The last time I stood with you in a tent at Reunion, in 2007, we came together not only to reminisce and catch up with old friends, but also to construct the Resolution that has inspired us and informed our actions over the past year since the University  boldly announced that it was suspending operations at Antioch College. The College Revival movement lived up to its name that night as we gathered under that tent, testifying to our Antioch experiences, to our beloved community, sharing stories that were so inspiring that we raised $400,000 in about two hours to support the uninterrupted continuation of the College we love and value so much. Your actions, ideas, fundraising, tenacity and passion are a constant inspiration, and I thank each and every one of you.

It was a bittersweet year; students wrote senior papers, went on co-op, worked in the Glen and garnered Fulbrights, while facing the spectre that this year could be our College’s swan song.  Now, the landscape has completely changed yet again. As you probably know, I was in Keene, New Hampshire two weekends ago at the first Board of Trustees meeting since the talks broke off between the University Board and the Antioch College Continuation Corporation. Alumni, students and staff also attended the meeting.

At that meeting, the University Trustees and administration, Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, and the Presidents of the other campuses affirmed their commitment to a healthy and independent Antioch College and acknowledged that could not happen without the College’s alumni.  The Trustees unanimously passed a Resolution calling for the Alumni Association to create the process, plans and resources to secure Antioch College’s independence from Antioch University, with its own board of trustees. The resolution also calls for the alumni to craft a plan for the transfer of assets from the University and a timetable for implementing that plan. Immediately, my multiple phones started ringing off the hook. Shortly thereafter, my email inbox completely filled up. Everyone wanted to know: what’s the next step? What are we doing? Here’s my idea, can we act on it? Here’s my plan, can we adopt it? Can we believe this? SHOULD we believe this?

I don’t have all the answers. I understand the skepticism many of you may have. This has been an exhausting year, filled with ups and downs, and more twists and turns than a midnight walk through the Glen. We thought that by now the College would well on the road to recovery, or at least in re-hab. But we’re on Antioch time…and it will take more time, more work, more invention and reinvention, working together in community, to revive Antioch College.

Even though I appreciate your skepticism, I remain optimistic. We have achieved so much, so quickly. Alumni have become re-engaged as never before. Donations and pledges arrive daily at the College Revival Fund.  The future of Antioch College is in our hands.  Working together with the incredible faculty, dedicated staff, eager Trustees and the supportive Yellow Springs community, the alumni community has demonstrated its commitment to Antioch College.  Together we will ensure that the next generation of leaders will graduate from Antioch.

It is once again time for fortitude and oceans of caffeine. It is time to complete the movement we launched under the tent at last year’s Reunion—the task of securing Antioch College’s independence as a liberal arts, residential college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, with a tenured faculty and vigorous curriculum, based on our values of shared governance, experiential learning, and community.

That’s great, you’re saying. But what are we DOING?

Here’s what’s going on right now: The Alumni Board is crafting a letter of intent with the Board of Trustees for the transfer of the historical assets of Antioch College to an independent College Board of Trustees. This letter will embody the principles of the Resolution passed unanimously by the alumni at last year’s Reunion. Once this letter is approved, it will be posted on antiochians.org and put out on the lists, so keep your laptops handy.

Once a letter of intent has been signed, the next step is to put in place a Board of Trustees for an independent Antioch College.  The Alumni Board’s Governance Committee has been developing qualifications for board members and identifying candidates for the past year.  The new Board will take responsbility for initiating a national search for a new College president and oversee the renovation of the College buildings and curriculum.   Also, after the letter of intent is accepted by the University Board, the incredible staff of the College Revival Fund—Risa Grimes, Aimee Mayurama, Fred Kraus, Wendy Ernst, Chelsea Martens, Robin Heise, Eric Miller, Cheri Robbins, and Stephen Duffy—will be going into full-on fundraising mode.

As the President of the Antioch College Alumni Association, I sit on the University Board of Trustees.  I know that the Trustees want us to succeed.

Make no mistake about it–no matter what happens, we are going forward.  You will have the opportunity this weekend to connect with faculty, to strategize in breakout groups, to attend Community Meeting, as well as to have fun, connect with your classmates and, of course, hop til you drop at Div dance. I can’t believe I’m saying this to Antiochians, but please remember to have fun this weekend.

I’m now going to turn over the floor to Ellen Borgersen, Vice-President of the Alumni Board and Acting President of the College Revival Fund. She’ll talk about Nonstop Antioch, her work with the faculty and staff and how it will fold into the revival of Antioch College. After her talk, we will be available for a question and answer session. I look forward to your questions and suggestions.

Nancy Crow

Alumni Board President

Last Modified : June 30th, 2008 Filed under : Alumni_Board, Letters, to the Community Navigate : Previous post / Next post