[Alumni-chat] DDN Editorial -- Suggestion regarding political perceptions

[alanbenard (alanbenard at pobox.com)]

The DDN Editorial wrote:

>One area that all who are working to save the school should agree upon is in the political realm. Antioch has a reputation for a certain repressiveness coming from the political left, an excessive dedication to political correctness. Some don't see this as a major problem in attracting students; they believe Antioch's political niche is big enough for a small school.
>
>To adopt that mindset would be wrong-headed for two reasons:
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>• The school's appeal is fragile enough that any potential problem must be confronted.
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>• A public commitment to free inquiry and genuine intellectual freedom should be made and enforced just as a matter principle.
Clearly, the /perception/ of "a certain repressiveness" is damaging to the college's reputation. 

I'm in the "niche is big enough" category, though I am dismayed that progressive media outlets -- such as Air America, Democracy Now! -- don't seem to see the college as an ongoing story. How do we get their attention? And, how does Antioch recapture the largely negative national-press attention we enjoyed during the '90s -- only this time, the story gives the College credit for promoting fairness?

Enlarging the college population would bring a benefit in the form of a greater diversity of political ideas. But there are at least two challenges: 1) Preserving progressive political traditions at the College; and 2) Preventing other political viewpoints -- and the people who hold them -- from being steamrollered.

I believe that it would not be a diversion from the work of keeping Antioch College open for the Alumni Board to address this issue immediately, particularly if it is the required seed-of-doubt in an otherwise very positive editorial from the regional newspaper. 

Anyone with a dog in the fight currently -- be they Chancellor, Board Member, President, Alumni Board member, Faculty member, Staff member, alumnus/alumna -- ought to be disqualified from doing the work to address this issue. Objectivity, distance from the issues and arguments, and integrity are required. 

In short, we need a powerful, independent ombudsperson to address the issue of political climate at Antioch College. And when I say independent, I mean independent from /EVERYONE/. Paid, perhaps from independent funds provided by alumni, not administered by Antioch University.

This would go a long way towards addressing perceived -- and even actual -- issues of imbalance and aggression over political expression and personal behavior at Antioch. 

And it would probably get us a lot of national publicity. 

And it would probably make certain potential donors feel more comfortable.

Thanks for reading this much. 

Alan Benard, '92