[Alumni-chat] Antioch future vision

[Laura Fathauer]

Lesley-

I agree, and would like to point out two things I
included in my message. The first was I was very
specific in indicating that the groups would take the
LEAD, and that does not connotate exclusivity. 

The second is the notion of 'buy-in'. My biggest
problem with the exclusive process utilized by the
Alumni Board throughout the summer is that there was
little outreach AND engagement to the large Alumni
community, and hence little "buy-in". Hopefully as
things shake out, there will be ability for
engagement, and hence the buy-in necessary for things
to be succesful. Remeber that the Alumni Board's
primary charter IS outreach to alumni, however for the
last 5 months their primary job has been negotiating
with the Trustees and charting a sustainable business
plan for the future of the College. As processes come
on line where the College can take charge of its own
operations, I suspect that the Alumni Board will be
able to start focusing again on how Alumni can have
long-term engagement and buy-in.

However, the campus community right now is still
figuring out how they're going to be involved in the
process as well, and what stability and support
they'll have while doing so. We don't have an
agreement in place, we have an 'agreement in
principle'. The College is still suffering from a lack
of experienced, dynamic leadership that belives in the
College. And while suspension has ostensibly been
lifted, very little about the status of faculty,
staff, and students has changed, other then the
potential to continue to be on campus in Fall 08. 

And quite frankly, coming in and saying "hey all,
you've fu**ed up since 1992, start over!" is not the
way to win friends and influence people. These
faculty, staff, and students have dedicated better
parts of their lives to this instituion, and have
suffered from a lack of leadership that believe in
them. They're still in 'limbo' as we argue over
whether our idea will be listened to or not. The least
we as alumni can do is provide what the University
Administration has not- respect and belief in their
abilities to do what needs to be done.

-laura


--- dl bahr <dlbahr at hotmail.com> wrote:

> 
> Laura:  
> 
> I really hope this discussion does not become a "us"
> on the ground (post Guskin) vs "them" (them being
> anyone from a different era of Antioch with some
> ideas).  If you on the ground "need" alumni money
> then perhaps you might also listen to a few ideas. 
> Antioch College might have something to learn from
> its elders.  Many went on to have successful lives
> after Antioch and just might have some valuable
> input re: a way out.  I believe in considering
> possibilities rather than staying with status quo. 
> There has been millions of $$$$ given to Antioch
> over the last decades.  Where is the accountability
> to those "key stakeholders?"
> Antioch taught me not to shy away from criticism but
> to face it and learn from it.
> 
> Lesley Pownall Bahr
>

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