Lafayette Morehouse
Encyclopedia
Lafayette Morehouse, previously known as More University, is an experimental community, or commune
, established in 1968, on Purson Lane, Lafayette, California
. The community is known by residents in the area as "the purple people", a nickname derived from the community's characteristic use of the color purple on their buildings and on some of their vehicles. "We tell people that all the houses here are purple so that there is no mistake that one has changed realities should they wander onto our property" .
) and his first wife, Dr. Suzanne Baranco. The organization also has a community in Oahu, Hawai'i. Since Dr. Victor Baranco's death in 2002, the group has been led by Dr. Cindy Baranco, Dr. Victor Baranco's second wife.
The community is an example of the experimental communal living groups
that sprang up in the 1960s and 70s in the United States.
The purpose of the community is the research and education of the enjoyment of life, and the enrichment of life's pleasures. Courses offered by members of the organization to the community include topics such as interpersonal communication, sensuality and sex, inter-gender relationships, individual development, among others.
As a result of their research in sensuality, they presented the first known public demonstration of a woman in a state of orgasm for three hours in 1976.
Victor Baranco and More University were amongst the subjects of a 1994 article in Heterodoxy investigating "Mark Groups". The author based his conclusions entirely on secondary sources and never visited the group, interviewed its members, or examined the course material.
More University did have approval from the California Department of Education to issue academic degrees, this was granted in 1979; however:
"More boasts a total of 34 faculty members, 15 of whom have doctorates—one from UCLA and 14 from More."
A few of the many incidents reported include a health officials' report on contraction of gonorrhea by a 3 year old girl "while on the Lafayette property"; in 1980 the head of "Medical Science" having licence revoked because of the prescription of "excessive amounts of narcotics and mood-altering drugs"; multiple litigations frequently dismissed, including
Intentional community
An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
, established in 1968, on Purson Lane, Lafayette, California
Lafayette, California
Lafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 23,893. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War...
. The community is known by residents in the area as "the purple people", a nickname derived from the community's characteristic use of the color purple on their buildings and on some of their vehicles. "We tell people that all the houses here are purple so that there is no mistake that one has changed realities should they wander onto our property" .
History
The community was founded by Dr. Victor Baranco (son of the Oakland jazz artist Wilbert BarancoWilbert Baranco
Wilbert Baranco was an American jazz pianist and bandleader.Baranco played with Curtis Mosby in the early 1930s and then put together his own bands in the 1930s and 1940s, including several military bands during World War II. He recorded with Ernie Andrews in Los Angeles in 1945, and led a trio...
) and his first wife, Dr. Suzanne Baranco. The organization also has a community in Oahu, Hawai'i. Since Dr. Victor Baranco's death in 2002, the group has been led by Dr. Cindy Baranco, Dr. Victor Baranco's second wife.
The community is an example of the experimental communal living groups
Commune (intentional community)
A commune is an intentional community of people living together, sharing common interests, property, possessions, resources, and, in some communes, work and income. In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become...
that sprang up in the 1960s and 70s in the United States.
Philosophy
This experimental community was founded on the "More Philosophy." "The concept of perfection" is the "cornerstone" of the "philosophy and lifestyle". Their "working premise is that people and things are right the way they are and include the potential for change". The members consider themselves as social researchers and "responsible hedonists". The community is governed by a strict consensus of the community, a process they call the "one no-vote" systemThe purpose of the community is the research and education of the enjoyment of life, and the enrichment of life's pleasures. Courses offered by members of the organization to the community include topics such as interpersonal communication, sensuality and sex, inter-gender relationships, individual development, among others.
As a result of their research in sensuality, they presented the first known public demonstration of a woman in a state of orgasm for three hours in 1976.
Conflict with local community
Because of the conflict between this group's lifestyle and ideals and those of traditional society, there had been controversy raised in the media about this group, primarily in the early ‘70s and then again briefly in the mid-90s. Because the group is different, yet requests its privacy, it is perceived to be secretive and exclusive by the surrounding suburban community of Lafayette. The group is also the target of harassment and rumor among teenagers who trespass on the property on a regular basis. Because of this harassment, the community has been forced to protect themselves by taking turns to act as guards.Criticisms
Victor Baranco was one of three subjects of David Felton's Mindfuckers:Victor Baranco and More University were amongst the subjects of a 1994 article in Heterodoxy investigating "Mark Groups". The author based his conclusions entirely on secondary sources and never visited the group, interviewed its members, or examined the course material.
More University did have approval from the California Department of Education to issue academic degrees, this was granted in 1979; however:
"More boasts a total of 34 faculty members, 15 of whom have doctorates—one from UCLA and 14 from More."
A few of the many incidents reported include a health officials' report on contraction of gonorrhea by a 3 year old girl "while on the Lafayette property"; in 1980 the head of "Medical Science" having licence revoked because of the prescription of "excessive amounts of narcotics and mood-altering drugs"; multiple litigations frequently dismissed, including
Works
- The Aquarius, published irregularly from 1970 to 2004
- Morehouse - Choosing Your Family, published in [Communities Magazine], Spring 2010, Issue 146, page 35
Further reading
- Laurie Rivlin Heller (2005). "Basic Sense: The More Philosophy of Victor Baranco and the Institute of Human Abilities," Communal Societies. vol. 25, page 29.
- Robin Green, "Sergeant Bilko Meets the New Culture," Rolling Stone #97, December 9, 1971, pages 1 and 40-46
External links
- Lafayette Morehouse Website
- Flickr page
- painting of Victor and Cindy
- Morehouse v. Chronicle Publishing I California Anti-SLAPP Project, 37 Cal. App.4th 855, 44 Cal. Rptr.2d 46, California Court of Appeal, First District, Division 5., Aug. 9, 1995.
- Searchable Database of Accredited Institutions and Programs U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education*
- Lafayette Morehouse - a brief history & resource guide