[Alumni-chat] Recent Visit to YS

[sethgordon (sethgord at gmail.com)]

Travis,

I quite enjoyed your post. I think it is the most succinct evaluation of the current dynamic between the campuses I have seen yet. It is these questions in the middle that were most relevant for me. 

Yes it is the structure of the university that has done a disservice to EVERYONE, although in the present circumstances it is easy to see the college getting the short end of the stick. When I arrived at McGregor I was confronted by the reality of being on the other side of the college. I am not saying one is right or wrong, but I did and have walked in both pairs of moccasins and so find it hard to take sides. 

I think the structure has reinforced a competitiveness between the personalities at the top. I think many good people -- lets just give them the benefit of the doubt -- are forced to make hard decisions in favor of their own campus versus collaboration. No rewards for working together when you are judged exclusively on the bottom line. 

But it is your last question and statement sums it up. I think, perhaps naively or idealistically, that we -- AU and AC -- share too much potential to walk away from each other --- but I do recognize that the cultural divide between the campuses is so extreme that walking away may be the only option. To me it is the least Antiochian option; but perhaps the most pragmatic.

thanks for the ramble. 

Sincerely,

Seth