Evan Ratzan

Evan Ratzan is a Division III Hampshire Student entering his fourth and final year enrolled in the college. He studies Neurochemistry as well as Art/Music Psychotherapy. He loves skateboarding, mountain biking, hiking, yoga, aikido, painting, drawing, reading, as well as playing instruments. Evan plays bass guitar, guitar, didgeridoo, harmonica, and trumpet. Evan grew up in a cabin with no utilities deep in [Monte Cristo Gulch], CO. He also lived in Denver, CO depending on the season and the year. He grew up learning to snowboard and appreciate nature. In high school he participated in a number of academic groups (Knowledge Bowl, Lincoln Douglas Debate, American Civil Liberties Union, and Summit COunty Television). In 2005, Evan graduated from Summit High School and applied for enrollment at Hampshire College where he began studying psychology and art. Eventually, Evan joined a number of student groups including the glass collective, Skateboarding Club, GLUG, Hacktivismand Circusuntil recently. Evan currently resides in Prescott of Hampshire College.

Division III

 * [[Image:Div IIIPDF.pdf|Evan Ratzan's Div III]]

''This article is part of a Climax Div III Issue. By Josh Schneider, Arts &amp; Entertainment Editor.'' Science concentrator Evan Michael Ratzan has studied alternative treatments for psychological and neurological disorders in both humans and lab rats. Ratzan elaborated on his Div III: “Traditional cultural rituals involving communal dance, music, and a shaman’s pharmacy have been gradually replaced by invasive treatments including pharmaceuticals, psychotherapy, surgery, electroshock therapy, and magnetic brain stimulation. My Division III investigates the efficacy of art and music psychotherapy for two specific sensory-motor disorders: Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. I tested this in humans with an ERP computer task for healthy individuals. I also tested chemically lesioned (Parkinsonian) rats with,and without infrared phototherapy.” Hailing from Breckenridge, CO, Ratzan worked with faculty members Jane Couperus and Rayane Moreira to utilize Five College resources and explore alternate medical treatments for the neurological or psychological diseased. Ratzan lists Hampshire’s various resources such as the Lemelson Center, the Media Basement, It, and the Chemistry Lab when describing what he will miss most about Hampshire life. While a meal in SAgA stands out in Ratzan’s mind as his earli-est memories of the school, Ratzan’s favorite Hampshire destination is the cool shade of the field beneath the Hampshire Tree. Another Hamp institution, Hampshire Halloween, makes for Ratzen’s most beloved memory, specifically Halloween 2006. When asked for advice for Hampshire students, Ratzan urges for an early start. “Don’t do Div I or Div II, just do Div III when you first arrive.”