[Alumni-chat] Re: Antioch future vision thread

[Spock, Dan]

Antioch was most successful when it didn't stand still. Morgan's introduction of co-op was a tremendous innovation that defined the distinctive Antioch College curriculum for nearly 3/4's of a century. That was vision. Right now, however, prospective students are voting with their feet. Without them, there will be no Antioch College with or without an alumni rescue effort. I believe there is still something unique about the Antioch spirit that links Horace Mann to the present: that Antioch prepares a young person to make a difference with their life. I believe the 21st century will need this ethos from its young people -- exercised in a 21st century way, facing 21st century problems and challenges. Today's prospective students are different from those of us from the 20th century. How? I say we'd better find out or the enterprise is sunk. Rehashing the recriminations of the past will not get us there. Neither will secession from the University, whatever the sins of the past may have been. Why would we want to turn a blind eye to the current realities and deny the need for change? Isn't the Antioch ethos all about being open to change, to new perspectives, to facing reality and embracing action? Isn't it about learning from experience and shaping one's own destiny? And if it's not, then I say Antioch has truly lost its way--and reason for being.

Daniel Spock, 1983
Director of Minnesota History Center Museum
345 Kellogg Blvd West
St. Paul, Minnesota  55102
New Telephone: (651) 259-3050