“The rest is pretty okay”: Concept Paper Response by Gerry Bello ‘97:
Wednesday, 8th of April 2009 at 02:57:52 AM[From the Editor: On April 1st, 2009, the Concept Paper for an independent Antioch College was released on antiochians.org. Read the concept paper here.]
Continue the discussion on the Record’s Forum
At first read of the concept paper I’m skeptical on 2 points. The rest is pretty okay:
1) Three years, 9 terms, 120 credits, 3 co-ops. I don’t think so.
Consider the curriculum I was under: 4 years, 8 terms, 160 credits, 6 co-ops for a BA. 10-35 additional credits for a BS. At that rate you would have to pass every course to graduate on time. First years could only take 15 credits their 1st quarter thus they would have to study over co-op to graduate on time. The result was a really a 5 year school. Which is fine. I did it in 5.5 years but switched majors.
For student under the new program to take essentially the same course load (I think they mean 4 credits per class instead of 5) they will have a course load 25% worse than mine. No thanks. The idea of taking classes online over co-op is a nice idea. We did independant studies over co-op. But I also co-oped in the remotest place in the lower 48. I lived 26 miles from a paved road and 9 miles from a phone.
Similarly quite a few students choose to co-op in places that are remote or lack the infrastructure to support rebust video conferncing or other web-based particiaption. With a focus on sustainibility, many students will be co-oping in places that are rural and lack the energy and information infrastructure to support that sort of thing.
Consider this: Right now, Ct Chen drives to Non-Stop to do some of his computer work because he lives where there is no broadband. He is 2 miles from town. He uses dialup at home.
I also think the number of co-ops is too small.
The program lacks the flexibility for students to change their major and learn and grow. I didnt have the same lifes goals in 1997 that I did in 1991. Antioch changed that. How many people will come to Antioch, discover things they have never heard of, have their lives changed, and be unable to pursue a study of these things due to a vicious schedule.
That and when exactly are you kids expected to engage in community, recreation and sleep with such a schedule? You need your sleep. And your community. I know the grown ups think you dont need your recreation… but hey… what do they know?
2) Depending on my math, $30 mill is either too high or too low. If they just take the number of sq ft of the buildings and multiply by 100 they will have $36.57 million. Are they really going to fully renovate every single inch of every building on campus? Birch has been renovated 3 times in the last 15 years. Does it really need another $4.6 million dollars worth of work? As a contractor I should be salivating…. But what needs the work? I need to look more at what they think they want to do and frankly, the Stanley report is a joke.
However, replacing the power plant could be costly… depending on how much excess capacity is built for sale as an additional revenue stream. Assuming campus only power generation, you are talking a 1MW plant. Assuming campus + village, 6 to 12 MW depending on if you are generating for base or peak power (YS doubles its january electricty consumption in July).
Replacing the power plant must happen no matter what.
Related posts:
- Cheap Glitter and Mixed Feelings, Reaction to the Concept Paper by Lincoln Alpern ‘11
- Collaborative Process: Concept Paper Commentary by Dan Reyes
- “An Evolving Piece of Work”: Joe Foley on his role as Vice President, the Nonstop budget, and the Alumni Board’s upcoming challenges.
- Support Nonstop, by Chad Johnston ‘01
- “This is remarkable,” Op/Ed by Tony Dallas
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Strongly agree with his assessment of his answer to “What is your vision for the new Antioch?” I feel like most of my ideas weren’t and aren’t challenged nearly enough at Antioch and Nonstop Antioch because everybody is on the same page in so many ways. The rare occasions when they have been challenged are/were some of the most rewarding I’ve had in a very rewarding education.
Also, I find it hilarious that the homonym for hominem as in an ad hominem fallacy should be … well, you know. I was roaring with laughter for a good 15 seconds at that one.
Damn but this brings back memories. I saved a print copy of that issue of the Record especially for this letter. It’s still just as hilarious today as it was last year. Thanks for including it, Rose. Really nice touch.
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Thank you, Chad. You can tell this guy’s in communications; that was a perfect summation of what we in the Nonstop community stand for, and why we’re important.
I’d just also like to stress that we’re important because of people like Chad Johnston. While many things have changed in the near eight years since he graduated, we’re still bearing the torch of an Antioch education and Antioch values.
Chad Johnston is just one of innumerable examples of what an Antioch education means for the individual, and the wider world. He is a passionate and progressive media activist, fighting for freedom of communication as a necessary foundation for social justice.
This is ultimately why Antioch matters; why it is vital that Antioch survive, in spirit as well as name: so that it can go on nurturing and empowering people like Chad so that when they leave college, they will have the knowledge and the skills to work for the betterment of humankind.
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