Antioch College Transfer Finalized
by Emily McCord (2009-09-04)
YELLOW SPRINGS, OH (WYSO) – Rick Detweiller calls the transfer of Antioch College from the University unprecedented.
“In my own mind, I think of it more like conjoined twins. To separate two that are together in a way that will allow them both life is really complicated,” says Detweiller.
Detweiller’s group, the Great Lakes Colleges Association, helped mediate the separation.
The University Board closed Antioch College in June 2008 due to serious financial issues. Since then, Alumni have unsuccessfully tried to negotiate a transfer, but this summer the University and alumni group finally reached an agreement. The Alumni will buy the campus and its assets. Now that the day is here, University Board of Governor’s Chair, Art Zucker says it’s a positive day, but one with strong emotions.
“It’s really moving for all of us to go through this experience of breaking loose the small college to reinvent itself. It’s really bittersweet for the University going through this,” says Zucker.
The challenge is now for the Alumni to reopen the college. Matthew Derr is the chief transition officer for the College. The group needs to raise 50 million dollars over the next five years. Derr says he’s confident the alumni will rise to the occasion.
“We have developed over the course of the last two years a new level of connection of alumni of the college. They have expressed their strong desire to see this day come about and the independence of the college, and we’re now counting on them to support this effort,” says Derr.
Derr says Antioch College has begun the hiring process and will consider itself open as of next week, although the campus doesn’t expect to see students until the Fall of 2011.