[Alumni-chat] current student opinions

[Art Dole]

On 8/9/07 7:13 AM, "Pam Olsen" <theodora at imbris.com> wrote:

> Does anyone mind if we ask current students (and those since '00, perhaps)
> to post about what they like about the college and curriculum, and what, if
> anything, they would change? I, for one, would like to know more about the
> current program and what it's strengths and weaknesses are.
> 
> 
> 
By all means, Pam. I for one much appreciate the voices of current students,
faculty, staff, as they appear on this chat. As an old geezer, I am reminded
of the Antiochs I have seen since 1937! A few snapshots.

In 1937 I transferred from Harvard. The instruction at Antioch was superior
in quality, depth and stimulation. The co-op plan transformed me from a
professional waiter to a psychologist. (I will resist the temptation to
expand.) My parents hated it, partly because my thinking did not duplicate
theirs.

In 1946-8 I returned after the war years. The place was booming, exciting;
the g.i's were exceptional. McGregor stimulated a campus wide interest in a
new specialty--group process. Yes, there was also free love,faculty-student
sex,  lots of alcohol, and a snifter of communism. As a faculty member, I
discovered that some of my former teachers were human.

In 1967-75 when I returned for reunions was appalled by a deteriorating
scene, suddenly enlarged student body, the strike, the branch plan. My son
Steve enrolled, then complained of big classes, rampant drug abuse,
robberies in his dorm, etc. He left for Ohio State. The branch campus in
Philly, I heard from its students, was a shoddy rip-off.

In 1982-4 my daughter Barbara transferred from College  of the Atlantic. She
loved her small classes, the faculty, and the co-op plan; she continued on
to her doctorate well prepared. The administration looked competent.

>From 1985-91--I was somewhat troubled by negative national publicity, by
reports from faculty friends of incompetent administrators, low salaries,
trashed dorms. None of the high school seniors whom I encouraged to visit
enrolled.  

In 1992-5 because Marj was on the Alumni Board, I visited Yellow Springs
periodically. I recognized that Antioch had serious problems with physical
plant, with faculty pay,  and with its relations to the University, but the
academic and co-op programs, Antioch Abroad, seemed to be progressing. The
administration looked competent,the endowment was growing, and the students
were interesting and intellectually curious.

In recent years--Because I felt very strongly (as an academic) that the
University was hurting the College, I joined the Antioch Independence
struggle. Our efforts were ignored. And I was depressed by the turnovers in
faculty and administration.

Of course, Antioch College has changed--many times--over the years. But I
sense from the comments on this chat that it was and is a very special
place. If it survives, it will change again. I hope for the better,