per year in people
with diabetes or high blood
pressure.
What immunizations do I
need to get?
As an adult, you should have
the shots listed below:
* flu shot every year, especially if you are over 50 years
old
* tetanus (Td) booster shot
every 10 years
* varicella (chickenpox) shot
twice in your lifetime. You
need this shot if you have never
had a varicella (chickenpox)
shot and you do not know if
you ever had chickenpox disease.
* pneumonia shot at age 65 or
sooner if you have a chronic
disease like diabetes.
If you have questions or
health concerns, feel free to fill
out a 7362, request for health
care services, to discuss these
matters with your primary care
provider.

CONDOMS ON THE LINE?
By: Kenneth R. Brydon
On Sept. 01, 2008, Solano State Prison will be a part of a yearlong pilot project dispensing condoms to prisoners.
In one of those examples of when the right hand isn’t agreeing
with the left, prisoners will be permitted to have in your possession a “sealed” condom, but, should the seal be broken, the prisoner will be subject to a write-up. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
vetoed a bill which would have required California prisons to allow non-profit and public health agencies to distribute “sexual
barrier protection devices.”
Much opposition comes from many in the prison administration
who see it as an easy step to authorizing same-sex prisoners to
engage in sexual activities. Yet, infection rates of HIV and STD’s
in state and federal prisons are five times greater than in the free
population. The non-profit “Center for Health Justice” has been
asked to facilitate the program. Condom machines will be placed
in “discrete” locations at the prison.

HEALTH FACTS
From: Minnesota Correctional Facility
Oak Park Heights
Each year the number of emergency rooms shrinks. This is true
in spite of a rising need for more emergency care. Patients are
waiting an alarming 36 percent longer than they did in 1997.
The makers of Vytorin, a cholesterol drug, have completed a two
year study on the drug's effectiveness. It was concluded that the
drug failed to benefit patients at all. It is being investigated by
authorities to determine if the long delay in announcing the findings was financially motivated. An estimated five million patients
have been taking the drug.

AUGUST 27, 2008

SAN QUENTIN NEWS

THE SQ PROBLEM OF INTEGRATION
Kenneth R. Brydon
On August 14, 2008, the following the Level IV Prisons where the real and that he ought to have the choice
administrative staff were present at problems are going to be?” War- to decide whom he would cell-up
the Town Hall meeting in the Prot- den Ayers chose to respond to the with.
estant chapel: Warden Robert Ayers question, saying that he agreed in
Of very clear concern to the many
Jr., Chief Deputy Warden Max substance that it is a problem. And Lifers interviewed, was the issue of
Lemon, Associate Warden John he felt that it would have been better trust. A White Lifer explained,
Curzon, Community Resource to begin there, rather than at a Level “I’ve got no problem with living
Manager Laura Bowman, Captain II prison. He spoke about those with another race, but if I came
Cahayla, Captain Dorsey, Lieuten- prisoners on an “Honor Yard” in home to find some knuckle-head
ant Luna, and Sergeant Lowe (aka, Lancaster Prison, who, if they were sitting on my bed, drinking my cof“Smokey”). The question being removed from the program due to fee, eating my food, and reading a
addressed was “how” integration is disciplinary action, were subject to letter from my wife (while looking
going to happen at San Quentin. 30 retaliation for the positive choices at her photo), it’s going to be a probquestions were submitted
lem…” Another Lifer
to the administration in
stated that he felt that
advance that were given
there should be some
From everything in the news,
to the MAC by prisoners
chance for guys, who
in the general population. integration is coming, and from it, some at least have a lot of
difficult questions have yet to be
The questions and the
clean time (time withadministration’s answers
out any disciplinary
considered.
were handed out to the
problems), to be able to
audience. MAC Chairget some sort of a
man, Sammy Johnson, read the
“convenience move” if they have a
questions and Chief Dep. Warden they had made.
person they simply aren’t compatiWhat mostly came from the num- ble with.
Lemon was designated to read off
They are all concerned that, should
the answers and further explain ber of people who spoke was that
them for the purposes of clarity and this process didn’t make any sense they be confronted with a person
to them, and that there seemed to be from another race who lacks in refor subsequent airing on SQTV.
The following is a summary of the more being put into the policy than spect for them, and a fight comes
what the settlement indicated. from it, they’ll find themselves conanswers to these questions:
fronted with others of the same race
• Progressive disciplinary action Chief Dep. Warden Lemon stated coming to their aid. “They want to
that
the
terms
of
the
settlement
were
will be taken on those who refuse to
being followed. Warden Ayers just look at the race,” said a Black
comply.
interjected that if these terms were man, “and that we should get along
• Case factors and prior prison not acceptable, then individuals as they do in the rest of society, but,
in that society, they wouldn’t live
conduct will be used, when and ought to appeal the decision.
with a person who has nothing in
where verified.
An interview of prisoners on the
• If you have a cellmate when Lower Yard from differing races common with them.”
The resulting problem of being
this is implemented, you’ll keep resulted in some interesting comconfronted
with a person whom we
him.
mentary on the issues. Most of the
refuse to share space with, then
• There will be no accommoda- problems didn’t focus on the race of results in disciplinary action being
tions for religious beliefs, or sexual the individual, but more on the
taken. Lifers, with decades of
issues of values and respect.
orientation.
A Lifer, who lives near the Lieu- “clean time,” are suddenly placed in
• A bed can be lost, even if re- tenant/Sergeant’s
office stated: the position of having to face a Paturned to the prison the same day
“They’ve already got enough people role Board that now views them as
from the hospital.
coming up to complain about the being “anti-social.” Meanwhile,
• A bed can be lost if out to court cellie they got.” He went on to say they may well already be on a basefor less than a day.
that the amount of problems, “With ball team, in a group, and working
• This is not intended to ignite a your own race,” that are already a with that same race year after year
part of trying to live in a cell the size after year.
racial incident.
of a closet, would be 10-times worse
Many of North Block Lifers
• MAC will continue to have if they added in another race. It was
see that, having shown themrepresentatives from each race.
not the color of the skin which con- selves to be highly responsible,
• Lock downs will be accommo- cerned most, but the values that the they will now be forced to live
dated.
person held.
shoulder to shoulder with a perThose with ADA issues will conA Black Lifer, having served over son who’s failed to take respontinue to be accommodated.
30 years, said, “If the guy comes in sibility for his own life. From
During the Town Hall meeting, my cell, of any race, bringing with everything in the news, integrathere was an opportunity given for him stupidity (drug & alcohol use, tion is coming, and from it,
individuals from the population to weapons, gang-activity), he’s com- some difficult questions have yet
step up to an open-mic to ask more ing right back out!” This was the to be considered. Balancing the
questions. Robert Beckett asked the sentiment of a Hispanic Lifer, who, inevitable change of life, with
question that was given the most with over 20 years served, said that the need for a degree of certainty
applause by the audience of over he understood that the integration in the way things will operate,
300: “Why wasn’t this begun at was not supposed to be “forced,” isn’t yet clear.

PRISONER RESOURCES
(Publishes stories, poetry)
CALIFORNIA PRISON
FOCUS
2940 16th St. #B-5
San Francisco, CA 94103
(Writing Contest, Handbook)
PEN AMERICAN CENTER
Prison Writing Program
588 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
(Free Koran & Islamic Books)
ALAVI FOUNDATION
500 5TH AVE – STE 2310
New York, NY 10110
(Bible & Bible Studies)
“Pastor Melissa Scott” Ministry
P.O. Box #1
Los Angeles, CA 90053

(Christian Books)
HARVEST TIME BOOKS
PO Box 300
Altamont, TN 37301

(Buddhist Meditation)
UPAYA OUTREACH
1404 Cerro Gordo Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87501

(Spirituality - Bo Lozoff)
HUMAN KINDNESS
FOUNDATION
PO Box 61619
Durham, NC 27705

(Prevention & Treatments)
HIV/HEP C IN PRISON COMMITTEE
California Prison Focus
2940 16th St #307
San Francisco, CA 94103

(Jewish Materials)
JEWISH SERVICES
PO Box 85840
Seattle, WA 98145-1840
(Meditation Courses)
PRISON PROJECT SYDA
PO Box 99140
Emeryville, CA 94662
SEND IN YOUR
SUGGESTIONS!

(Comprehensive Legal Issues)
PRISON LEGAL NEWS
2400 NW 80TH St. PMB #148
Seattle, WA 98117
$18/yr or $9/half-yr.
(Free Pen Pal listing)
Prison World Magazine
P.O. Box 380
Powder Springs, GA 30127

Page 3

TOWN HALL COMMENTARY
By: Pastor Morris Curry
Protestant Chapel Chaplain
On Thursday August 14, 2008, the San Quentin Garden Chapel
was used to hold a Town Hall meeting with the administration. I
was in attendance of this, and I came away wondering why a few
people were enslaving the majority? What I mean by that, is that I
saw, as a child of the 60s, a few people ruling the majority. This
was pretty much the same situation in South Africa. This idea that
segregation is a good thing is a Satanic and evil ideology of separation.
These people have found a way to rule others and make them do
things that they ordinarily wouldn’t do in public. Why didn’t
someone step up and tell us that we’re not going to allow these
individuals to tell us what we’re to do?
Don’t you want to leave prison? Are you saying that you don’t
care that your families are waiting for you? I cannot count the
number of men who came in to me in private, and told me they
want to get out of the gangs. They know the life style they’re living is wrong, but they don’t believe they can back away from it.
From what I see, this is the time and place for them to do it. There
are only a few people benefiting from this arrangement, and the
rest are suffering by it.

Executions Resume
Reprinted by permission from:
Coalition For Prisoner’s Rights
On April 16, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that lethal
injection as practiced in Kentucky is not “cruel and unusual punishment” under the U.S. Constitution. The case is Baze v. Rees, no.
07-5439. Yet, this year, when the second place horse in the Kentucky Derby broke both front ankles and was euthanized, Supreme
Court Justice Stevens remarked to a large group of lawyers that the
horse probably died more humanely than do death row prisoners in
Kentucky.
Just weeks later a federal judge in Delaware stayed executions
there so she could consider the constitutionality of Delaware’s lethal injection procedures. By May 23, 2008, there had been two
executions, one each in Georgia and Mississippi. Another May
execution was scheduled in Virginia. Seven executions were scheduled for June and another six for July. Half of those to be executed
are in Texas.
Coalition for Prisoner’s Rights, PO Box 1911, Santa Fe, NM 87504

“DIRTY BIRD!”
By: Kenneth R. Brydon
What do you get when you mix a drunk with a knife trying to
teach a parrot to speak obscenities? You get a guy doing jail
time and a parrot who slurs the “sh” pronunciations!
On Tuesday, July 22, Aaron McCoy was at the Salvation Army
Thrift Shop trying to teach a bird how to speak all those “foul”
words. Seeing that Mr. McCoy had a nine inch knife tucked into
his waist band, the store employees called the police. The bird
corrupter was arrested without incident; no word on whether the
parrot’s beak needed to be washed out with soap.

“CAN I SEE SOME
IDENTFICATION, PLEASE?”
By: Kenneth R. Brydon
Once paroled from the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation, rebuilding a new life becomes a never ending request to show valid identification. Going to the DMV to try and get
identification, immediately makes you suspect of being a terrorist
who is attempting to “hide out” until called upon to blow up something. Assembly Bill 2099 may change all of that, providing everyone who is walking out the door with a valid ID.
Frank Russell, director of education, vocations and offender programs in CDCR, acknowledges that there is a serious gap in the
parole process here. He stated that the most critical time of release,
is in the first hours and days following release. Getting a job, applying for assistance, and the hundred other daily events people
deal with, all begin with an ID.
Assemblywoman Loni Hancock argues that identification is the
“sensible” thing to do and removes obstacles in the way of parolees.
A test program has been proposed for Folsom State Prison, at a cost
of $55,000. Ms. Hancock points out that if it helps two inmates to
stay out, then the state will have saved $71,000.
Fair play is primarily not blaming others for anything that is wrong
with us. - Eric Hoffer
Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist, but also in the ability to start over. - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to
fill the world with fools. - Herbert Spencer

AUGUST 27, 2008

SAN QUENTIN NEWS

Page 4

Reconnecting
By: Troy Williams

Troy Williams, Kenny Stallings,
Buckshot Maples,
Chris Shurn, Marv Andrews

Twenty-five years ago my
mind did not fully grasp a
connection to all of humanity.
I could neither recognize potential nor power in the image
that I viewed in the mirror.
This hurt, angry and misguided child, traumatized by a
host of environmental failures, was a lost-boy in America.
Fifteen years ago my mind
did not fully comprehend a
purpose in life. I lacked the
knowledge, wherewithal and
support needed to transcend
the conditioned responses
shaped within me from adolescence. Still hurt and angry,
this confused young man
stood at a crossroad with a
vision for change but ultimately chose a self-

This story is based, in large
part, on individual life experiences. In essence, what I present here is a point of view
that expresses a vision for
transcendence.
The main ideas are framed
in the form of questions the
film will attempt to answer.
Can the School of Hard
Knocks produce fruit? How
can the imagination be used
to reconnect fallen fruit to the
tree of humanity?
The binding thread that will
run through this film is the
concept of imagination. Lesson Six of Napoleon Hill’s
book entitled “The Law of
Success” begins as follows:
“IMAGINATION is the
workshop of the human mind
wherein old ideas and established facts may be reassembled into new combinations
and put to new uses.” This
film will explore how old
ideas and established facts
have been reassembled,
through the workshop of human minds, into new combinations and are now being put
to new uses.
After the main ideas have
been decided, they must be
arranged into sequences. A

Today, it is with great honor, humility and
acknowledgement of purpose that I introduce
myself as a writer and filmmaker.
destructive path as a means to
get there.
Less than one year ago I
was completely disconnected
from the means and resources
required to fulfill the vision
expressed in this article. Today, it is with great honor,
humility and acknowledgement of purpose that I introduce myself as a writer and
filmmaker.
I’ve written several short
stories and movies scripts.
Thanks to the collective
imagination of visionaries,
I’ve been given a second
chance to mend some of the
wounds caused by an unwise
crossroad decision.
I often use script development as a way of expressing
the creative voice of my
imagination. Many writers
use different methods to develop a story. I would like to
take you on a journey through
one of the processes I’ve used
to draft a script for a docudrama.
Before we begin, let me
walk you through a few preliminaries. A docudrama is a
documentary type film that
utilizes re-enactments of real
life events. I’ve got a feel for
an interesting story, its contradictions, its characters and
their conflicts. I’ve thought
about structure, meaning, and
how everything changes over
time. I’m ready to take a few
notes.

sequence is “a series of shots
joined by some common elements.”
*Central Idea: We see innocent children playing in a
park, adolescents standing on
an urban city street corner,
news reports of crime levels,
robbery up, murder rate up,
education spending down,
high school drop outs increased. The central idea that
the writer wants to make is
that our innocent children are
being failed. Children are
being left behind.
*Setting: We see a corporate board room, a prison
yard, college classrooms
barbed wire, camera equipment, school corridor, and
video editing suite. Here the
attempt is to link prison with
the elements of a college that
prepares individuals for the
corporate world.
*Action: An inmate leaves a
prison cell, checks in with the
guard at a desk, walks into a
video production class, greets
his friends.
*Mood: Transformation has
begun. Camera crews are
filming. Inmates dialogue
with at-risk youth via cinematic expressions about the
consequences of negative behavior. Film screenings and
focus groups are conducted. A
teenager stands at a fork in a
road. Here, the binding element is not just films but also
the transcendence and posi-

tive attitude of the people and
the setting.
Re-enactments will also be
used to unify the sequences
and emphasize perspectives.
The chronological progression of this film will be used
to show the development of
character over time, trials,
and tribulation, how the face
of prison culture has changed
at San Quentin, and how the
old ideas of behavior modification and cinematography
have been reassembled into a
new combination called Positive Image Modification.
Elements of a search motif
are also included in the logical progression of this film.
There is a deliberate exploration of discovery and inquiry
into the effects of Positive
Image Modification. The goal
is to find solutions to the violence that plagues our communities.
The use of imagination is
critical in visualization. The
dictionary definition of imagination is, “the act or power of
forming a mental image of
something not present to the
senses or never before wholly
perceived in reality. Visualization is the act or process of
putting these mental images
into visible form.
Here is where we consider
the many possibilities of the
visual interpretation of a point
to be made in a sequence.
For example, the picture of
KeKe standing in front of a
row of obituaries accompanied by the following audio:
“Wise Up. It Ain’t Worth It.”
This visual is an example of
positive change in Mr. Markee Carter and it exemplifies
the concept of Positive Image
Modification. He is a man
who has lived of the brink of
self-destruction, sharing the
wisdom of his experiences, in
essence holding up a sign that
reads, “Stop. Wrong way. Do
not enter.”
This film keeps in mind the
cultural and emotional resonance of visualization.
1. Hip hop artist Lazarus
(Marvin Mitchell) and Black
Myth (Henry Montgomery) sit
on a prison yard discussing
life.
2. Two young men get into an
argument over a CD player.

Prisoners acting out violence
intervention on the prison yard.

Several other men join in on
each side and everybody
squares off to do battle.
3. Lazarus and Black Myth
intervene with some con-

Markee (KeeKee) Carter Speaks about the consequences of violence.

scious hip hop lyrics before
the men come to blows. “Take
two steps to the left to elude
death. It’s roulette out in
them streets so who’s next.
You choose best to leave the
block and lose less than those
dudes who bust shots and use
meth.”
4. Prison riot diverted. The
men come together and settle
their differences like thinking
men.
The cultural and emotional
resonance here takes us back
to a time when hip hop was an
endeavor of consciousness.
The opening of a film must
hook the audiences’ attention
and quickly define what the
film is going to be about.
This film will open with a
re-dramatization sequence. A
small child witnesses violence
in the street as he walks home
from school, his parents argue
and fight in the home as he
watches violence on television. The scene cuts to a takeover robbery. Several young
men enter a place of business
waving guns. “Everybody
down. This is a robbery!”
Sounds of police sirens echo
in the background. These
visuals are accompanied by
personal
testimony.
“November 14, 1994, I was
arrested on a 28-count criminal complaint that stemmed
from a botched takeover robbery. Facing life in prison, I
made a commitment to
change. And I did change.
January 27, 1995, all charges
were dismissed.” The scene
dissolves to a man talking to a
classroom full of students. “If
I could do it all over again, I
would of done things differently. I would have made different choices. Now, it’s time
to give back. We can take our
experiences and create cinematic expressions that others
can learn from so they don’t
have to make the same mistakes we did.”
The title that appears over
the man connecting an external microphone to a camera
is: Re-Connected.
In order for the rhythm pace
of this endeavor to be maintained, it is critical for all
members of society to come
together collectively as a network. So, whether it’s a yard
full of convicts who, when the
clock strikes 6:10 p.m. on
June 18, stop what they are
doing and raise their hands in
support of Silence the Vio-

lence Day. Or documenting
how, after a prison riot, OGs
formed a Day of Peace Committee that works to prevent
violence. Or the making of a
TRUST documentary that
reflects the struggle of the
work needed to be done. We
need and appreciate your continued support. After all the
negative press that presents
prisoners as monsters it is
important that intellectuals
give balance to those images
youth will model.
Also in the works is a presidential town-hall meeting for
the purpose of forming human
to human connections in order
to explore the fears and possibilities surrounding what

Prisoner participating in a moment
of silence on the prison yard.

may very well be America’s
first African American president. Viewers will see the
prison population as a microcosm of America. Through a
prisoners perspective the
nation will realize how far
we have come and how far
we need to go. We hope to
relay a message of who we
think would best serve our
disenfranchised communities.
In reality, the climax of
this program is only reached
with change in our communities. But for the purposes of
the film we will end showing
youth developing their own
cinematic expressions and
dialogue that bear witness to
positive Image Modification.
After all, everybody has a
story to tell.
Today,
I’m
RECONNECTED because today
I have a sense of purpose. I
have a sense of who I am. I
have a clear sense of direction. Thanks to the collective
effort of visionaries, I can say
that I have produced several short
movies.
The message to be learned and
presented in this article is that
film discovers how the workshop
of the human minds have been
key instruments for reconnecting
fallen fruit to the tree of humanity.

AUGUST 27, 2008

SAN QUENTIN NEWS

Page 5

LIVING BETWEEN BREATHS
For those of us sentenced to a
life term, time is inexorable.
Years pass and seem to bring us
not closer to release while our
bodies succumb to age. We are
challenged to draw vitality and
meaning from our circumstances.
A King of ancient Israel,
Solomon, believed that everything has its perfect time and
place. He wrote in Ecclesiastes
3:11, “He has made everything
perfect in its time. Also he put
eternity in their hearts, except
that no one can find out the
work that God does from beginning to end.”
Viktor Frankl, survived imprisonment in Nazi concentration camps and founded a

school of psychodynamics
called, “Logotherapy,” which
states that “meaning” is the
central idea of human existence.
He concluded that, “it did not
really matter what was expected
from life, but rather what life
expected from us. Our answer
must consist, not in talk and
meditation, but in right action
and right conduct. Life ultimately means taking responsibility to find the right answers
to its problems and to fulfill the
tasks which it constantly sets
for each individual.”
We know that there is very
little we can control or change
in our environment. Our inability to change our situation challenges us to change ourselves.

A flame Within
Brothers Let these words be
an in inspiration Because similar situation We all facin Procrastination and same sex relation
Is consistently risen
among every nation? Locked
up in prison Why? From poor
decision making, Fast/cars and
women we chasin
Children
having the power of annihilation
With Satan instigation
Creating stagnation
People
give Satan a vacation Why are
we racin To an illusion Of our
final destination Respect god’s
creation
Which is self?
Where’s the consideration Is
there any left I think not But
guess what Hell is a place that
is extremely hot… Fill to the
top With sinners who refuse to
stop
Graveyards overflowin
souls in the wind blowin not
knowin
Where their really
goin That’s what I call a lost
soul Notice me speakin in a
religious aspect Hopin to reach

I come from... a handful of
fist fights, in between confrontational nights. I come from...
violence, physical pain, anger,
revenge and resentment.
I
come from... feeling misunderstood most of my life. I come
from... a defensive nature you
would NOT believe. I come
from... killing babies inside of
me. I come from... late night
walks in my neighborhood by
myself, testing my survival
skills. I come from... filling
the emptiness within myself
with drugs, men, money, food
and anything else.
I come
from... insecurities about me.
Simply being me. Without focusing on the complexities of
me. The multilayer’s of me.
I ALSO come from…
picketing coffee beans in Hawaii. I come from…traveling
to distant lands through far off
seas. I come from... working a
construction job with a group of
framers rebuilding Marin City.
I come from...not eating grapes
and strawberries during my
childhood, cause of the constant
picketing. I come from... the
Jewish Community Center
where I took tap, dance, jazz,

Tony Richard (aka Zakee the Poet)

those who’re not there yet, due
to the retardation of their mindset Blind to the fact (that) all
water is wet And religion has a
strong impact Because it helps
to keep people mentality intact
Or at least I expect that, now
lets reflect back towards the
beginning When I mention
sinning Why do we always see
a Satan Grinning? Because he
have everybody thinking they
winning When they really losin
Constantly sinning With drug
abusin Chemical pollution Got
us saturated in confusion Institution gangs being breeded
Women being mistreated But
act conceded once they realize
how much they needed I’m
Knee-high In a puddle of tears
I’ve cried /+from family and
friends I lost over the years
That’s been kilt or died/+ from
pain that’s been inflicted upon
me while I was Young and
innocent some it could have

I come from…

Freedom is restricted by our
conditions. But, we remain free
to take a stand toward those
conditions. Frankl wrote, “It is
this spiritual freedom which
cannot be taken away and that
makes life meaningful and purposeful.”
Eternity exists between a single inhalation and exhalation.
The Scriptures talk about the
power and sanctity of the
breath. The verse in Genesis
that speaks of the “Spirit of
God sweeping over the water,” (Genesis 1:2) uses the Hebrew word, “ruach,” which is
the same word used for life.
Job said, “the Spirit (ruach) of
God formed me, the breath
(neshama) of Shaddai sustains
me.” Neshama, a word whose

been prevented and some
couldn’t Some of it should of
happened and some of it
shouldn’t If I could go back
and change the things I’ve done
wrong I probably wouldn’t
Because over the years Bad
experiences has ignited my vocal-cords streets is permanently
red From all the blood its absorbed family scared to let they
children play outside Because
they feel it’s not safe outside
anymore They fear that a stray
bullet Might claim they Childs
life And before their Child get
a chance to live They die
(Damn that ain’t right) The
hope for are youth dreams for
the future Is very very slim
Because they grow up watching
gangsta movies
And the
wanna be just like them They
can’t be like daddy Because
daddy never around Daddy in
jail Or most likely Six feet in
the ground…

By CAMISHA FATIMAH (Facilitator of Keepin’ It Real)

capiorera, gymnastics and
swimming classes just to name
a few I come from... two parents who were always in the
public eye striving for the rights
of human kind. I come from...
being a baby.
And now I am a woman a
culmination of all these things
and more. I share these things
with you because now I see. I
am not just one thing. You are
not just one thing. I am a culmination of a whole lot of things
being. People influencing me.
Helping me, get closer to the
essential me. We are reflections
of each other. If we were
smart, we would learn from one
another. In every exchange
with others, seeing an opportunity for blessings. Growth,
development and a chance to let
go of all negativity, making
room for positivity. Let’s let
the positivity overwhelm us.
Just like we let people’s response to us overwhelm us.
Positivity can overwhelm us
just like the anger, violence,
pain, arrogance and ignorance
overwhelmed us in the past.
This is our pathway to get free.
Free from ALL negativity. So

that when triggers appear and
shatan gets near…
When the crossroads are
here…we only have a second.
No time for fear.
When one
second can change MANY future years. When we come to
these crossroads we are equip
and ready. To make clear, the
real life of, no fear. Just sober
decisions. Good decisions, not
only for ourselves, but for all
those who are near. Good
choices are easy. Greatness is
here. Inside each and everyone
of us. And what are we doing if
we are not tapping into that
greatness. Every second, every
minute, every hour of every
day. Getting closer to our essential way. Put our hang ups
on the shelf. Take a breathe,
think and move. Do it movin’.
Closer to who we really are, not
limited to our current condition,
not being our experiences. But
ALL are. Who we were and
who we want to be. And let’s
LIVE in that, B! Be that! “All
you can be” like they say in the
army. Because I am a reflection of you. And you are a reflection of me. And together
we can ALL get free.

By STEPHEN LIEBB

root is used to describe breathing or a breath, is also used to
denote a person’s soul or life.
Genesis 2:7, describing the
creation of man, stated, God
“blew into his nostrils the
breath of life (neshama).”
Through the wise and masterful instruction of James Fox, a
Yoga instructor at San Quentin,
I have begun to learn about the
power of the breath of life. In
Yoga, the vital force called
“prana” is cultivated and moved
through a series of “asanas,”
physical movements combined
with breathing exercises. This
practice helps us to live one
breath at a time. It is in quietness and stillness that time becomes an ally not a foe. It is in
stillness that we begin to realize

the things that are important
and those things that really do
not matter. The truth that everything can change in a single
instant becomes apparent.
Yoga and its emphasis on
the power of a single breath
promote a respect for life and
a profound realization of the
destructive force of violence.
I have grown to understand
that I extinguished the breath
of another human being forever and denied him innumerable moments of peace, joy
and being. We desire stability of spirit during these
times of uncertainty and confusion. Learning to live between the breaths we take
each moment is the path to
that peace.

Tobias Wolff at San Quentin
Continued from page #1
Four Lifers, Felix Lucero, J.B. Wells, Joseph Diggs, and myself
were asked to sit down with Wolff on July 21, 2008 and address
questions to him.
Those on The Row and North Block may have already had a
chance to see the taped interview done with him. For a person
who’s able to fill a huge auditorium to hear him speak, Wolff
showed himself to be very down to earth. For all you people thinking of writing your own memoir, “This Boy’s Life” paved the way
for what is now “The” way a memoir should be written. He turned
the telling of one’s life story from a boring dictation into an emotion-filled account that brings the reader in to relive the experience
with him.
Wolff sat down with me after taping the interview, and gave me a
chance to ask him some questions for SQ News. J.B. Wells also
participated, and asked questions of his own. The most current of
his many publications is “Our Story Begins,” a collection of short
stories. In the category of short literary fiction, Wolff has won
many awards; and has frequently been published in the New
Yorker magazine. His writing is a personal favorite of this writer.
Wolff was asked about what he might share with anyone who is
setting out to become an accomplished writer. He spoke of the
need for patience, and that (writers) tend to be better critics than
writers of our own work. He told of working for six months on one
short story, and that a month’s effort in revision and editing is typical.
For those searching for authors to inspire them, he recommended
Ernest Hemingway for his simplicity of style. Wolff also recommended Richard Price who wrote: “Lush Life, Clockers,” and
“Wanderers” He believes that the greatest American writer was F.
Scott Fitzgerald. When asked to give a shout out to everyone,
Wolff said that, “Even though you’re living in a hard grim situation, take hope, and find goodness. Don’t concentrate on the shadows.”
On Aug 17, 2008, Wolff returned. Courtesy of Patten College
University coordinator Jennifer Scaife, invited the writer back here
to read. Choosing “Pharoses’ Army,” he presented a chapter that
talked of his experience in Vietnam as a Lieutenant, and how fate
seemed to pass him by that otherwise might have meant him dying
in battle. The crowded Arts in Corrections room gave him a loud
applause for some inspiring writing. At the end, he mentioned that
he’ll be donating to the San Quentin Library a selection of his
work. We hope to see him back here again soon.

SUDOKU
Puzzle by: George Lowe

AUGUST 27, 2008

SAN QUENTIN NEWS

VIETNAM VETERANS GROUP
OF SAN QUENTIN
Fernando A. Lemus (Outside Coordinator)
Who are we?
In 1987, the Vietnam Veterans
Group of San Quentin
(“V.V.G.S.Q.”) was formed to
help Vietnam Veterans incarcerated at San Quentin begin pursuing a vision of recovery from
trauma and other things in life
that affect the way human beings
react and behave.
The
V.V.G.S.Q. became an inmate
activity group and its membership includes all veterans who
have served honorably in the United
States Armed Forces
and received discharges under honorable conditions.
The group has
since expanded its
vision to holding
fund drives to support worthy community causes that directly effect veterans and charitable causes within the community. These causes include a
Scholarship Award, Operation
M.O.M., and the Christmas Toy
Drive.
In 1998, the V.V.G.S.Q. set up
a seminar with the California
Department of Veterans Affairs
and the North Bay Vets center.
From this seminar, the Veterans
Issues Group (V.I.G.) was conceived and implemented at San
Quentin.
Under the direction of professional staff, individualized, comprehensive and integrated services to veterans takes place
every Wednesday evening in the
Education module for the sole
purpose of successful reintegration into society. Additionally,
the V.I.G. program reaches incarcerated veterans with viable
programs for reentering society,
and to assist group members in
contacting various resources to
accomplish these objectives.
Furthermore, the V.V.G.S.Q. is
involved with various projects
and activities, such as the
R.E.A.L. choices program, to
reach and educate adolescent
lives to be productive members
of society. Team “C” of the
Choices program is made up of
members of the Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quentin.
Another activity the
V.V.G.S.G. supports is Operation M.O.M.. Operation M.O.M.

is a non-profit organization that
supports our troops deployed
throughout the world.
The
V.V.G.S.Q. supports Operation
M.O.M. with cash, material
donations, clerical assistance
and packing care packages with
food, hygiene, and clothing
packages. Also, we assist Operation M.O.M. with custom
declarations, labels and mail out
donation requests.
The Toy program is very dear
to our group, too.
We have always
supported the San
Quentin Toy program with donations and helping
the program. This
year, 2008, will be
the 20th year of the
program. The warden has authorized
the V.V.G.S.Q. to
sponsor this worthy program.
Recently, the V.V.G.S.Q.
decided to support “Tabs for
Tots” as well (“Tabs,” as in
soda can tabs). Tabs for Tots
are supported through the Vietnam Veterans of the Vietnam
War (“V.Vn.W.”) Post FLI-02
in Belle Glade, FL and the
V.V.G.S.Q. is CAI-01, the first
chapter in California that the
V.Vn.W. chartered into their
organization.
The proceeds
from our fundraising will assist
Ronald McDonald charities
with their efforts to help sick
children diagnosed with cancer
and their families.
Finally, the Stamps for Soldiers and Color Guard are operated by the V.V.G.S.Q.
Stamps for Soldiers are cancelled stamps which are collected from mainline, Condemned Row and R/C prisoners.
After collecting the
stamps, they are sent to disabled veterans. The disabled
veterans peel off the stamps as
a form of physical therapy and
create “collages” and other
works of art.
The V.V.G.S.Q. provides a
color guard at the GED and
college graduation, the September 11 remembrance and other
functions as requested by custody staff and/or non-custody
staff.

CENTERFORCE INSIDE/OUT SUMMIT 2008
By: Kenneth R. Brydon
On October 6 & 7, 2008, at the Double Tree Sonoma Wine Country, in Rohnert Park, California, “Centerforce Inside/Out” summit
will once again happen. Last year’s event was sold out and covered
many aspects of the difficulties that face California and the rest of
the country in developing a more comprehensive method of crime
prevention and fair and just treatment of prisoners.
This year’s summit will do much the same, providing education,
insight, inspiration and a proactive focus network. For two days
more than 400 people are expected to gather to confront the incarceration crisis and engage in an energetic forum on discovering
solutions for the impact of incarceration on individuals, families,
and communities.
Sessions at this year’s summit will include: Sentencing Reform,
Incarceration Medicine, and 15 workshops falling into four main
topics: “Going In,” “Being In,” “Getting Out,” and “Staying Out.”
Speakers are yet to be determined. For more information, one can
log on to: www.centerforce.org. Or call: 415-456-9980.

Page 6

GETTING PERSPECTIVE
By: Collette Carroll
What can IMPACT do for
you? Incarcerated Men Putting
Away Childish Things can
change your life! IMPACT is
the largest self-help program at
San Quentin, serving approx
100 men from the Mainline and
45 men in H-Unit every Monday night.
How will this program change
your life? Through IMPACT
you will learn about you, about
who you really are. You will
be provided with skills to identify things you need to do to be
successful both inside prison
and upon release. You will
learn such things as What is a
Man? (about Mr. BS) about
Image vs Reality, you will learn
about Addictions, Violence
Prevention, Relationships, Financial Literacy and much
more. This is a program for
those that are serious about
making a commitment to AIR
(Accountability, Integrity and
Responsibility) and to a road to
a better life.
What is so different about our
program? Firstly, IMPACT is
facilitated (not taught) by fellow inmates, inmates who have
gone through over 160 hours of
IMPACT training in order to
help us all learn the skills to
succeed in life. IMPACT uses
its own copyrighted manuals
and PowerPoint presentations,
each week moving through the
Modules and Sessions of the
program. Our evening starts

with the whole group working
together on the current Session
and then we break-out into
small groups to discuss in depth
the issues and exercises presented that night. This is an
opportunity to share and learn
in an intimate personal setting.
IMPACT is a strictly confidential program – what’s said in
IMPACT, stays in IMPACT.
Men of San Quentin who
have been through our program
are now on the streets successfully contributing to their families and communities. These
men are teaching IMPACT at
the CDCR Dept of Juvenile
Justice throughout the state
(and being paid by the CDCR)
these men are Drug & Alcohol
Counselors, Plumbers, Sheet
Metal workers, and Heavy
Equipment Operators. These
men, to a one, attribute their
success on the streets to what
they learned through IMPACT.
To quote one individual, “if it
hadn’t been for the things I
learned through IMPACT and
other programs at San Quentin
I would not have been able to
handle the extreme family pressures I’ve been under since
returning to society. I now understand the importance of having this as my strength to draw
from when in a high pressure
situation”. –ex-San Quentin
inmate paroled after serving 10
yrs.
Want to know if IMPACT is

SQ NEWS MAIL FROM COALINGA PRISON!
Dennis Thomas, G18063
Your paper is a great miracle, a light in a dark world. I just got to
prison, first arrest, first time in jail, first time in prison; looking at
two "25-to-Life" sentences, consecutive. I'm appealing and Marcia
Clark of "OJ Simpson” fame is my state appointed attorney. This is
a totally new and scary world. My new cellie just came from "SQ"
and had your "Vol. 2008, No. 1." I read the San Quentin News
from cover to cover, and learned more in ½ hour than I have in 99
days in Wasco & Pleasant Valley Prisons. We don’t have a paper,
or even a pamphlet here at "PVSP," and I would like any and all
information you can send me on starting one here!
Dennis:
The DOM states that a prison may publish an Institution Newspaper. We encourage any and all would be Editors to speak to the
institution's education department. We hope this will provide you
with meaning and purpose, while enjoying a good source of information.

SQ Digital TV
By: Kenneth Brydon
The switch over from analog
to digital signal scheduled for
February 2009 is little more
than a minor inconvenience for
San Quentin. In order to receive the benefits of the broadcasting change, the viewer’s
television must be “Digital Signal Ready.” If your set was
purchased recently, you already
have a set ready to receive the
new signal.
Quentin is installing converters on their antenna, which will
allow older televisions to receive the new signal. But, we
will not receive the enhanced
picture benefits on our old sets.

The “benefits” are primarily a
picture that’s crisper. People
behind the first major change in
broadcasting since the advent of
the color TV say that all the
colors will be richer and deeper,
Ronnie Sanders (1EY55)
asks: "What's the name of the
company that provides our cable," and, "Why can't we purchase ESPN2, AMC, HBO..."
The first answer, Ronnie, is that
we provide our own cable service. Whate we receive are the
"free" broadcasts anyone with
an antenna get. Hope that coming improvements will give you
a bit more selection in viewing
options, stay healthy, Ronnie.

right for you? Ask around,
there is someone near you who
has been through our program
they will not hesitate to tell you
how it has changed their lives,
their relationships with fellow
inmates and with their families
and staff.
I can explain the benefits of
IMPACT but I believe hearing
it from someone who has been
where you are can explain it
better:
“Parole was something that I
never thought would be possible. Yet, today, I’m convinced
that as we accept the challenge
to looking beyond our past and
anticipate a redefined future,
our goal of making a positive
IMPACT on others will unfold
before our eyes. Are you willing
to accept that challenge? Then
prepare to meet the new you!”
Edward Ramirez, Lifer - Paroled 2005
"Our acknowledgement of the
reality of injustice in our lives
is not enough to gain our freedom. We must find the courage
to transform our eager yet passive desire for change into concrete action that will most assuredly free us. Project IMPACT provided the concepts I
needed in order to ACCEPT the
challenge and fight for my
life. It is with gratitude today
that I work alongside you.
" Bryan A. Smith, Lifer - Paroled 2007
"In life there are opportunities that we must take advantage of that will ensure a better
future; IMPACT is one such
opportunity; Take It!”. A. Leonard Neal, Served 24 yrs 11
mnths 7 days - Paroled 2005
IMPACT is ready – are
You???

PRISON PHONE
RATES DROPPING
While Arnie (Governor
Schwarzenegger) hasn’t shown
too many places where he’s
been on our side, he did sign off
on a bill written by Senator
Mike Machado that will cut
prices over half by the end of
January 2011. Since many people won’t write, staying in
touch with many family members is only possible by phone.

BROTHERS IN PEN:
“A Means of Escape”
By: Zoe Mullery
A second anthology of short
stories, written by prisoners
here at San Quentin State
Prison is now out in print.
Some stories are fiction, some
memoir/creative non-fiction,
and some a combination. The
subject matter here is as wide as
the imagination. This is a culmination of over a year’s work
of labor by prisoners, many of
them Lifers, all serious writers.
Copies are available from:
“brothersinpen.wordpress.com”
All proceeds from the sale of
this book go through the William James Association to support the Creative Writing class
through the Arts-in-Corrections
program. The first anthology,
“Brothers in Pen,” is also still
available.

AUGUST 27, 2008

SAN QUENTIN NEWS

Flag Football’s
“Blues Brothers”
By: Big Will Packer
Someone asked me today why
it is that we don’t have more
than one football team here in
SQ(?). He went further to say
he thought it would be more
competitive if there were. I
could have responded simply
by saying the same reason
there’s only one baseball, and
one basketball team; but I didn’t. I tried to explain to him
that we, the Blues Brothers,
have a mission, and gave him a
brief description of what that
objective is. The discussion
suggests to me a misconception
of our program by the general
population. My name is William, “Big Will” Packer, and
I’m the Head Coach of the
Blues Brothers and I’d like to
give you all a broader, better
understanding of what we’re all
about.
This is our fourth season
coming up under the sponsorship of Kent Philpott and Stan
Damas. Their commitment of
time and energy has made it
possible for us to do what we
love, and excel at it. This will
be our third season with me as
Coach. Under my direction we
enjoy a 15-0 record, and we of
course look forward to another
undefeated season. Critics of
our program are quick to point
out that we are bigger, stronger,
quicker, faster and better than
the teams that come in to play
us. They talk as if we should be
ashamed of these facts.

They’re wrong, and we’re not
ashamed.
What our detractors seem to
be unaware of are the hours of
conditioning and practicing we
put in each season to protect
our house. The reason we outclass the teams that come in to
play us is due to our dedication
to the discipline of football, and
our development of the exceptional talents we’ve been
blessed with. Our players are
committed to doing the work
necessary to be good, and quite
frankly, better than the teams
that come in to play us. We
take pride in the tradition we’ve
established, and we are dedicated to the fulfillment of our
goals
As much as building character
is an important part of our mission, so is building bridges to
the outside.
We’ve been
blessed with the unique opportunity to play football develop
friendships and fellowship with
some pretty amazing people.
Our aim is to continue to maintain these relationships, and
provide the best entertainment
possible throughout the season
for our fans. Our ultimate goal
is to one day develop a talent
who will someday make it to
the professional league, that we
can all take pride and pleasure
in watching him play. God
bless you all, and I look forward to seeing you on the sidelines in September.

SPORTS
TRIVIA
All of Roger Clemmon’s
Yankee jerseys have been removed from the racks in the
baseball museum in New Jersey
due to zero sales. Demand for
his memorabilia has nearly disappeared. His rookie baseball
card is selling for just 10 percent of its asking price.
Every NBA player is randomly drug tested four times
during each basketball season.
Actor/Comedian Billy Crystal
signed a one-day contract with
the New York Yankees. He
batted in a scheduled exhibition
game against the Pittsburgh
Pirates. The 60 year-old Crystal missed a hit down the right
field line by mere inches.
Sports Illustrated predicted
Tiger Woods will win the
Grand Slam this year.
Two brothers who co-owned
a small shoe manufacturing
business in a tiny German town
couldn't get along, so they
parted ways. They both became wildly successful. One
started a brand called "Adidas"
and the other a brand named
"Puma."
17-year-old Rachel Flanders
rowed across the Atlantic
Ocean single handedly.
QB Carson Palmer's younger
brother, Jordan, signed a two
year contract with the Bengals
to back up Carson. Jordan set
records for passing yards and
touchdowns at the University of
Texas, El Paso.

San Quentin Pirates
The Forgotten
Everyone has heard of the San Quentin Giants, well, almost.
One team that is not illuminated is the San Quentin Pirates
softball team.
By Ron Martin
Quiet as it’s kept, a lot of
fans and prisoners come out
regularly on Sunday afternoon
to umpire, cheer, and sometimes express the intention of
playing.
The San Quentin Pirates
played hardball in 2006 and
2007, coached by Kent Philpot.
Stan-the-Man is the
trusty bench coach, and two
men in blue, Frankie Smith,
and Will Packer, assisted
in the management. Briefly,
in 2007, they had a fast pitch
league. So behind the scenes
there are some very talented
players having fun making
great plays and hitting their
fair share of home runs (the
pinnacle of the game). Mr.
Rich and Bob Mayer, the San
Quentin Pirates sponsors and
coaches from the free world,
obtained the helm of the team
in 2006, and make it possible
for the men to play in a
league all of their own. These
sponsors take time out of their

busy lives, and for this we
thank them deeply.
Big Dan, prisoner/assistant
coach, protects the dish at
home; Big Ron Dalton" is
anchored to 1st, and has a
snow shovel for a scoop.
Anyone on the yard who follows sports has witnessed the
notorious long ball hitting
Southpaw in action Ke Lam,
(a.k.a. “Mighty Mouse”) exhibits inhumanly long ball
power to both sides of the
diamond. "Lam patrols centerfield with excellent speed
and an accurate arm – his territory is known as the “Nofly-zone.”
John Harper, our surefielding 3rd baseman secures
the hot corner. Kevin Carr
patrols left field with a strong
arm and swings hard at the
plate. Big Shawn, who just
joined, plays right-center, and
can place the ball with authority anywhere.
Little Laos
patrols a dangerous right

field, with mixed terrain, and
sprays the ball all over.
Paul Jordan plays the hot
spot at short, and leads the
team in averages with his
phenomenal bat.
Fernando
Lemus is our utility player
covering 3rd, 1st, and pitching;
he is an asset to the team.
Thacker, Davis, and retired
Giants player Dave Marshall
play 2nd and share time. Marshall is a crafty player who
swings left-handed at the
plate.
Not to be counted out,
Tony, our newest addition,
switches off at the mound
with Junkyard who has patiently waited on the side until his debut. They both sport
a decent bat, and, finally, Big
Mario, who was injured and is
still on the D.L. has a huge
bat with enough pop to all
fields, and can play any position. The Pirate Players thank
the Athletic Department at
SQ.

Page 7

San Quentin Warriors
Eyes are always open for new talent
By George Lamb
and
Shaun Payton
The San Quentin Warriors
basketball team has a very colorful history. I’ve been here for
eight years, played for the first
four, and was sidelined by injuries in the middle of the fifth.
After being out for two seasons,
and in the middle of my comeback, I was recruited by the
team to assume the role of
“Head coach.” With only 7
wins and 11 losses, we were in
trouble, and in danger of having
our first losing season only to
finish 18 and 14.
This year began with a real
training camp, which included a
rigorous strength and conditioning focus; we also had actual
tryouts.
However, we’ve
evolved as a program and are
much more oriented spiritually
that in time past; I couldn’t cut
people. Instead, it an attempt to
honor our program as a “Sports
Ministry,” we decided to establish a practice squad. We want
men! It’s obvious that we all
need growth and development,
therefore giving up on people is
not an option. It does hurt
when I see men who could be
great give up on themselves!
Players come and go over the
course of the season, which
began May 29th, 2008. We are
presently 10 and 5, with 18
games left on our schedule. We
have had only one cancellation
due to the Hitland Yard Ministry (which we fully supported).
Our coaching staff includes me
(George Lamb), and there are a
number of men who are on the
inside in addition to a few folks
from the outside who support
our program; to them all we say
is: “Thanks!” They will receive
mention by name over the
course of the season, as these
“Warrior Reports” continue.
On behalf of the San Quentin
Warriors, my name is Shuan
Payton, and I joined the team in
2007. In the beginning it was
just about basketball for me, but
I came to realize that it wasn’t
only about playing ball, but it
was also about communication,

discipline, respect and trust.
But most of all, it was about
“God.” All of these things
mean a lot to me. I’ve never
been on a team that prayed before the game and shared testimonies and had devotionals at
halftime.
Since I’ve been on the team,
I’ve made plenty of mistakes
and wrong decisions that could
have been prevented. Those
mistakes and poor decisions
have taken me to the “hole” a
couple of times, but, when I
returned, I was still a part of the
team. I’ve had time to reflect
while on the side lines observing what I was missing as I
served my suspensions. Men in
prison go through things, but
having teammates who will
make the journey with you and
sometimes carry you through to
the other side, makes victory on
all levels of life sweeter!
It’s a new season, and our
team is younger and more talented than we were last year.
We’re capable of winning every
game. Our losses have been
very close, and always a result
of having key players missing;
not excuses, just facts. We’ve
lost a few players to parole and
are expecting to lose a few
more before the end of the season. So, eyes are always open
for new talent. We have a core
group who are expected to remain through the end of the
season; we’re good and our
goal is still the same…WIN!
All of the teams we play are
from the outside.
College
teams, men’s leagues, and
church league teams; so interacting with them is great – they
show us love, respect and a
considerable amount of support
(including donation of equipment!). They grow and are
blessed as we grow and are
blessed. Thanks to my teammates, and our coaching staff,
as well as all those in support;
especially to our officials; especially “Huggie,” and to the administration for allowing the
program to realize the successes
we all enjoy. To the fans who
love us, “Good-looking,” and to
those who don’t, “Stop-hating!”
Just kidding – pray for us!

“BOSTON” MARATHON MAN
By: Kenneth R. Brydon
On Sept. 01, 2008, Ron Goodman plans to run the distance and time
that would qualify him for the Boston Marathon. A part of the
1,000-Mile Club at San Quentin, Goodman is running approximately 60 miles a week in preparation for the 26.2 miles he hopes
to run in under 3 hours, 15 minutes.
About four years ago, while serving time at Folsom Prison, Goodman became serious about the discipline of running. He feels that it
helps build character. “The Club is about learning discipline and
healthy training,” says Goodman. His accomplishments also extend
to painting and art, where he is a featured artist in displays of prison
artwork in community shows.
The 1,000-Mile Club, sponsored by Laura Bowman, teaches all
aspects of running from beginner to advanced. People who wish to
learn how to start running, or to make the most of the sport, will
receive good tips by the club’s coach, Frank Ruona. At 63 years
old, Mr. Ruona would still have just about all the guys around this
joint eating his dust.
The average distance of the 20 club members, is 10 to 15 miles
per week. Getting on the track is a good way to relieve stress, get
the blood pressure down, sleep better, and get an endorphin high
that’ll make peeing in a bottle no big deal!

AUGUST 27, 2008

SAN QUENTIN NEWS

Page 8

Editor: Opinion

When the School of Hard Knocks Produces Fruit
By Michael R. Harris

preparation, men being fitted
with graduation robes and family member filing into the
chapel where the ceremony
took place. And all kinds of
supporters; program sponsors,

Seeing the pride on the faces of
the men of San Quentin could
not compare with the pride held
by family members that where
in attendance for
the 2008 Graduation celebration.
This pride was
evident by the
tears and joy displayed throughout the ceremony.
Wives,
Mothers, Fathers,
Sisters, Brothers,
Sons and Daughters /Friends in
most cases had
Graduation Ceremony 2008
never seen their
loved one complete or graduate volunteer teachers from local
universities associated with
from anything before.
A day to remember. This was Patten College and the Prison
not the first time that I had at- University Project……
SQ staff, program instructors,
tended a graduation ceremony
at San Quentin. Both experi- quest speakers……. the energy
ences were quite special in a was boiling; one would think
unique way, but this time I was this was preparation for a major
there to develop a story sur- concert. So I’m thinking, who
rounding the event. So I do I interview first - how am I
thought; “life has a funny way going to fully capture the escence of this day? Then; I
of up-staging prepared plans.”
So I got there early and spotted the SQ film production
started to observe organized crew who were also producing
chaos playing out; a host of a piece surrounding the event
volunteers assisting with the for a documentary they were

THANKS FOR CARING
By: W.W. Maclean (4N81)
My son, Will, was senselessly
shot and killed on May 24,
2008. I would like to express
my appreciation to everyone for
their support through this difficult time. The cards, letters,
and many acts of kindness came
out of the blue. I simply want
to thank each of you for reaching out the way you have. Rest
in peace, Will, see you on the
other side. I miss you and think
of you every day.

Team Exodus

On Saturday, September 06,
2008, West Block Yard will be
host to a Resource Fair for the
Reception Center prisoners.
Numerous booths will be set up
providing information for many
self-help programs. Hosted by
Team Exodus, this is a firsttime event in the 20 years of the
R/C at San Quentin.
Send Submissions to:
Education Dept. / SQ News
Death Row Stories Welcome
San Quentin News
USPS 4870-700
The opinions expressed herein do not
necessarily reflect those of the Administration, nor the inmate population, and should
be considered solely the opinion of the individual author unless specified.
Permission is granted to reprint articles
appearing in the San Quentin News provided
credit is given the author and this publication.
Administrative Review....R. Luna
Principal…...…………..T. Roberts
Vice Principal….…. W. Reeves, Ed. D.
Print Shop Supervisor....J. Wilkerson
Inside/Outside Advisor...J. Eagan
Executive Staff:
K. Brydon
Chief Editor
M. Harris
Managing Editor
A. Tamboura Technical Editor
D. Marsh
Staff Writer
This publication is printed by the students in the San Quentin Vocational Printing
Program. Thanks for all the
help from everyone!

working on.
Me being a born net-worker, I
asked “Can we work together?”
Marvin Andrews replied “No
problem.” And then Troy Williams followed up with “Let’s
do this.” Then there was Lonny
Morris, of SQTV, setting up to
do film interviews as well. So
all I have to do is take notes and
be at the right place at the right
time and SQ news will be ok.
Then Willie Rahman Green
walks into the garden chapel
area with his family; his wife
Mary and their son. Mary had
also attended her husband’s
graduation in 2002 in this same
exact chapel. She was also
filled with pride and joy this
time for an altogether different
reason. All attention focused on
him as if he was a rock star –
with everybody in line to embrace a man who had become a
friend/mentor to so many, including me.
As he approached we embraced and he said “I don’t
know if I’m going to make it
big fellow.” His knees buckled.
I said “You already have.”
Overwhelmed by the reality
that the last time he in stood in
this same exact spot; dressed in
blue, just over 90 days ago; and
that he had resided in this same

The Chance of Hope
the art of conversation. I had to
By: Felix Lucero
Prison college programs are be reminded that I was human.
My interactions with teachers
often viewed with harsh critiand students have taught
cism. Supporters conme the difference between
tend that they reduce
charitable narcissism and
recidivism and increase
true service to your fellow
the quality of life for a
human.
I believe that
group of people who
higher education is a funmay not have had the
damental human right. If
best opportunities in
life. Critics argue that Felix Lucero there is a thing called
human nature, it has to be
criminals should be paying their
the
desire
to live both physidebt to society with separation
cally
and
spiritually free.
and self-reflection.
For my first 10 years in prison Prison is a place filled with
I learned how to survive and hope, laughter, depression and
misery. The college program
not much else. I read books on
doesn't remove the depravities
philosophy and learned to write
of prison. But it does offer anmy feelings down on paper, but
other way to think about the
I could never find that intellec- world, and equips you with the
tual stimulation that was lack- tools to articulate your situaing in my life. I didn't even tion.
know there was such a thing.
An argument can be made that
For the past five years I've prisons are obsolete. At the same
been enrolled as a student in the time their presence is as much a
Patten University program. The part of the landscape as the Pacourse work, I found, came cific coast. Prisons can be institueasy for me; the social interac- tions that inspire change; they can
tion was where I felt stunted. also be a place where oppression
Years of isolation had left me reaches its apex of excellence.
socially inadequate. Like a Education has the power to transperson learning to walk after a form, not only the human, but the
serious injury, I had to re-learn world which we inhabit.
MAC Executive Body Members
Johnson, S.
Sefeldeen, K.
Mancinelli, T.
Tindall, M.K.
Pena, E.
Men’s Advisory Councils:
Seiler, P.J.
Pratt, D.
White, G.
Vernon, D.
Ybarra, J.
Valdivia, N.
Molina,I.
Pham, V.
Sinocruz, P.
Frank, H.

CDC#
H-20162
D-65574
D-37386
C-36349
H-77082

CDC#
E-16869
C-2301
T-75007
P-41141
C-18150
C-29917
J-71378
J-53985
J-81323
J-80928

Housing
2-N-90L
4-N-01L
5-N-39L
4-N-16L
2-N-13L
3-N-21L
4-N-85U
4-N-35L
3-N-19L
3-N-13L

Housing :
2-N-81L
1-N-96L
5-N-87U
4-N-37L
3-N-24L
Representing:
Whites
Whites
Af-Am.
Af- Am.
Mex-Am.
Mex-Am.
Mex. N.
Asian/O.
Pac. I.
AMI

prison for over a decade. WOW!
Oh what difference a day
makes!
Warden Ayers allowed history to be made in San Quentin
on this day by giving Mr. Green
an opportunity to return shortly
after being released from his
conviction, which was overturned after 25 years. A man
who had always professed his
innocence, one of the things
that always stood out about
Rahman was that he never lost
hope, and he kept his dignity
and integrity intact even though
there were times when it
seemed as if justice would
never prevail.
Rahman spent the majority of
his time working in the prison
library teaching and sharing
knowledge with others
including some of the
graduates he spoke in
front of at the ceremony.
After his speech Rahman
went down to the peer
education building and
spoke in front of a group
of men in a pre-release
class held by Mr. Shimel
and continued his words
of wisdom. On his way
back he decided to walk instead
of riding in the cart with his
family. One of his long time

friends Demetrius ‘Flip’ Daniel
recalls when the alarm went off
and all the prisoners got down
as is customary. Rahman did so
as well in his tailored white
suit. Flip believed that it was
not done because he was brain
washed, but, as a gesture of
solidarity and love/respect for
his brothers in blue. Seeing the
faces of the proud families was
well worth the price of admission, alone.
But listening to Julio Medina
chronicling his journey in becoming
a productive citizen was encouraging to say the least. Just to witness a
man who had once walked in the
same shoes as many of us had. As
Medina stood and presented his
message of hope to the audience, he
enabled us all to envision a snap

Willie Rahman Green

shot of what is possible when you
apply yourself and utilize the time to
re-educate oneself.

Ruling Limits Governor’s
Discretion to Deny Parole
By David Marsh
The power of the California
governor to arbitrarily deny
parole to model prisoners has
been curbed by the state Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Ronald George,
in writing for the 4-3 majority,
said the governor must show
“some evidence” that a parolee
is presently a danger to public
safety before overturning a
Board of Parole decision to
grant parole.
The ruling came in the case of
Sandra Davis Lawrence, 61,
who has served more than 23
years for the 1971 killing of her
lover’s wife. The Board of Parole found Lawrence to be a
model, well-behaved prisoner
who had expressed remorse for
the killing. In 2005 she was
granted parole for the fourth
time in 12 years.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
reversed the panel’s decision as
he had done on previous occa-

sions. He found the circumstances of the killing, in which
Lawrence shot and stabbed
Rubye Williams to death, to be
of a particularly egregious nature.
The governor’s office released
a statement condemning the
court’s ruling as an infringement upon the governor’s ability to make rulings designed to
protect the public safety.
In a separate but related case,
the court used the legal standards previously set forth in its
ruling on the Lawrence case to
unanimously uphold the governor’s power to deny parole
when there is a legitimate finding of danger to the public
safety. The court upheld
Schwarzenegger’s’ denial of
parole to Richard Shaputis,
convicted of second-degree
murder in the 1987 shooting of
his wife. Shaputis has refused
to accept responsibility for killing Erma Jeanne Shaputis, 47.

Special Thanks
The students of the Critical Thinking class taught this past semester by the following volunteer/instructors for Patten University: Fidan Elcioglu, Daniel Immerwahr, and Mike Levien,
wish to thank them for making it possible for us to expand our
minds. Not just to think outside the box, but to dare to question the
very nature of the box, or boxes, in which we live. We thank you!
And to all of the instructors who volunteer their valuable time in
order to make the program become a reality for us, our thanks to
all of you! Without each of you, none of this would be possible.

Printed by