[Alumni-chat] Environmental Advocacy (One Version of SocialEntrepreneurshi

[Robert Devine]

David,

I don't know that it's really a debate.  Given the plethora of "good" and
"excellent" ideas I've been given over the years, I'm always curious about
how much thought has been given to the practical processes of planning,
initiation and implementation.  
 
Of course your hypothesis is possible.  I would only add to your list of
descriptors (ideological, pedagogical, professorial, politically correct)
a few of my own, including choices (a) that have favored organizational
efficiency over programmatic integrity, (b) that have been essentially
conservative in times that risks were required, (c) that have favored
short-term efficiencies over long term gains (one need only look at the
College's retention record), and (d)  that have ignored or sidestepped
meaningful dialogue about core values out of a fear of being branded
"politically correct".  

The College has reinvented itself a half a dozen times since you and I
were students, David.  In all that time it has never had resources to
squander.  Given a sliver of endowment, an ungainly University structure,
a pitiful physical plant, a remote Board and a sea change in the
demography of its students, it has devised strategies, in the words of
Saul Alinski, "to do what you can with what you have."  I have my own
litany of blameworthy decisions and bonehead choices to cite, but I don't
think they will help us at all in moving forward.
 
As for holding on to a life raft, you'd be surprised at the churn we can
produce by kicking our feet.

Bob

Alumni Chat List <alumni-chat at w3.antioch.edu> on Wednesday, May 23, 2007
at 10:10 AM -0500 wrote:
>I don't mean to intrude on this fascinating debate. But ..
>
>Bob, isn't it possible that the real issue is the array of (ideological
>pedagogical, professorial, politically correct, etc.) choices that have
>been
>and are being made by and about the past and present resources -- human
>and
>financial?
>
>Of course, to be fair, a man holding on to a life raft with both hands
>finds
>it hard to paddle.
>
>J. David
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: alumni-chat-bounces at w3.antioch.edu
>[mailto:alumni-chat-bounces at w3.antioch.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Devine
>Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 7:22 AM
>To: Alumni Chat List
>Cc: 'Alumni Chat List'
>Subject: Re: [Alumni-chat] Environmental Advocacy (One Version of
>SocialEntrepreneurshi
>
>Alumni Chat List <alumni-chat at w3.antioch.edu> on Wednesday, May 23, 2007
>at 12:08 AM -0500 wrote:
>> It's something that students, their families, and donors are
>>really interested in. It's a potential career path as all these separate
>>movements relating to quality of life and social justice start to meld
>>together. Why not give them what they want. 
>
>How?  With what resources -- human and financial?  
>
>Bob
>
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Robert H. Devine
College Professor
Antioch College
Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387

Our lives begin to end
the day we become silent
about things that matter"

-  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr