Here’s a letter from the Ad Hoc Former Tenured Faculty Committee printed in this week’s Yellow Springs News (2/10/11) on the Community Forum page in response to the letter from the BPT printed in the 1/17/11 YS News. The YS News gave it the headline: “Heal divide on college faculty” (note: the YS News will […]
Heal divide on college faculty – A Letter to YS News
Here’s a letter from the Ad Hoc Former Tenured Faculty Committee printed in this week’s Yellow Springs News (2/10/11) on the Community Forum page in response to the letter from the BPT printed in the 1/17/11 YS News. The YS News gave it the headline: “Heal divide on college faculty” (note: the YS News will only print a certain number of names, so the letter was submitted from the entire Committee but we could only list a few names):
We were puzzled to read the recent editorial about faculty hiring policy from the Antioch College Board of Trustees, as it takes pains to refute several positions which we, the Ad Hoc Committee of the Former Tenured Faculty, have never espoused. First, no one in our Committee (nor the American Association of University Professors) has claimed that the College has a legal obligation to acknowledge the tenure status of former College faculty. We understand the legal meaning of “non-successor corporation”; our position has always been that there are strong ethical, professional, and pragmatic reasons for the College to welcome our experience and institutional knowledge, and to work with us. Also, no one has opposed the principle of national searches which we, too, see as the generally preferred procedure for hiring faculty in a liberal arts college.
Our point has been that national searches are at this time only necessary for *some* positions in which qualified former faculty are not available. We have already been selected through national searches and then demonstrated our ongoing value to the College through a grueling multi-year process of rigorous peer review in order to achieve tenure.
Because we, too, desire that Antioch will once again take its rightful place among pre-eminent U.S. liberal arts colleges, we continue to request that the Board seek the imprimatur of the AAUP on matters of academic policy and hiring practice, as these are the standards across the academy. Yet the Board of Trustees has so far ignored the Association’s recommendations. The Board of Trustees also recently heard from the Alumni Board Task Force on Former Faculty, whose report made the recommendation that “it is in the best interest of the opening Antioch College that faculty initially hired include a representation of the faculty of the closed Antioch College so that faculty familiar with Antioch’s educational approach can mentor new faculty and can carry forward experience with Antioch’s educational approach.”
A broad coalition of alumni, faculty, staff, students, and Yellow Springs residents fought for and were critical in winning the independence of the College. The Board’s claim in their editorial that following the College’s closing in June 08 that they were the sole actors in securing the College’s independence is simply not the case, as almost any issue of the Yellow Springs News during that year will show. Different representations of the history of the last three years, and ideas of what constitutes a “just” solution to the situation of the former tenured faculty, have, sadly, divided College supporters. We had hoped that the Board would see the logic of working to heal these divisions, especially as we, like many alumni, believe that Antioch would immediately benefit from our wide-ranging institutional, curricular and academic expertise, and our abundantly demonstrated commitment to the College.
— Jean Gregorek, Anne Bohlen, Chris Hill, Hassan Rahmanian (for the Ad Hoc Committee of the Former Tenured Faculty of Antioch College)
For Alumni, Work Projects Are a Labor of Love
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio – February 10, 2011 The Volunteers for Antioch Maintenance Projects (VAMP) might seem new, but it has Antioch roots that stretch back to the 1950s.
In a report written by VAMP member Jon Baker, E. Macdougall “Mac” Palmer ‘61 recalls his early Antioch College experience, participating in a freshman orientation work project. Those first-year students constructed the Cedar Center in Glen Helen.
Palmer was so struck by this experience that, during the 1985 reunion, he had a “bull session” with other alumni to discuss having a work project as part of the annual Reunion. The next year, 1986, kicked off the first alumni work project, with Rice Hall in Birch repainted, repaired, and patched.
The alumni work project took a new turn, however, after the October 2009 Reunion. It was the first Reunion for an independent Antioch College, and volunteers mainly concentrated on the Library. Alumni and friends repaired ceilings and walls, scrubbed floors, and rewired lights, amongst other tasks.
It became painfully clear during that work project, however, how much maintenance had been deferred by the university. Julian Sharp, the manager of volunteer work, had alumni work on projects around campus in December 2009, the 2010 Reunion, and in November 2010.
It was during this last project—cleaning and painting Pennell’s porch railings and lattice work—that the volunteers had another “bull session,” similar to the one that launched the annual alumni work project. This session led to the Volunteers for Antioch Maintenance Projects (VAMP).
VAMP recruits alumni and friends to work on building maintenance projects on campus. Work is set up on a scheduled basis to aid with trip planning. The VAMP crew first took on turning the old Maples Fire Station garage into a functioning workshop.
The crew, along with the Antioch College facilities staff, found saws, a drill press, welders, and other equipment around campus and moved it to the new workshop. The new workshop features four saws, a drill press, a sander, a welder, a bench grinder, air compressor, and plentiful work tables. It also features lockers for personal tools, as well as the original Maples Fire Department sign.
VAMP seeks volunteers of all skill levels and abilities. Upcoming VAMP projects are scheduled for:
- February 14-19
- March 21-26
- April 18-23
- May 16-27
- June 10-17
For more information on the history of volunteerism at Antioch College, read the report here. For information on volunteering with VAMP, contact Julian Sharp at jsharp@antiochcollege.org.
Reporting by Christian Feuerstein '94
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gariot P. Louima ?
Director of Communications
Office: 937-319-6131
Mobile: 937-581-8201
glouima@antiochcollege.org
For Alumni, Work Projects Are a Labor of Love
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio – February 10, 2011 The Volunteers for Antioch Maintenance Projects (VAMP) might seem new, but it has Antioch roots that stretch back to the 1950s.
In a report written by VAMP member Jon Baker, E. Macdougall “Mac” Palmer ‘61 recalls his early Antioch College experience, participating in a freshman orientation work project. Those first-year students constructed the Cedar Center in Glen Helen.
Palmer was so struck by this experience that, during the 1985 reunion, he had a “bull session” with other alumni to discuss having a work project as part of the annual Reunion. The next year, 1986, kicked off the first alumni work project, with Rice Hall in Birch repainted, repaired, and patched.
The alumni work project took a new turn, however, after the October 2009 Reunion. It was the first Reunion for an independent Antioch College, and volunteers mainly concentrated on the Library. Alumni and friends repaired ceilings and walls, scrubbed floors, and rewired lights, amongst other tasks.
It became painfully clear during that work project, however, how much maintenance had been deferred by the university. Julian Sharp, the manager of volunteer work, had alumni work on projects around campus in December 2009, the 2010 Reunion, and in November 2010.
It was during this last project—cleaning and painting Pennell’s porch railings and lattice work—that the volunteers had another “bull session,” similar to the one that launched the annual alumni work project. This session led to the Volunteers for Antioch Maintenance Projects (VAMP).
VAMP recruits alumni and friends to work on building maintenance projects on campus. Work is set up on a scheduled basis to aid with trip planning. The VAMP crew first took on turning the old Maples Fire Station garage into a functioning workshop.
The crew, along with the Antioch College facilities staff, found saws, a drill press, welders, and other equipment around campus and moved it to the new workshop. The new workshop features four saws, a drill press, a sander, a welder, a bench grinder, air compressor, and plentiful work tables. It also features lockers for personal tools, as well as the original Maples Fire Department sign.
VAMP seeks volunteers of all skill levels and abilities. Upcoming VAMP projects are scheduled for:
- February 14-19
- March 21-26
- April 18-23
- May 16-27
- June 10-17
For more information on the history of volunteerism at Antioch College, read the report here. For information on volunteering with VAMP, contact Julian Sharp at jsharp@antiochcollege.org.
Reporting by Christian Feuerstein '94
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gariot P. Louima ?
Director of Communications
Office: 937-319-6131
Mobile: 937-581-8201
glouima@antiochcollege.org
Future of Education Series to Present Mark Roosevelt
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio – February 25, 2011 – Antioch College President Mark Roosevelt, the former superintendent of the Pittsburgh Schools, will deliver a public address on Saturday, March 5, as part of the Future of Education series, a collaboration with the Yellow Springs school district.
Roosevelt has focused his career on politics, public policy, and education for decades. As a Massachusetts state representative he guided passage of the 1993 Education Reform Act. He directed the Gordon Public Policy Center at Brandeis University and taught courses on U.S. History and public policy at Brandeis and Carnegie Mellon. While superintendent of the Pittsburgh Schools, he created the innovative Pittsburgh Promise program.
The series has featured MacArthur Genius Award winner Deborah Meier '66, Collegiate Institute assistant principal Shadia Alvarez '96, and Miami University's associate vice president for academic affairs, Michael E. Dantley.
The Future of Education, a partnership between the Morgan Fellows at Antioch College and the Yellow Springs schools to stimulate new and innovative thinking about the future of education in Yellow Springs. The series is a major component of the Class of 2020 Initiative, a process to create a strategic plan for the public schools.
Below is the schedule of remaining events.
Saturday, March 5, 3:00-5:00 p.m. – Mark Roosevelt
Antioch College President Mark Roosevelt has focused on politics, public policy, and education for decades. As a Massachusetts state representative he guided passage of the 1993 Education Reform Act. He directed the Gordon Public Policy Center at Brandeis University and taught courses on U.S. History and public policy at Brandeis and Carnegie Mellon. While Superintendent of the Pittsburgh Schools Roosevelt created the innovative Pittsburgh Promise program.
Location: Herndon Gallery, South Hall, Antioch College
Saturday, March 12, 3:00-5:00 p.m. – Adam Howard
An associate professor of education at Colby College, Howard focuses his research on the educational impact of class and privilege, and on the concerns of gay and lesbian youth. His books include Educating Elites: Class Privilege and Educational Advantage, and Learning Privilege: Lessons of Power and Identity in Affluent Schooling. His articles have appeared in the journals Education Leadership, Democracy and Education, High School Journal, and the Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy.
Location: Herndon Gallery, South Hall, Antioch College
Tuesday, March 22, 7:00-9:00 p.m. – Matt Fischer
Matt Fischer spent the first 21 years of his career creating award-winning campaigns for blue chip brands like AT&T, Amtrak, Time Magazine, Starbucks, Kraft and General Foods. Six years ago, persuaded by long-time friend, Greg Livingston, he decided to join WonderGroup in Cincinnati, where he and Livingston worked closely together to grow WonderGroup in size and stature with clients like Cincinnati Bell, Perfetti Van Melle's Airheads and Mentos, Kellogg's, Luxottica, Walt Disney Resorts, Topps, Evenflo, Heifer International, Dean Foods and more.
Location: Herndon Gallery, South Hall, Antioch College
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gariot P. Louima ?
Director of Communications
Office: 937-319-6131
Mobile: 937-581-8201
glouima@antiochcollege.org
Education Reformer Deborah Meier, Shadia Alvarez to Present on Progressive Education
.jpg)
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio – February 10, 2011 – MacArthur Genius Award winner Deborah Meier, a graduate of Antioch College, will join fellow alumna Shadia Alvarez for a discussion about progressive K-12 education at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, February 12, at Antioch College's South Hall Herndon Gallery.
Meier, a member of the class of 1966, has authored six influential books on progressive education. A 40-year veteran teacher, she is a 1987 MacArthur Genius Award winner and the recipient of innumerable honors. Although “retired,” she continues to write, blog and lecture about schooling and democracy.
Alvarez, class of 1996, is the assistant principal at the Collegiate Institute for Math and Science in the Bronx. She has plans to launch an Antioch-influenced high school in New York City in 2013.
Their visit is part of a series titled "The Future of Education," a partnership between the Morgan Fellows at Antioch College and the Yellow Springs schools to stimulate new and innovative thinking about the future of education in Yellow Springs. The series is a major component of the Class of 2020 Initiative, a process to create a strategic plan for the public schools.
Antioch College President Mark Roosevelt, the former superintendent of the Pittsburg Public Schools, will discuss his experiences in K-12 education on March 5.
Below is the schedule of remaining events.
Saturday, February 12, 3:00-5:00 p.m. – Deborah Meier and Shadia Alvarez
Antioch alumna Deborah Meier (’52) has authored six influential books on progressive education. A 40-year veteran teacher, Meier is a 1987 MacArthur Genius Award winner and the recipient of innumerable honors. Although “retired,” she continues to write, blog and lecture about schooling and democracy. Antioch alumna Shadia Alvarez (’96) is currently the Assistant Principal at the Collegiate Institute for Math and Science in the Bronx. Alvarez is planning to launch an Antioch influenced NYC high school in 2013.
Location: Herndon Gallery, South Hall, Antioch College
Tuesday, February 22, 7:00-9:00 p.m. – Michael E. Dantley
Michael E. Dantley is the associate provost, associate vice president for academic affairs, and professor of educational leadership at Miami University. When not serving in his administrative capacity. He is currently exploring new ways to conduct qualitative research on spirituality and leadership and the link between principals’ moral development and the ways principals define and demonstrate their commitment to social justice and critical instructional leadership. Dantley has been a teacher, principal and central office administrator in the Cincinnati Public Schools.
Location: Herndon Gallery, South Hall, Antioch College
Saturday, March 5, 3:00-5:00 p.m. – Mark Roosevelt
Antioch College President Mark Roosevelt has focused on politics, public policy, and education for decades. As a Massachusetts state representative he guided passage of the 1993 Education Reform Act. He directed the Gordon Public Policy Center at Brandeis University and taught courses on U.S. History and public policy at Brandeis and Carnegie Mellon. While Superintendent of the Pittsburgh Schools Roosevelt created the innovative Pittsburgh Promise program.
Location: Herndon Gallery, South Hall, Antioch College
Saturday, March 12, 3:00-5:00 p.m. – Adam Howard
An associate professor of education at Colby College, Howard focuses his research on the educational impact of class and privilege, and on the concerns of gay and lesbian youth. His books include Educating Elites: Class Privilege and Educational Advantage, and Learning Privilege: Lessons of Power and Identity in Affluent Schooling. His articles have appeared in the journals Education Leadership, Democracy and Education, High School Journal, and the Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy.
Location: Herndon Gallery, South Hall, Antioch College
Tuesday, March 22, 7:00-9:00 p.m. – Matt Fischer
Matt Fischer spent the first 21 years of his career creating award-winning campaigns for blue chip brands like AT&T, Amtrak, Time Magazine, Starbucks, Kraft and General Foods. Six years ago, persuaded by long-time friend, Greg Livingston, he decided to join WonderGroup in Cincinnati, where he and Livingston worked closely together to grow WonderGroup in size and stature with clients like Cincinnati Bell, Perfetti Van Melle's Airheads and Mentos, Kellogg's, Luxottica, Walt Disney Resorts, Topps, Evenflo, Heifer International, Dean Foods and more.
Location: Herndon Gallery, South Hall, Antioch College
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gariot P. Louima ?
Director of Communications
Office: 937-319-6131
Mobile: 937-581-8201
glouima@antiochcollege.org