Tag: announcements

Update from Alumni Board Executive Committee – 7/8/2007

1. The Alumni Board raised $525K in cash and pledges since June 28. We hope
to raise a lot more, not yet certain how much more will be needed.

2. Alumni Board has asked College President Steve Lawry to take the lead in
forming a new Board of Trustees for Antioch College.

3. President Lawry, the new Board, and the Alumni Board will work on
the terms of College governance with the University.

4. Alumni Board has asked President Lawry on June 26, 2007 to:
a. Preserve core faculty
b. Preserve Development Office, Alumni Office and Admissions Office functioning
c. Develop Business Plan for college

In Other Committee News:
– More than 20 Chapters have been started across the country (and the
UK) in the past 10 days – get or give updates from these chapter
meetings at http://antiochians.org/forum/index.php

– The issue of College Governance is being handled by legal experts from
the Association in accordance with the mandate in the Alumni Association
Resolution. An appropriate document will be used in the negotiations with
the Board of Trustees… also exactly as mandated by the Resolution.

– Outreach to famous grads and wealthy sympathizers is in the very
capable hands of the Development-Individual (and in some cases,
Development-Foundations)
Subcommittees.

– The Legal Committee has a Chair, is activated and welcoming
volunteers, especially those licensed to practice in Ohio. Martin and
Nancy Crow are determining first priority projects now. Contact
mlfried@law.syr.edu if you want to be involved.

Forums are a go!

A link has been added to the main menu above to http://antiochians.org/forum.

We’re working on getting the existing mailing lists integrated and archives possibly imported ::crosses fingers:: But several people have asked what we’re waiting for, and the truth is that the forums have been there for several days now and patiently waiting for people to make use of them. So… they are there. Please make use of them!

The forums are self-register (http://antiochians.org/forum/register.php — link is at the top of the forums page), so just enter your name, email (will be hidden from all public unless you specifically change your profile settings), and pick a password to register once. Log in. That’s it. You’re in. Welcome!

Lots of thanks to Alicson for taking the lead on getting these up so quickly!

Letters respond to LA Times Op-Ed: “Womyn killed Antioch”

Letters in response to “Who killed Antioch? Womyn.” by Meghan Daum,

There’s more to Antioch
July 6, 2007

Re “Who killed Antioch? Womyn,” Opinion, June 30

Well, women have been blamed for ruining the human race since one of us sought knowledge and ate an apple, so why not lay the death of Antioch College at our feet as well? Antioch’s admittedly lamebrained attempt at a “please ask and I may say yes” date-touch policy was developed in response to some instances at the college of male hormonal overenthusiasm. Better this policy, however, than instances of rape and worse like those at other U.S. universities.

Antioch is hardly obscure, nor a laughingstock. And don’t count on reports of its premature death. If the outpouring of e-mails calling alums to arms and half a million dollars raised in less than 24 hours are any measure of an institution’s heartbeat, Antioch is alive and well. Absent that, it will exist always in those who take seriously the college’s famed motto: “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” Not a bad way to lead a life. Or run a school. Eve would have been a graduate, for sure. And we would have been thrilled to have her.

VICTORIA HOCHBERG

Antioch College alumna

Hollywood

•

For 18 years, my wife has taught biology at Antioch College. During those years, I have met hundreds of students, and almost to the last one, they were respectful, mannerly, curious almost to a fault, intelligent and never boring. Their maturity and independence — founded partially, I am sure, in their worldwide co-op experiences — in my experience exceeds that of their contemporaries. Then, these committed students leave to become respected in many fields. In other words, the same cross-section of America emerges from Antioch that other colleges send out into the world every year.

When Antioch’s sexual-offense prevention policy (now adopted by other unmentioned universities) and the foolish claim that independent thinking is absent receive more attention than the contribution its graduates make to our society, I can only conclude that Meghan Daum is more interested in maligning Antioch than enlightening us about the remarkable legacy this college and its graduates have left.

WILLIAM V. DYER

Dayton, Ohio

Chicago Alumni Chapter demands Summer 2007 Open BOT meeting

On June 30th, forty Antioch alums, former students and supporters met in Chicago to discuss the announced “suspension of activities” of Antioch College from 2008-2012. We unanimously decided that such a “suspension of activities” of Antioch College would lead to its permanent closure as an innovative leader in liberal arts education. We find this unacceptable.

The purpose of the meeting was both to inform people of the current events and to discuss ways in which the 17,000 Antioch alums, along with other supporters of Antioch College, could support the faculty, staff and students of Antioch College to:

  • Remain operational;
  • Promote the autonomy of Antioch College;
  • Become financially sustainable.


Based on the fact that Antioch University announced its decision in June 2007 without prior consultation of the faculty, students, staff or alumni and such an announcement has been met by nearly universal opposition and a flood of promised support for Antioch College, we, Antioch alums, former students and supporters based in the Chicago-area, unanimously demand that the Board of Trustees of Antioch University hold an emergency meeting during the summer of 2007 to reverse its decision to close Antioch College.

The Antioch community of alums, former students and supporters recognizes that Antioch College is facing serious financial difficulties and is eager to work proactively to assuage such difficulties. It is our belief, however, that closing Antioch College will have the opposite effect and we are universally opposed to the measure. We expect that the Board of Trustees of Antioch University will respond to those whom it is tasked to represent and will inform all interested parties (faculty, students, alums, staff and CG) of the emergency meeting. We also expect that this meeting, in the spirit of community government and transparency, will be open to representatives of said interested parties.

Press Release in advance of July 10’s Emergency YS Village Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contacts:
Lori Askeland, (937) 767-8116, laskeland@sbcglobal.net
Judith Wolert-Maldonado, (937) 767-0118, juju70@msn.com
Group: Yellow Springs Residents in Support of the
Antioch College Revival Resolution,
Website Affiliation: antiochians.org provides more information about the Antioch College Revival Resolution. Antioch College alumni are responsible for its content.

Yellow Springs Residents Organize Emergency Town Meeting to
Ensure the Future of Antioch College

Yellow Springs, Ohio, July 3, 2007 – A newly-formed group of citizen organizers, calling themselves, “Yellow Springs Residents in Support of the Antioch College Revival Resolution,” will facilitate an emergency town meeting, open to the public, on Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at 7:30 pm in the First Presbyterian Church at 314 Xenia Avenue in Yellow Springs.

In the truest spirit of grassroots organizing, this group of about 40 residents from in and around the Southwestern Ohio college town of Yellow Springs, quickly came together in response to the recent news of the possible temporary closing of Antioch College. As Antioch College is the major employer and vital cultural hub in the small town, these residents followed the example of Antioch College alums currently organizing themselves across the world, to keep their beloved, 154 year-old liberal-arts college open and vibrant.

The town meeting will include speakers representing various groups from Antioch College, town residents and business owners. Alumni will present their Antioch College Revival Resolution as proof of their commitment to keep the college alive. A question and answer period will follow the presentations.

Note: Presenters from the representing alumni board, alumniand the University Board of Trustees are still being sought. If you can fulfill one of these roles, please use the contact information above to get involved ASAP.

College Revival Fund Continues to Increase!

Update from Rick Daily, Alumni Board Treasurer.

As of July 3, the College Revival Fund has reached a new total of $525,000.00!

In just one week, from its previous high of $424,000.00 which was raised in an unprecedented 18 hours during Reunion last weekend, the Fund has increased by over $100,000.00 in cash!