Deep Springs College

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College News

This page is dedicated to occasional news from the campus and Deep Springs Valley

Deep Springs Board Passes Resolution Welcoming Legal Clearance for Coeducation

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Be it resolved that the Trustees of Deep Springs College acknowledge, appreciate, and applaud the June 28th California Supreme court decision not to change the California 4th District Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the Trial Court order to amend the L. L. Nunn Trust to serve all promising young people, not men only. By refusing to entertain further appeal, the Supreme Court has confirmed and empowered the 2011 Trustees’ decision to admit women to Deep Springs College.

The Trustees of Deep Springs are confident that Deep Springs College can and should implement a smooth transition to coeducation as soon as practicable. Further, the Trustees of Deep Springs College commit to work enthusiastically and in unison to support coeducation at Deep Springs College. As a body, the Trustees ask the alumni and friends of Deep Springs to join the college in supporting this endeavor.

The Trustees are also very grateful to all of those who have devoted their time, energy, and resources to achieve this result. The steadiness of this support has been an inspiration. The Trustees also thank the legal team and college counsel for their extensive labor in behalf of the Trustees’ decision, including lawyers and staff from Baker Manock & Jensen, Arnold and Porter Kaye Scholer, and Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton.

(Passed unanimously on August 14, 2017)

Update from Dave Hitz, Chair, Trustees of Deep Springs

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Coeducation: Is it Possible in 2018?

The Trustees are pleased that the California Supreme Court decided not to review our case. This clears the way for coeducation at Deep Springs. The trust can now be modified to read, “for the education of promising young people.”

The litigation was long and sometimes frustrating. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that a debate spanning five decades should take a handful of years in court. I am proud of the Deep Springs community. The tone during our listening sessions, back in 2011, was calmer, more reflective, and more collaborative than the stories I heard from the seventies and nineties. The mood at the Centennial Reunion was upbeat and happy. Whatever their original feelings on the topic, I think most people are glad to have this controversy behind us. I got a warm hug from Ed Keonjian at the reunion. It’s time for all of us to come together.

Thank you to everyone who participated in listening sessions, gave advice, or supported the process in any way. Thanks also to the legal team that so ably represented us, including lawyers and staff from Baker Manock & Jensen, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, and Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton.

At the Centennial, many people asked if we could go coed in 2018, a year from now. “Are there facilities changes we need to make? Is it even possible?” To be honest, we don’t know. There has been an injunction against any coed planning for almost five years now. We need to dust off the plans and pick up where we left off. But when the injunction hit, we were only five and a half months from admitting women. We had received many excellent applications. We are eleven months away from July 2018, when the class of 2018 will arrive, so we have twice as much time left now as we did last time. This doesn’t prove that it’s possible, but it’s a hint that it might be. If we can prudently and professionally transition in 2018, then we would certainly like to!

Now it is time to restart our planning efforts. We will keep the community posted on our progress.

As Deep Springs enters its second century, we are well positioned to promote the Nunnian ideals of service and leadership in education. What an exciting time!

Dave Hitz

Chairman, Trustees of Deep Springs

Evanne Jardine, Friend – Bishop, California

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We were saddened to learn of the death last week of long-time college friend Evanne Jardine of Bishop, California. Evanne and her husband John have been enthusiastic friends to the college ever since they moved to the Eastern Sierra two decades ago, and we have enjoyed their company at campus events and public speaking over many years. Their devoted support of our educational goals has made a very positive impact on the life of the college. John has shared the announcement of Evanne’s passing, below. We extend our deepest sympathies to John and all of their family.

Evanne Hays Jardine, 3/12/40 – 12/10/2016

On December 10, Evanne Jardine, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, ended her two years long fight with pancreatic cancer at her home in Bishop. She will always be our champ, now at rest and content with her life and achievements, centered in her indomitable spirit and held in the steadfast love and joyful memories of family, friends and colleagues.

From 1966-95, Evanne taught English composition and literature at Santa Barbara City College, with an emphasis on American literature. After retiring with her husband John Cunningham to Mammoth Lakes, she continued writing poetry and fiction as she always had, participating in two writing groups. She returned to her earlier practice of art, joining plein air classes and groups, her work frequently exhibited in Bishop and Mammoth. Her book of recent poems and watercolors, chiefly of the Sierra, Learning to Weave, was published in October, 2016 and is available through Bishop Art Supply and Spellbinder Books in Bishop. It is also available at http://stores.bishopartsupply.com/

Evanne, an avid hiker and skier, also taught courses in the history of the Eastern Sierra. With grace and humor, she demonstrated strength of character, a lifelong love of learning, appreciation of beauty, and spirit of adventure. She and John traveled the world and, with their dog Sophie, camped all over the West and Mexico.

Evanne is survived by her ever-loving husband John, her son Sean, stepchildren Barbara and Michael, and grandchildren Eamonn, Kyle, Brian, Henry and Clara, as well as her sister Debbie and her brother John Edward, known as Jed.

We let go, but we never lose sight . . . . ”All Light is Beautiful.”

Memorial service to be announced later.

100th Class Arrives

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Over the Fourth of July weekend, the college welcomed the new students of Deep Springs Class of 2016. Hailing from across the United States as well as Canada and South Africa, this is the 100th new group of students to arrive in the valley since Deep Springs was established in 1917. (While the first arrivals in 1917 had to sleep in tents and assist with building the college from the ground up, the latest arrivals have it somewhat easier.)

Just one week after the graduation of DS’14, the new first-year students arrived on Friday for dinner, then  convened their first Student Body meeting with the second-years on hand. On Saturday, the entire group embarked on the traditional hike up Chocolate Mountain peak, camping overnight. On Monday, Summer Seminar commenced the seven week term with its first class. In addition to the academic course work and self-governance meetings, the first-years will attend weekly “sense-of-place” lectures with staff around the ranch, farm and desert to become familiar with Deep Springs’ unique surroundings and program. Over the course of 100 years, Deep Springs has matriculated just over 1100 individuals. We’re excited to reach this milestone.

Deep Springs Farm Moves to Organic Certification

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The alfalfa farm at Deep Springs has begun the process of shifting to organic operation. This spring, farm manager Ben Munger switched to organic fertilizer and seed for the current growing season. First inspections from CCOF (California Certified Organic Farms) will take place this summer and results from that survey will be used to establish protocols for future inspections and a fertility plan going forward. If all goes well, the college farm will be able to sell hay certified as organic by the fall of 2018, commanding a higher and more stable price than afforded by the regular commodity market. The college is also investigating options for switching the cattle herd to 100% organic but needs to find organic alternatives for dietary supplements to prevent bloat. Beyond pricing and environmental improvements, engaging in organic farming provides students hands-on experience with questions of stewardship in this increasingly vibrant area of modern agriculture.