Yellow Springs News – http://ysnews.com/
October 14, 2010
Editorial (Diane Chiddister)
Celebrate the college revival
As I wrote an article last week about the first year progress of the revived Antioch College, I kept pinching myself. Could it really be true that Antioch College was not only back, but had been back for a year? After covering the sometimes heartbreaking struggle of alumni to win back their college for two long years, I find the very existence of Antioch almost miraculous.
Of course, it’s not a miracle yet, since the struggles—the need for huge sums of money, the complexity of gaining accreditation, the challenge of attracting new students to this chancy endeavor—remain quite real. And yet, this tiny college with outsize ambitions doggedly moves ahead. The Morgan Fellows, while holding firm to Antioch’s unique educational model, created a new, innovative curriculum, the aging campus is being renovated, prospective students express interest; and talks continue regarding collaborative efforts with the village. Most importantly, the creative and intellectual spirit of Antioch College, so long the heart of Yellow Springs, lives on.
We have many heroes to thank for this astonishing feat, starting with the alumni who refused to back down or give up, providing the best example yet of the value of an Antioch education. There’s also the colleges current staff, who shouldered huge responsibilities this year, and its past faculty, who kept college traditions alive through Nonstop. More than any other single person, we can thank Interim President Matthew Derr, who brings to the job his abiding passion for Antioch as well as uncommon decency and diplomacy, performing his extraordinarily difficult task with grace and skill.
Now the college stands at a pivotal moment, poised to hire its first president. However, it’s not yet clear that Mark Roosevelt, the only finalist for the position, is right for the job. While Roosevelt brings bold vision and impressive fund-raising skills, his recent work leading a substantial reform of the Pittsburgh Public Schools suggests he may not be comfortable engaging faculty, staff, and students in substantive decisions, a critical aspect of Antioch. He also seems an unlikely choice to bring former faculty members back to the college, a necessary step to ensure a continuation of Antioch values. The board needs to ask tough questions of Roosevelt, and, if he seems a poor fit, be ready to continue the search.
The revived college celebrates its first year this weekend with a variety of Founders Day events, kicking off with a community potluck this Friday evening, Oct. 15, followed later by dancing in the amphitheater. (There’s the Arts Stroll as well, another lively night in the village.) The college’s revival has sparked many good things for Yellow Springs, ranging from cultural events to a boost for the local economy. But perhaps most significant, the unlikely success of this against-all-odds effort brought hope, pride, and inspiration to this little town. I can’t think of a better reason to dance into the night.