Sept26--2011--Veterans

A successful first fieldwork day, in part due to a dynamic and passionate guest speaker (Dr. Eugene Lipov, FWP grad, visionary (perhaps) who has invented a surgical intervention for PTSD) and an organized and committed bunch. The day was many things: an inquiry into the state of science education at Parker, a crash course in the FDA and the process of disseminating a medical procedure, a struggle with the traumatic images of the documentary film "Alive Day," and a discussion about what constitutes an effective MX. We split into sub-groups eventually, working up: 10 Essential Facts about veterans, The Problems Facing Vets Today, Services Available, The Future for Veterans, The Stories We Want to Tell, FWP Vets (A Working List). We mean to select from the information found by the sub-groups--and thereby shape a MX. Ongoing discussion about whether one Parker vet's idea that FWP needs a commemorative plaque for vets, combined with another Parker vet's idea, that the plaque would include Peace Corps vets too--whether we should push for these, given what we understand was Dr. Frank's initial, tepid response. Highlights of the day: Lipov on Marie Stone ("if not me, then who...?"), the students' excellent questions (what about cognitive therapy and bringing the problems up rather than pushing them down? why so much resistance to your method? why does the FDA allow seraquil for treatment of PTSD despite its record of deaths? how did you discover your method? any side effects? does it hurt? is it permanent, or needed repeatedly typically? is there an age limit? can one grow immune to PTSD?)

Quotables: "A reverse surge is coming our way." "The latest story on my work may be a game-changer." "Make up your own mind." "Marie Stone? That's being socially responsible." "People are dying now, and you're not doing anything." "How many lives have YOU saved?" (Lipov, to skeptics) "Brory: Can people get PTSD from video games? Lipov: Absolutely."