Your path: Jane Goodall Visits Marylhurst
Jane Goodall Visits
Marylhurst University
Excerpt from an article by Cliff Newell in The West Linn Tidings, May 1, 2008.
Jane Goodall tends to draw a crowd.
That was remarkably apparent at the famed anthropologist's speech at Marylhurst University on April 23.
This was not an intimate, august gathering of people paying their respects to one of the most honored women in the world. In fact, the university commons area was a sea of humanity, and mostly young humanity, with all of the attendant noise, bustle and excitement.
This is something Goodall encounters very often, because she travels 300 days a year. That takes her away from her beloved chimpanzees – Goodall's research on them made her world famous. But this gentle, slender woman of 74, with the long gray hair tied up in back, believes it is her duty to spread peace throughout the world.
"War is not inevitable," Goodall told the huge crowd. "And if it is inevitable, humanity has inherent traits of love and compassion that can put a stop to war."
Goodall's own life is her best reason for hope in the face of all of the calamities facing the world. Growing up in London it seemed she had none of the resources that would let her live her dreams to go to Africa, live with animals and write books.
In fact, Goodall's life has exceeded her early dreams, and now she makes it her mission to give hope to the thousands of young people who flock to her experiences. World saving is now Goodall's business.
Goodall's appearance was a collaboration between the West Linn-Wilsonville School District and Marylhurst University.