[Alumni-chat] Why we should be rejoicing...

[Jason Fregeau '81 (jasonrissa at comcast.net)]

... and working hard to get donations.

Contrary to the assertions of some trolls suffering from rectal-cranial inversion, I don't trust the University or Toni or Lynda Syrk. I don't have to, because I trust the situation. The BOT has agreed to review our business plan (BP). Consequently, for several reasons I am optimistic.

First, Toni agreed in public to provide the documents we need and, indeed, followed through on her agreement. Do I trust her? No, but again, I don't have to. Since her promise was public, if she reneges, then we get to provide that fact to the BOT when presenting our BP. Any interference with Toni with our developing a BP, along with the Friday lockout of the College development people and the faculty vote of no confidence should be enough to put Toni in a direct line of confrontation with the BOT. So we will get our documents and, if we are as good as I think we are, we'll have a knockout BP.

Second, Risa Grimes now heads College development. Lynda Syrk is there to watch and to listen, but not to interfere. If she does, Risa knows to go straight to the alumni board, who in turn will go to Toni (and document every roadblock to be included, if necessary, as a footnote to the presentation of the BP to the BOT). So the good guys are finally fully in charge of fund raising for the first time in years.

There's nothing in the above that requires believing or even liking the University. What's required is a belief we can persuade the BOT to give the College its independence -- if we don't believe in that, then what's the use of continuing?

Now here's the crunch: to help persuade the BOT, we need to raise a lot of money in the next six weeks. We need to show the BOT what they could not imagine in June: a flow of donations never before seen in Antioch's history. You have to give NOW, because if you wait, then there may not be a College. And remember, a donation to the Revival Fund will never be a donation to the University.

Keep our eyes on the prize: an independent Antioch College. -- Jason