[Alumni-chat] Antioch future vision

[David Apter]

I think this is a good idea.  We have to start some place.

And Daniel Spock comments are much appreciated.

David E. Apter




At 02:50 AM 11/6/2007, you wrote:
>
>In a message dated 11/5/2007 6:25:12 P.M. Central Standard Time,
>Daniel.Spock at MNHS.ORG writes:
>
>think  the general strand of the discussion established by Dr. Apter, Frank
>Adler (at  the alumni meeting I attended in Minneapolis this 
>weekend,) and I'm
>sure many  others, is really going to be a key matter going forward: revive
>Antioch how?  In what new, distinctive style that sets it apart from what so
>many other  institutions have adopted?
>
>
>Daniel, I wish I had been at the Mpls meeting this weekend, but was down
>with a flu bug, and didn't want to offer it up to others.
>
>But have heard a bit about the meeting, it seemed productive, and I too was
>much in agreement with what David Apter had posted.  I certainly agree that
>the content of curriculum along with overall plan will be the key to 
>success in
>  this venture, and I want to lay a concrete process proposal.
>
>I am of the opinion that the beginning of the slow demise of Antioch was an
>obscure decision in 1967 when the Faculty had a major dispute among
>themselves,  and then with Dixon, but the result was they voted away 
>their powers to
>more or  less control curriculum, pass final muster on awarding 
>degrees, and make
>the key  decisions on tenure and contracts.  As I say -- it was an obscure
>decision,  framed in the rhetoric of that period, but in the end, 
>set a pattern.
>  I  think if we succeed in this reconstruction of Antioch, one critical
>element will  be to return those powers and responsibility to the 
>core teaching
>faculty.   So what I propose ought to be comprehended in this light.
>
>What I suggest is a conference on our campus -- perhaps during spring  break,
>Easter, Passover, next spring to which would be invited Antiochians in
>Academic Careers, and Professions that parallel such careers.  It  should be
>sponsered by the Alumni Board -- but perhaps we could find 
>an  organizing committee
>not as much put upon as our current board.  (Remember,  all usually expected
>is to organize Reunions and help with admissions and  some fund raising.)
>What I have in mind is Antiochians currently  teaching in all parts of the US
>Academic Community, and thus in contact with a  broad sample of contemporary
>students, spending a couple of days doing public  brainstorming.  Some of it
>should be around specific disciplines normally  part of the Liberal 
>Arts Canon, and
>then it should be more or less mixed up with  interdisciplinary
>possibilities, and we should include at least a few  "futurists" -- 
>who can use
>demographics and intellectual and cultural trends, to  offer some 
>prophetic commentary.
>
>Out of this, well we publish something called perhaps, "The New Antioch --
>Working Papers"  put it on line, perhaps offer a print version, and 
>not  really
>plan much specific -- but lay down markers from several generations  of
>Academically inclined Antiochians for those who will be making 
>critical  planning
>decisions in the next year or so as to what the place will be about,  and the
>strategy for getting to take-off.  I am really more concerned with  putting a
>diversity of options on the table, with the rational for them, than 
>I  am with
>any specific planning.  At the same time I don't want to ignore 
>the  real fact
>that many Antiochians in Academic careers and Professions, bought in  during
>recent months precisely because they understood the possibility for a new
>vision -- and we need to engage them in an immediate way in discussion about
>what that vision would include, and exclude.  Yes, this discussion can take
>place on line, and that should be encouraged, but something is to be 
>said for
>focused and organized conference style with published papers.  Obviously in
>current financial conditions, this would have to be a 
>self-supporting  effort.  A
>Dutch Treat Conference.
>
>Anyhow, I propose this as something easy to do -- does anyone want to take
>it from there.
>
>
>
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