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Salon: Past Events

Salon Information

Salon Program
Jefferson Center Salons present topics of interest to our community, and provide a forum for lively discussion afterward. Topics are selected by a committee of members. We serve refreshments contributed by volunteers and have a brief social time before the start of the program. Salons are typically held on the second Sunday of each month at 4pm at The Jefferson Center, 208 Oak Street, Suite 101 in Ashland. Guests of members and interested visitors are always welcome to join us. NOTE: Due to the Covid epidemic, Salons are being held via zoom. See the Future Salons list for information about upcoming events.

03/12/2023 - 4:00pm Sex, Apes, and Alpha Gods

Do big religions have “Alpha Male” gods because men want multiple sexual partners and women are sexually attracted to dominant males? If so, where did this come from? And who can we blame? Our own evolutionary psychology, says Hector Garcia. But we can behave differently. Garcia is author of the book “Alpha God: The Psychology of Religious Violence and Oppression,” and explored these topics in a talk presented last year at the national convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). Does our biology account for our notions of a God who inspires not only male power and dominance but also female sexual desire?
After viewing the video of Garcia's FFRF talk, discussion will be led by Sandra Coyner, Ph.D., longtime Jefferson Center member and emerita professor who taught history, women’s studies, and critical thinking, at several universities including Southern Oregon University. We will consider both the validity of Garcia’s claims and his use of evidence from the controversial field of evolutionary psychology.

02/19/2023 - 4:00pm Who wrote that?

Jefferson Center member, Dr. Tony Davis, who worked for decades as a computational linguist, will facilitate a conversation about the effects and implications of AI systems such as ChatGPT that use language in amazingly human ways. The session will focus on education and critical thinking and begin by showing some of ChatGPT’s capabilities in action. Then, the discussion will turn to broader issues. Is this the end of student essays? How hard is it to detect chatGPT's writing, and to regulate its use? What kinds of skills become less relevant when students use this technology in their written work? Are fears about losing crucial cognitive abilities justified? How do the prospects of writing by machine compare with other circumstances when we’ve had to deal with automation and technological change, such as smartphones, calculators, the printing press, or the invention of writing itself?
Please note both the different date and venue. This salon will take place in the theater at Science Works, 1500 E Main St, Ashland, OR 97520.

01/08/2023 - 4:00pm What has the Constitution done for you lately?

Does our Constitution include a right to privacy? What about the right to vote? Some rights aren’t explicitly spelled out, yet we still depend on the courts to define and uphold them. But is that confidence reasonable, given historical and present-day court actions that seem irredeemably tainted by politics?

On Sunday, 8 Jan., 4-6 pm, the Jefferson Center will host a discussion of these issues, led by Dr. William Lasser, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Clemson University, South Carolina.

This event is free and open to the public. It will take place on Zoom. Please click on the title to the left for the registration link, a QR code for that link, and a list of relevant background readings. For more information, contact: Tony Davis (tonydavis0@gmail.com)

12/21/2022 - 4:00pm Winter Solstice Party and Potluck

Come join us on Wednesday, December 21 at 4 pm in the friendly confines of the Jefferson Center space in the Old Ashland Armory (208 Oak Street, Suite 101) as we revive our Annual Winter Solstice Party and Potluck. Be prepared to enjoy good food, hear a few interesting tidbits about the solstice, and have a great time with like-minded folks.

Please bring a potluck dish to share (main dish, side vegetable dish or dessert), your own tableware, one or more of your favorite games (short games, please), and any friends who might be interested in the Jefferson Center. Beverages and some snacks will be provided by the Jefferson Center.

Please RSVP with what you are bringing to Tony Davis at tonydavis0@gmail.com. Enter the Armory through the side door down the ramp on the north side of the building.

11/20/2022 - 2:00pm The State of Theater in the Rogue Valley and Beyond

The Jefferson Center will host a discussion led by Rogue Theater Company’s Jessica Sage on November 20, 2022 from 2 to 4 pm. The topic is the state of theater in the Rogue Valley and, more broadly, current issues facing the performing arts here and beyond. Please note that the date and time are different from our usual salon schedule.

The internet and other technologies have exerted a profound effect on performing arts in the last couple of decades. More recently, the pandemic has hit live performance hard. As live theater emerges from a difficult two years, new uncertainties and opportunities have arisen. This event will address how local artistic endeavors can thrive in the internet age. How will the situation of the arts in the Rogue Valley evolve in the coming years? What kinds of audiences does live theater seek these days, and what do audiences seek from theater? How dependent is theater on local audiences and patrons in a relatively small area like the Rogue Valley, as opposed drawing in others from outside the area? What role should local governments, educational institutions, and businesses play in supporting performing arts? Long active in theater here and elsewhere, Jessica Sage is currently Producing Artistic Director of Rogue Theater Company

This event is free and open to the public. It will take place in the Jefferson Center’s space, suite 101, in the Old Armory Building, 208 Oak St., in Ashland.

10/16/2022 - 4:00pm Healthcare and Firearms: Two Oregon Ballot Measures

Should healthcare be a constitutionally established right in Oregon? Should firearm purchases be further restricted? Oregonians will attempt to answer these questions when they vote on Measure 111 and Measure 114 this November. Both of these ballot measures are likely to prove controversial.

Two knowledgeable people, both long-time members of the Jefferson Center, will provide more information and facilitate discussion about these issues. Sandra Coyner serves on the board of directors of Healthcare for all Oregon, which advocates for reform of health care finance. Raoul Salem is a member of the Oregon State Shooting Association and has studied the provision of Measure 114 in detail. While each of them has views on these ballot measures, the intent of the discussion is not to promote one position or another, but to encourage exchanges of viewpoints among attendees.

This in-person event is free and open to the public. It will take place in the Jefferson Center’s space, suite 101, in the Old Armory Building, 208 Oak Street., in Ashland.

09/11/2022 - 4:00pm No Jefferson Center Salon in September

There will be no Salon in September. Please stay tuned for information about the October salon, scheduled for October 9th.
Thank you for your patience and continuing support of The Jefferson Center.

08/14/2022 - 4:00pm There Will Not Be a Salon in August; See You in September
07/10/2022 - 4:00pm Local Journalism: Covering Disagreement in the Community

The Jefferson Center will host a discussion via Zoom on July 10, 2022 from 4 to 6 pm, examining the challenges and dilemmas journalists confront as they cover contentious local issues. We’ll discuss the role of media in community controversies, conflicts, and disagreements with two experienced local journalists: Bert Etling, formerly editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings and founder of the news website Ashland.news, and Erik Neumann, interim news director at Jefferson Public Radio.
Please register in advance by clicking on the title to the left and following the zoom link in the longer description of the event.
Local journalists often face difficult choices, and their coverage may reverberate in relatively small communities. They may feel squeezed between the goals of full and accurate reporting and avoiding offense to some segments of the community. This is especially true if those they might offend are powerful, influential, and can exert pressure on media to soften their stance.
How should journalists handle coverage of controversies? Do “both sides” deserve equal consideration in these cases? How far should reporters go in refuting controversial claims?

Bert Etling is executive editor at Ashland.news, which launched earlier this year. He edited the Ashland Daily Tidings from 2014 to 2019, overseeing a five-fold increase in local content and 30% increase in circulation.

Erik Neumann is interim news director at Jefferson Public Radio. He earned a master's degree from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and joined JPR as a reporter in 2019 after working at NPR member station KUER in Salt Lake City.

06/12/2022 - 4:00pm Genetically Modified Organisms: Controversies and Consequences

Dr. John Kloetzel, emeritus professor of biology, will survey the realm of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in a Jefferson Center Zoom event on June 12, 2022 from 4 to 6 pm. Kloetzel will bring in both scientific and public policy perspectives, and facilitate a discussion among participants.
GMOs have provoked contentious and passionate debates. Scientific questions about the possibilities of GMO technology form just one part. Rancorous disputes over environmental, health, and legal questions are another. Some have voiced concerns about “playing God”, messing with “Mother Nature”, and the arrogance of geeky scientists trying to “improve” on evolution. Finally, we humans are biological organisms, too. Does gene engineering/therapy in humans, now being used in ways that can be truly lifesaving, qualify as GMO technology too? How might that change our perspectives, and our feelings about this field overall?

To join this Zoom event, please register in advance at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYoc-ivrjwuGNdnxSmIqvbUlrvMoBJ...
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the salon.

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