Isa Whalen

Professor Chapman
Honors 391

Looking back at this past Winter quarter 2018, in Honors Native/Alternative

Anthropology, I can’t help myself but to tear up. When I first signed up for the course, I had no
idea what the course title even meant. This gave me more the reason of interest to enroll. I have a
personal interest in anthropology, deciding between picking it up in a major or minor, so I was
very excited for my very first anthropology class. Showing up to my first class with Professor
Chapman and my classmates Lexi, Logan, Helen, and Sumaya, I already knew this would be my
favorite time of the day for the next ten weeks. I had so much fun exploring this side of myself
just on the first day. Little did I know how much these people would end up meaning to me.
My mother is a professor herself who loves encouraging me in my own studies. And after
every class when I got home at 8pm, she was the first person I called. I would tell her all my
cool, new encounters with learning about alternativity in myself and all of the awesome stories
and activities I learned in class. Even how we had bags of oranges and cool christmas lights
every time we met.
I think the first time the term “alternative” really opened my eyes was when I read the
book “Children of the Days” by Eduardo Galeano. I could have written a homework outline for
each page haha. This was the moment I became intrigued with the idea of an alternative
movement. To me, it was not about understanding “alternative” anymore, it was “how do we
implement this movement into our social world and academia?” Class after class we learned
individual traits of alternative moves to take in our imaginary backpack. Class after class I was
captivated by the environment we had developed- a safe, “sacred”, autonomous zone. It moved
me more when receiving the types of sincere, honest responses I would get as feedback and
listening to the well thought out inputs and stories of others.
At the beginning of the quarter, I will say that we were all a little awkward reenacting the
alternative activities- but man, I am so grateful we were pushed into this wave of the unknown.
By the end of the quarter we were running up and down school halls and over the grass hills
spreading a heart hugging aroma while expressing our inner alternativity. IT WAS AWESOME.
Never had I thought that performing these things would bring such joy to my face.
The people I shared these valuable moments with are not just classmates, but my new
friends. We have strengthened our miniature spider-web of connections with one another. I walk
with Helen after class and discuss how alternativity could be implemented in our majors and
future jobs. Logan and I catch up about current life mishaps. I like talking about my day with
Sumaya and learning about each other’s cultures. Lexi and I are planning on going to a reggae
concert together. We all intend on keeping this tight circle close. I don’t think these types of
relationships come that often or can even be developed that fast in the regular classroom courses.
And learning about the importance of relationships through Shawn Wilson’s “Research Is
Ceremony”, makes me feel even more blessed about my time spent in his class with these
people.
 I have learned that alternativity is not just an academic term for a class course.
Alternativity is about opening your mind and soul to the justice, ancestry, historical stories, and
all aspects of life and love to our new colonial world. We must go “under the map” (Lexi), “untie
the knots” (Logan), “see each other’s truth” (Helen), and “come together, stronger” (Sumaya).
To every other honors student who is in need of an interdisciplinary course, take this
class! To every other person who is interested in anthropology, take this class! And to every
other person who is looking for a once in a lifetime college course experience, take this class. I
have learned so much about myself with emotions, embodiment, connections, and more. I plan to
merge my alternative opinions into my academic coursework for the next four years at the
University of Washington. The tools I have gained in my backpack is now a fat luggage that I am
ready to travel with along my journey, all thanks to Honors 319: Native/Alternative
Anthropology with Professor Chapman.