YouTube - Visions of Paradise - Dojon Banks, DQ University Student

YouTube - Visions of Paradise - Dojon Banks, DQ University Student

Mama Cobb was one of the women who "jumped the fence" to obtain the land now known as D-Q University. Her and one of her students, Ben, invited some of my high school students to join them at D-Q University in 2001 and 2002. They did a healing on my back because I had been having extreme difficulty with it. I haven't had back problems since. They were quiet about the political situation at D-Q but I could tell there was an urgency within them. They lived off campus but near the campus. My mentor and co-worker, Rosa, took us to her home. They spoke only Spanish. I cried. I wept. I felt such sadness there and I couldn't put my finger on it. I knew her son was sad but I didn't know the college was about to "close". I taught English Language Development for two semesters at D-Q in 2001-2002. I knew very little about the political problems they were having except to say that they hired me, a college professor, with only a bachelor's degree in English from U.C. Berkeley and a C.A. Teaching Credential. The other professors there were dedicated, loving people. The ground and environment are sacred and home of some very special ancestral sites, including a Mayan Calandar in the lobby of the main entrance. There is outstanding native paintings surrounding and enfolding the college. My prayers are with D-Q and its reopening with state/national certification so that native students get a genuine, qualifying education and can help other neighboring colleges through their research, studies and findings. I hope the college can grow and evolve to include graduate school offerings that are also nationally recognized. I do think, though, that since the college is on native land, the national and state authentication processing should have modifications to suit the needs of the native community. This being said, I hope the college strives to serve its students and community the best way it can and return to its root and native purpose and reach out to its elders and their initial vision for the land. I know D-Q has a special purpose in this life and for California and, the world.