[Alumni-chat] Student Speeches; My Dream for Antioch's Future.

[Mark Pomerantz]

Maybe this idea should be revived!!

Mark P. '71

      "In 1919, two major episodes fateful for the future of Antioch
occurred in rather close sequence.  On February 7th, the trustees met with
representatives of the national Young Men's Christian Association to
consider the proposal for making Antioch the National College of the YMCA.
The project was to be financed and controlled by the YMCA, and the college
was to remain co-educational and non-sectarian.  The curriculum was
generally to remain the same as before, with an additional division for
special training for YMCA and YWCA workers.  It was estimated that an
additional endowment of $500,000 would be needed, and this the YMCA
volunteered to raise.  The YMCA representatives specified that there should
be twelve vacancies in the Board of Trustees to be filled with
representatives for the YMCA.  All local trustees offered to resign.  This
alluring project must have bowled over the whole Board of Trustees, for they
agreed unanimously to accept the proposal.  The only dissenting voice came
from Prof. William M. Dawson (attending the meeting by invitation) who
counseled delay and investigation.  But the trustees elected Dr. Grant
Perkins, the chief YMCA representative, president of Antioch to serve
without salary ad interim and to take office in June. 
      At a special meeting of the trustees on May 20th, Dr. Perkins reported
that he was not prepared to undertake the $500,000 endowment and resigned --
and the whole project came to an end." 
Robert L. Straker- "A Brief Sketch of Antioch College 1853-1921"

-----Original Message-----
From: alumni-chat-bounces at w3.antioch.edu
[mailto:alumni-chat-bounces at w3.antioch.edu] On Behalf Of Mark Pomerantz
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 12:04 AM
To: 'Alumni Chat List'
Subject: RE: [Alumni-chat] Student Speeches; My Dream for Antioch's Future.

Take a look at Berea College in Kentucky and their Entrepreneurship for the
Public Good Program (EPG). Their college endowment is a BILLION dollars and
they have only 1500 students. The EPG Program alone has an endowment of $8
million (probably a quarter of Antioch's total endowment) They don't even
charge tuition but all students must do 10 hours weekly work for the
College. They grew their endowment from 150 million to a billion in 20
years. A primary focus is empowering the people of Appalachia through
community and economic development.

Mark P. '71

-----Original Message-----
From: alumni-chat-bounces at w3.antioch.edu
[mailto:alumni-chat-bounces at w3.antioch.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Brower
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 6:14 PM
To: alumni-chat at w3.antioch.edu
Cc: Michael Brower
Subject: [Alumni-chat] Student Speeches; My Dream for Antioch's Future.

Christian Skotte posted a note urging us to read the student  
commencement speeches.  Thanks Christian for this suggestion.  I just  
took your advice, and I am very impressed.  Back in the 50's we used  
to talk about "Re-evaluating our basic assumptions."  And it is clear  
that in different language, Antioch is still encouraging and teaching  
students to do that.  My hat is off to the current faculty.  They are  
obviously continuing in the Antioch tradition of being extra-ordinary  
teachers, in the best meaning of encouraging learning and full-person  
development.

Here are my dreams-wishes for Antioch.  That all students plus new  
grads plus older Alums all put our dreams and shoulders to helping to:

1)  Get the Gates and Buffett and a dozen foundations, plus a  
thousand and then ten thousand other donors to build an Antioch  
endowment to rival that of Oberlin at 3/4 of a BILLION dollars!  This  
means building our present endowment to about 20 times its present size!