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Nndy Oheri
Issue date: 3/10/06 Section: Campus News
The Chautauqua Nexus at ULM is a program based on giving information on specific worldly issues through a seminar to whoever is interested.
Some seminars provided by the Nexus are "Paint More Beautiful," "Blame It on the Church" and, the most recent, "Wake up and Smell the Politics," held in the campus Airways Science Building, which ironically had nothing to do with politics at all.
The seminar did, however, have everything to do with the ever-popular coffee, that familiar brown liquid that keeps people up and alert.
Dr. John Sutherlin, 38, assistant professor of government, was the conductor and instructor of the seminar last week.
"Many slogans have been used in marketing campaigns in the last 100 years," Sutherlin said. "We could have used 'Regulation' but 'Wake up and smell the Politics' sounds more interesting."
The entire lecture provided by Sutherlin discussed the politics of coffee trade to and audience of more than 150 people who were given free coffee and pastry coupons from PJs.
"The audience was as diverse as Monroe itself," Sutherlin said. "Normally the events are held on the sixth floor of the library, but there was such a large attendance that it had to be moved."
Sutherlin's argument behind his lecture was that most people are unaware of just how politically charged the issue of coffee is.
According to Sutherlin, it is historically proven to be true because the consumption of coffee was outlawed in the past in some countries.
"Even today, cities such as Seattle and Berkley have imposed taxes on coffee for children's daycare programs," Sutherlin said.
Reactions to the politics behind the coffee industry come from many sides.
For example, some environmentalists demand organic coffee because it is less harmful to the environment.
"The best way to approach that matter is to restrict pesticides and fertilizers on coffee," Sutherlin said. "Roasters (coffee burners) shouldn't dump remains in rivers which should make the product friendlier.
"People in the West can help the efforts of the environmentalists through our choices," Sutherlin said. "We can choose less harmful coffee."
Another reaction comes from farmers who want a fair trade for coffee.
Farmers who grow coffee make a mere $3 a day while the ever-growing Starbucks makes millions every day.
"That deals with the governments," Sutherlin said. "Big coffee exporters are Columbia and Brazil. They make it possible for farmers to be paid, so negotiations need to be made with those governments."
Every semester using the Chautauqua Nexus, Sutherlin plans to go deeper into the politics of certain industries such as the salt, water and fencing industries.
"In my courses, I will cover more serious issues, and it's more fun for me," Sutherlin said.
"The Nexus events are one of the most important functions that we provide for our community," he said. "People all over Monroe come to sit in, so it reaches out to all."
Some seminars provided by the Nexus are "Paint More Beautiful," "Blame It on the Church" and, the most recent, "Wake up and Smell the Politics," held in the campus Airways Science Building, which ironically had nothing to do with politics at all.
The seminar did, however, have everything to do with the ever-popular coffee, that familiar brown liquid that keeps people up and alert.
Dr. John Sutherlin, 38, assistant professor of government, was the conductor and instructor of the seminar last week.
"Many slogans have been used in marketing campaigns in the last 100 years," Sutherlin said. "We could have used 'Regulation' but 'Wake up and smell the Politics' sounds more interesting."
The entire lecture provided by Sutherlin discussed the politics of coffee trade to and audience of more than 150 people who were given free coffee and pastry coupons from PJs.
"The audience was as diverse as Monroe itself," Sutherlin said. "Normally the events are held on the sixth floor of the library, but there was such a large attendance that it had to be moved."
Sutherlin's argument behind his lecture was that most people are unaware of just how politically charged the issue of coffee is.
According to Sutherlin, it is historically proven to be true because the consumption of coffee was outlawed in the past in some countries.
"Even today, cities such as Seattle and Berkley have imposed taxes on coffee for children's daycare programs," Sutherlin said.
Reactions to the politics behind the coffee industry come from many sides.
For example, some environmentalists demand organic coffee because it is less harmful to the environment.
"The best way to approach that matter is to restrict pesticides and fertilizers on coffee," Sutherlin said. "Roasters (coffee burners) shouldn't dump remains in rivers which should make the product friendlier.
"People in the West can help the efforts of the environmentalists through our choices," Sutherlin said. "We can choose less harmful coffee."
Another reaction comes from farmers who want a fair trade for coffee.
Farmers who grow coffee make a mere $3 a day while the ever-growing Starbucks makes millions every day.
"That deals with the governments," Sutherlin said. "Big coffee exporters are Columbia and Brazil. They make it possible for farmers to be paid, so negotiations need to be made with those governments."
Every semester using the Chautauqua Nexus, Sutherlin plans to go deeper into the politics of certain industries such as the salt, water and fencing industries.
"In my courses, I will cover more serious issues, and it's more fun for me," Sutherlin said.
"The Nexus events are one of the most important functions that we provide for our community," he said. "People all over Monroe come to sit in, so it reaches out to all."