[Alumni-chat] Veterans at Antioch?

[Barrie Grenell]

For those working on the vision/educational program for continuing to keep
Antioch open:

 

Toni has talked about recruiting more international students; good idea. And
I had another idea that comes out of my current job with Swords to
Plowshares. 

 

Background on me: I grew up in Yellow Springs; my dad is Meredith Dallas. I
went to Antioch '60-'62; I dropped out because it was too academically
vigorous for me at the time; when I returned 5 years later to BU, I was
ready for academic rigor, but most of my fellow students wanted to talk
about co-ed dorms. I thank Ollie Loud for Physical Science World Picture,
which opened me up to science and my own ability to think and
appreciate/generate ideas.

 

Idea #1, fishing for feedback: Now, I work at an organization in SF that
works with veterans. Started in 1974 by VN vets, later when drug use and
homelessness exploded in the '80s, the organization moved into housing. Two
years ago they started an Iraq Veteran Project to do what they could, mainly
in the area of mental health, to prevent this new generation of veterans
from the slide through joblessness, family dissolution, drug use, and
homelessness.

 

In the early 1950s, Antioch had a slew of veterans on campus. They were FUN,
exciting, older than the other students, with lots of life experience under
their belts. Why not another outreach to veterans? I realize it could
present a cultural problem, but also an opportunity for leadership and
cross-cultural communication, which seems to be needed anyway. The co-op
program would probably be of interest to them. Plus, Antioch could have a
special program for transitioning from war to civilian life and dealing with
PTSD.

 

There's an Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund at the California
Community Foundation which has beaucoup bucks and can make grants
nationwide, fairly easily. Antioch could get a grant to create a new portion
of a curriculum and for outreach. I understand that it's handy to have a
group of local vets to be advisors, mentors, helpers. (Humboldt State has a
very effective veteran program.) Maybe there's an LA-based Antiochian to
arrange lunch with the woman who runs this fund.

       

Why not seek to increase the student body with veterans? Get foundation
money and state and federal funds to provide full scholarships. The vets
would need to want to buy into Antioch's program, values, etc., and the
college would need to do special outreach and on-campus advisors, etc. worth
checking with Antiochiana about the '50s vets and what a boone they were to
the college community.

 

I know I can get the Iraq Veteran Project folks here to help make it happen.
Maybe they'd even depute me to work on it.

 

IDEA #2

 

What about reinstating a business major. Two alums, separately, mentioned
entrepreneurship opportunities for/working with poor people in Springfield;
another said with an International Studies "major", you've GOT to have
business. Unlike chemistry or engineering, you don't need the latest
equipment.

 

 

Barrie Dallas Grenell '65

_________________

Barrie Grenell

QBA

(415) 826-2409

sercle at sbcglobal.net