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Latest letter from the AAUP to Antioch University

November 6, 2008

Dr. Tullisse A. Murdock
Chancellor
Antioch University
150 E. South College Street
Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387

Mr. Arthur J. Zucker
Chair, Board of Trustees
Antioch University
2012 Prescott Place
Raleigh, North Carolina 27615

Dear Chancellor Murdock and Chair Zucker:

In response to our letter of October 1 concerning our forthcoming governance investigation of Antioch University and the closing of Antioch College, Chancellor Murdock’s October 31 letter states that, owing to pending litigation, the “proposed investigation by AAUP would concern the same issues which are now being adjudicated. For that reason, and upon the advice of our legal counsel, we are not able to participate in any ‘investigation’ by AAUP.

With respect to our decision to authorize an ad hoc committee’s investigation of the college’s closing and related matters, we think it important that you understand our basic aims. The Association has, since its founding in 1915, sought to secure an understanding of sound academic standards in accredited American institutions ofhigher learning. It has issued statements of policy embodying these standards, frequently in cooperation with other leading organizations in the academic community. The 1966 Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities forms the basis of our interest in the issues regarding the faculty role in institutional governance posed by the Antioch case.

The AAUP decides whether to proceed with an investigation on a case by case basis; when it is necessary to investigate and report on institutional actions, the AAUP appoints an ad hoc committee that has not prejudged the matter. The committee issues findings on whether the institution’s actions appear to constitute significant departures from the AAUP’s recommended standards. In the Antioch case, we expect that information already available to the committee will be supplemented by the investigating committee’s written and oral communications with numerous individuals in Ohio and elsewhere. To the extent you believe the investigating committee has received an inaccurate representation of the developments at Antioch College or Antioch University, we invite you to supply any additional information.

Our Association has never maintained that the administration of a college or university is under any official obligation to participate in an investigation; indeed, on a number of occasions we have completed an investigation without an administration’s participation. It has been our experience, however, that administrations are in most instances cooperative. In addition, we have investigated many cases that have simultaneously been in litigation, and we have generally been sllccessful in avoiding the detrimental intrusion of one upon the other. We do not bclieve we would be meeting our responsibility to defend academic principles and procedures if we were to delay our investigation until litigation has concluded. Thus we believe that we are acting soundly in pursuing our own interest in the issues relating to academic principles and procedures instead of waiting until other approaches have run their course.

We have recently worked out dates for the committee’s visit to the Yellow Springs area: Monday, December 15 and Tuesday, December 16. We have in mind additional Antioch visits elsewhere. We hope that you will reconsider your administration’s decision all cooperating and will provide the investigating committee with your perspective on the issues of concern to us. Whether or not you meet with the committee, a report of the investigation and an invitation to respond will be sent to you and other concerned parties upon approval by the Association’s standing Committee on College and University Governance. Your corrections and comments will be taken into account in our preparation ofthe final text for publication.

In the days and weeks ahead, we shall, of course, be sensitive to any new developments that could affect how we proceed.

Anita Levy. Ph.D.
Associate Secretary

cc: Dr. David Caruso, President, Antioch University New England
Dr. Neal King, President, Antioch University Los Angeles
Dr. Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet, President, Antioch University Seattle
Dr. Michael Mulnix, President, Antioch University Santa Barbara
Dr. Zaki J. Sharif, Interim President, Antioch University McGregor
Dr. Laurien Alexandre, Director, PhD in Leadership & Change Program Antioch University
Antioch AAUP Membership
Adhoc Committee

Antioch DC Alums meeting Nov. 8, 2008

We had a good turn-out of 27, fitting snugly into my living room with a few in the peanut gallery on the stairs. Matt Derr began by telling us the “conversations” between reps of the BoT (Dan Fallon and Jack Merselis) have been ongoing with him and Lee Morgan from side and that he is confident an agreement will be hammered out before too long. Having been wrong on previous time-line predictions, he thought it best not to pin it down. Matt, for those of you who don’t know, is now working full-time on saving the college, employed by the College Revival Fund (CRF), which is funded by alumni. He supervises a staff of five – Risa Grimes, Aimee Marayuma, Fred Kraus, Steve Duffy and one other support staff.

[BTW, there is a new Antiochians.com website. You may have trouble signing in, as I have. I haven’t figured out how to fix this yet.]

The reason these are called conversations instead of negotiations is that both sides agree on the fundamental issue – transferring the college from the university to independent status. The goal is a Letter of Intent that spells out the path to resolving specific ownership issues – untangling bond debt, who gets WYSO and AEA, accreditation, etc. The basic values of rigorous academics, co-op jobs and community governance are not in dispute. The endowment (now about $22 million) is restricted to use by the College.

There is a pro-tem board in place ready to hire a president as soon as the college is ours. They have already had a meeting in New York.

The college is currently closed, except for the library, which is open limited hours with a staff of three. Matt said the other buildings have been brought into code compliance for empty facilities, which is basically draining the pipes and moving furniture out of the way of firefighter access. The University has not agreed to heat the buildings this winter.

He also said the estimate for restoration and renovation is between $24 and $30 million – considerably less than the $50 million the University’s consultants predicted. These improvements and deferred maintenance could be accomplished over 5 or 6 years as the student population grows. He also noted that this is an opportunity for the school to become ADA compliant and greener. Thanks to Arthur Morgan, we have our own heating plant that is available for new technology.

Gary pointed out that only 2% of the college age population goes to a residential, private, liberal arts college. In the current economic climate, and with demographic trends predicting a decline in graduating high school seniors, the re-born Antioch must be able to communicate its special qualities.

Matt pointed out that Antioch has always been a highly tuition dependent college. Several alums said that designing programs in which students actually help build state of the art green infrastructure would be innovative and cost effective.

Mark Haskell asked Matt “what do you want us to do?” Matt said: Keep having meetings. Talk about Antioch to non-Antiochians. Think about creating co-op jobs.

Catherine McHugh said she had decided to make a monthly pledge rather than leaving Antioch money in her will and urged others to think about that. Karen Mulhauser said that one of the pro-tem board members, Atis Folkmanis, has offered some of his company’s puppets to our group for a fundraiser when we’re ready. (www.folkmanis.com).
She also said we should think about how to recruit students in this area.

If you know any alums in this area who are not on this list, please forward this info to them if you wish. Forgive us if you get this twice.
There was also some discussion of the Non-Stop Institute in YSO, but I’m trying to keep this brief.

–Megan Rosenfeld

NYC Chapter – Matthew Derr Q&A – November 12, 2008

Please join us for a status report from and a chance to ask questions of Matthew Derr (member of the Antioch College Board Pro-Tem and Alumni Association representative on the Task Force to separate Antioch College from Antioch University) who will be in NYC on Wednesday 11/12.

When: Wednesday November 12, 2008 at 7:30pm
Location: TBD – announced ASAP

Jeff Wood ‘88
NYC Chapter Co-Chair

Chicago Chapter Hosts Reception before Nov. 22 Film Premiere

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
info

CHICAGO FILM THE FIRST BREATH OF TENGAN REI
PREMIERES AT GENE SISKEL FILM CENTER, 164 N. STATE ST., CHICAGO
FRIDAY, NOV. 21, 8:15 p.m, SATURDAY, NOV. 22, 8 p.m, MONDAY, NOV. 24, 7:45 p.m.
Antioch College Alumni Chapter Hosts Reception before Nov. 22 Screening

The emotional international drama The First Breath of Tengan Rei, written and directed by Chicago husband/wife filmmaking team Junko Kajino and Ed M. Koziarski, has its Chicago premiere in a three-night run Nov. 21, 22 and 24 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. The First Breath of Tengan Rei screens Friday, Nov. 21 at 8:15 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m., and Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:45 p.m.

Kajino, a native of Nagano, Japan, and Koziarski, from Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, met on a film set at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1997 when Koziarski was completing his senior film there when Kajino moved to town to start her film career. Together they have helped produce dozens of independent films, all the while battling to make their own feature film. They finally got their chance when Junko was inspired by a tragic true story that she felt a special responsibility and opportunity to tell, as a Japanese woman living in the U.S.

In The First Breath of Tengan Rei, Japanese star Erika (of Kore-Eda’s renowned After Life) plays Rei, a young Okinawan woman who kidnaps Paris, the teenage son of a U.S. Marine convicted of raping her when she was a girl. While Rei holds Paris captive, the two are drawn together despite the scars of the past, as they prepare for a final confrontation with Paris’s father, Nelson.

Kajino and Koziarski filmed The First Breath of Tengan Rei in Chicago and Okinawa with a Japanese and Chicago cast and crew, overcoming language and cultural barriers and shooting through a typhoon in a former leper colony off the Okinawa coast. North Carolina newcomer Katori Eason plays Paris. Chicago stage veteran Sean Nix, mostly recently seen in Timeline Theatre Company’s production of Gore Vidal’s Weekend, portrays Nelson. Nelson’s partner in crime, Carter, is portrayed by local film and TV actor Ric Arthur, who himself served in the Marines in Okinawa. Mark Messing, leader of acclaimed local band Mucca Pazza, designed the sound for the film, and composed the score, featuring music by cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm and Califone guitarist Jim Becker.

Before the Saturday Nov. 22 screening, the Chicago Alumni Chapter of Antioch College hosts a benefit reception for the college, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Film Center’s Gallery/Café. A historic leader in progressive, experiential education, operations of Antioch College were suspended by Antioch University last summer. College alumni are negotiating and raising funds to reopen the college as an independent institution next year and restore its vital place in the educational landscape.

$9 general admission tickets for the screenings can be purchased from the Film Center box office or from Ticketmaster at 312.575.8000 or www.ticketmaster.com. There is no charge for the Nov. 22 reception. After-parties will follow each night, with locations to be announced at each screening.

Download press kit and stills at www.tenganrei.com/media.html. Screeners available on request.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Junko Kajino
312.850.1247
kajinoj

Ed M. Koziarski
773.910.1444

DC Chapter Meeting with Matthew Derr – November 8, 2008

The Antioch College Alumni Association, DC Chapter
Invites you to join a discussion with

Matthew Derr (‘89)
Member of the Board of Trustees Pro Tem

Please join us for a status report from Matt Derr, who is on the negotiating team that is trying to make a deal with Antioch University for the independent rescue of our college.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 2:00 pm
Parish Hall at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
118 3rd Street SE
Convenient to Capitol South Metro stop.
Map available at www.stmarks.net

Refreshments will be provided! We are asking for a $10 donation to
cover the cost of the room.

RSVP: rosenfeldm(at)verizon.net
Antioch College Alumni Association
PO Box 444
Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
www.antiochians.org

ANTIOCH COLLEGE ALUMNI BOARD RAISES $80,200 FOR NONSTOP LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE

ANTIOCH COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

For Immediate Release

CONTACT:
Press

Yellow Springs, OH, October 25, 2008-Today, the Antioch College Alumni Board unanimously resolved to raise $255,000 by April 1, 2009 to fund the Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute for the full academic year.

“We have pledged as a Board to raise an additional $255,000 needed to fund the full Nonstop program through June 30, 2009, because we know that the quality and creativity of the work being done here is important not only to the future of Antioch College, but also to the future of progressive liberal arts education in this country,” said Ellen Borgersen, Vice President of the Alumni Board. “Members of our Board have collectively spent hundreds of hours with Nonstop faculty, students and staff, and we want all of the alums who have not been able to be here in Yellow Springs to know that the education being offered is academically rigorous and infused with Antioch’s core values: the commitment to experiential learning, to community as a laboratory of democracy, and to winning victories for humanity.”

To kick off the fundraising initiative, this weekend the Antioch College Alumni Board raised $80,200 for the Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute from its own members in both cash and pledges. That puts the Board over 60% of the way toward meeting its initial goal of raising of $135,000 by December 1, which will allow the Board to commit to funding Nonstop through June 30. Borgersen said, “We all dug really deep because we wanted to demonstrate our enthusiastic support for the incredible work that the Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute faculty and staff have already done, and their exciting plans for the Spring semester.”

“What we have seen this weekend is awe inspiring,” she continued. “The Nonstop events have been incredibly rich, and to see current faculty and students interact with alums is to see that the Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute really is the living heart and soul of Antioch College.

“It is critically important to keep the faculty engaged in teaching the Antioch College students of the near future as we await word from the task force that is working to separate Antioch College from Antioch University,” Borgersen concluded. “I urge all alums who care about the future of Antioch College to give now, and to give generously, to support the Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute.”
Since the University Board of Trustees announced the suspension of operations in June 2007, alumni across the country have rallied to the defense of their 156 year old alma mater. Alumni chapters have grown worldwide. The Alumni Board is continuing with its fundraising and planning efforts. For additional information on the Antioch College Alumni Association and the College Revival Fund, visit the Antioch College Alumni Association web site.