[Alumni-chat] Antioch future vision

[Imabused at aol.com]

Sistersara,

You are not saying anything new here. Without doubt Antioch has not had the 
income, has not maintained buildings, and has not had a flourishing support of 
the school. I agree.

Perhaps you misunderstood my meaning. Maybe you thought I was saying, we 
simply need to increase the number of students and academic offerings. Of course I 
am not saying that at this juncture. The people who were supposed to be the 
stewards of the school have failed at preserving the critical aspects of the 
school. Now we do not *simply* need more students and academic offerings.

But where I beg to differ with you is this "visioning" thing. The visioning 
needs to be in school bureaucrats learning how to first A) maintain the great 
quality and reputation of this fine school so that then B) the school can learn 
to find financial donors who will invest and then C) learn to do effective 
outreach to high school students who are considering and *not considering* going 
on to college. And none of this can be done without a change in the 
underlying structure of the College vis-a-vis Antioch university. The College strives 
for some participatory government. The university has no such interest. 

When you have kids you learn "don't fix what ain't broke." Personally I feel 
that it is a complete waste of time to look at replacing the curriculum. 
Restore it, yes.

When people talk of this visioning, they essentially are saying the College 
"failed" and therein place blame on the College for this phony exigency and 
potential closure. The College did not fail. Where the College is at fault is in 
not bringing attention to the crappy structure of the university which gave 
essentially no power to the College. Where the alumni are at fault is in not 
coming together in a collaborative manner to enlist and engage this great mass of 
creative and powerful people to fortify the school in ways other than 
financial support. I personally feel at fault for leaving the job to the alumni board 
and not finding support for a separate effort. 

Did I make myself clear this time?

Respectfully,

Jane Slater
Class of '80
Ashland, OR






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