Bastyr University in the largest employer in Kenmore, Washington. Bastyr University is twenty five years old. Bastyr University is located in the heart of a wilderness filled with trails that snake left, right, north and south of Juanita drive. Created by students to honor their teacher John Bastyr, this university is not your typical medical school.
If you speak with the employees they will tell you that the school is special because no one is happy there. Everyone complains and there is a lack any type of solidarity amongst the students. No one is proud to attend Bastyr. If you speak with the students, most are unhappy or are basically treading water waiting to move on to the next stage of their lives. The current President of the University is Daniel K. Church. He is one of many Presidents the school has had, in fact many of the top positions are frequently vacant or interim.
The question is why. This school could not have been formed in a more liberal state than Washington. The school has been there long enough to have made a name for itself. Why do the staff never stay? Even the human resources department is full of new hires. There is a longing there for a more profound, scientific environment but it is pushed back by a staunch wall of immaturity and paranoia. There are no standards, no criteria for anything. Most students, faculty and staff do whatever they want and are baffled as to why there is no true enlightenment.
Can a school survive amongst such turmoil and chaos? Sure, many institutions have had to face adversity, for example Houston Baptist University. It is Houston’s Blessed University. The real estate committee was constantly challenged by the city government, county government and residents of Houston but the chair of the committee was tenacious and mature enough to continue in his vision for the school. Is the difference in his christian beliefs? Is it because Houston is a major city that supports community and pride while the major city here is Seattle where isolation is supported?
Perhaps…
Bastyr University has other differences as well, like an herb garden and volleyball court as well as practicing Wiccans on campus. There has been quite a bit of tragedy in the last two and a half years from death of founders to death of the parents of the current President. There is hostility from the Kenmore civic leaders and the future does not look bright for Bastyr. Is there any hope?
Yes, but only in the hands of someone who is mature, confident, selfless and genuine. Bastyr University will continue, I am certain of it. They may limp for a while but sure as the sun rises there will be change for the better. Perhaps the campus will give way to scrubs and khakis in place of flip flops and tatoos, but there will be change. The city of Kenmore has lots of plans to be sure for Bastyr University.
Kenmore is a beautiful city located between Bothell and Kirkland at the north end of Lake Washington with lots of old growth trees. Bastyr University is housed in an old Catholic Monastery with a chapel and public vegetarian cafeteria. The current President is on his way out and a new one will take his place. There will be a commencement on June 22nd where Dr. Joycelyn Elders will speak and ninety-eight of the one thousand students will complete the spring graduation. There is constant change at Bastyr University and some day they will grow up as all babies do. Until then, I hope the leaders at Kenmore City Hall are taking notes.
