[Alumni-chat] Recent Visit to YS

[sethgordon (sethgord at gmail.com)]

Hello All,

I wanted to share some observations from this thread. I think that place in education does matter to a degree. I work at McGregor. I have always been ambivalent about "the building." But it's here and now I have to work with it. 

My first exposure to Bank One was on a City Year team in Columbus. They were my team's sponsor. City Year is one of 12 non-profits being profiled in a new book, Forces for Good by Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant. And what they have always done is target the private sector for up to half of their operating budget. As an organization it is harder to find a non-profit that is having as significant an impact with youth and in shaping their lives toward one of service. Several City Year alumni have been drawn to Antioch College due to values match. My point though is that bridging the gap between the corporate sector and non-profits is not a bad thing as long as the non-profit can maintain its focus on its mission. their can be partnerships that work and City Year is an example. I think McGregor can be one too. 

Judging what goes on at McGregor by walking through the hallways is problematic, although I agree that place and space matters. In our recent marketing campaign at McGregor we have employed a tactic that Antioch College has long used: we went to our students for their stories. For me, even when I am skeptical about where I work, when I hear their stories in makes it worth it. I can't tell you how discouraging it was to have people visit Antioch College's campus: people drawn because of what they read -- because of what we did -- and have to explain the poor state of the campus (I worked in college admissions for 2.5 years). At first I didn't even realize it was that bad. I loved the space; but I couldn't see the disrepair. But visitors could and it drove them away-- a point that every former admissions person has made on this forum. Perhaps McGregor's new building will drive people away. But its not why they come here; and its not why they come to the College, but having a modern
facility in good condition matters. And yes, I agree that it would have mattered on Antioch's campus as well. 

Jim Malarkey teaches a world classics curriculum at McGregor and has for almost twenty years and yet he was the one speaking at Founders Day. What happens at McGregor is very Antiochian in the classroom. Read one of our students testimonials:http://www.mcgregor.edu/stories/MCG_E_Combs.htm
And if you think it is just propaganda, read the others. Or call me and I can put you in touch with still more. We train over 200 TEACHERS a year. Not just bankers or corporate flunkies but TEACHERS. That is what McGregor is best at. 
 The shame is that the two campuses have not been able to work together to bridge the gap so that college students could be exposed to Jim in the classroom. Adults coming back to school to get an Antiochian education; people who work on assembly lines (my partner has 3 such people in a course she is teaching here) to me, as an Antiochian, that seems more Antiochian than providing a residential experience. maybe thats just me.

In terms of the Nobel prize, the worst part is that people are discussing who gets to take credit. Antioch's name is out their in a good way and we need to all share in that accomplishment.  Jose Ramos Horta won the Nobel Peace Prize from a program that is now housed at Mcgregor. He spoke in kelly hall; both campuses benefited. Wynona Laduke spoke twice at Antioch College. She has a masters degree from McGregor. Both campuses benefited. 

To the outside world the schizm between the AU and the AC is incredibly confusing. It is to some of us on the inside as well.

Seth Gordon '00