[Alumni-chat] Wiping the slate clean...

[E. Daniel Ayres]

Matt Baya asked:

 

>do other people feel that in order to get to the independent 'new  

>Antioch' we have to wipe the slate clean?

 

 

I don't know how easy it is to get a slate clean or even how to determine if
it is clean.  The current "in control" BoT has declared that they are in the
process of doing exactly that, starting over fresh with a new design after a
four year hiatus.   There were enough things which had grown to the level of
festering sores on the body of Antioch College as it is/was when the board
declared it gone that any plan to keep it alive or to resurrect it must deal
with, that , given our liberal penchant for focused advocacy and
deliberation, the assumption that resolution would take four years to
accomplish is probably not all that unfounded.  My main concern is not so
much getting all the issues hammered out, but rather preservation of the
capital, both historical, and physical, which represents the core of the
Antioch College we all experienced and grew within.   Allowing four years to
pass without a program and a faculty or maintenance removes a lot of the
tradition aspect of the community, an element we Liberals do not often
venerate, but which is now recognized as critical.   Starting anew
guarantees that what emerges will potentially loose focus on at least some
of the current priorities.

 

To me, that is not all bad.  The "tradition" that says, we can't afford to
do that, is insidious and destructive.   It has been the mantra of the
administration and expressed by administrators who would not be likely to
consider firing themselves to create the cash flow required to achieve the
objective. The resurrection or salvation of the College comes from a
statement,  "this is what must be done, and this is how it will be done."

 

I fear that we, as a loosely structured multi-tiered community of trained
skeptics and activists, won't be able to state what it is that must be done
and then do what it takes to get it done without an agreement which
essentially says, "the marriage has failed, a divorce is necessary, and I
get the kids and my rightful share of the community property."  In this,
Antioch College plays the role of the struggling and dutiful wife who is
somewhat blindsided by the suspect philandering husband who finally
declares, "I'm getting out."  He has taken the time to "set the table" for
the struggle before making the announcement.  She doesn't even have an
attorney.

 

I believe the Antioch College Faculty is now represented by one.  The
current Antioch University and its' BoT are represented.  Are the students?
Is Yellow Springs?  What about us alumnae? Can we agree on anything other
than "we need X dollars to save Antioch College?" where X is an unknown and
we must learn/re-learn the math required to solve the equation for X?  I
think we need to recognize the fact that the slate is being wiped while we
are still in shock.  I've seen several postings from people who have
received notice or who are leaving, or who are already gone as I write on
July 1.  The shutdown of the residential program is gaining its' own
momentum.   Is there a man on a white horse with $20m offering to step up
next week?  Next month?  If not, I am resigned to working through the
struggle to achieve the divorce before making plans.  Anything other than a
board and leadership  focused on the priorities for residential cooperative
undergraduate education with full financial control and disclosure before
anything else, it seems to me, is not going to be able to save Antioch
College.

 

E. Daniel Ayres, AKA ZundapMan

734-395-9141 (cell)

734-434-9694 (home)

http://home.comcast.net/~eayres