Month: October 2007

Community Called to the Polls

On Monday October 8th, roaming ballots will cross campus to allow Antioch College students, faculty and staff to vote on a double-referendum.

The student-initiated community referendum was first presented during September 25th Community Meeting by ComCil member Erin-Aja Grant and AdCil member Julian Sharp. They insisted that the drafts were temporary, and open to everyone’s input. “The process of holding a community referendum shall be transparent, collaborative, and efficient” read the Referendum Schedule poublished soon thereafter.

The documents were made freely available for community members to edit and offer suggestions for revisions. A schedule was produced specifying the timeline and process of the action and giving deadlines for editing suggestions. Throughout the past week, there have been regular updates on FirstClass Announcements as new drafts of the referendums emerged. On Tuesday October 2nd, the final referendum language has been presented to both governance councils and moved forward by JointCil.

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University Files Motion to Dismiss Faculty Lawsuit

Calling on precedents spanning the last half-century, Antioch University formally filed a motion to dismiss in response to a lawsuit collective brought forward by tenured faculty of Antioch College.
Filed 15 days before a deadline set by the Green County Court of Pleas, the motion demonstrates the university’s alacrity for a fight, presenting the first, if preliminary, obstacle to the faculty’s bid for an injunction to force the university to follow faculty employment contracts. As a second point of contention, the injunction seeks to prevent the university from liquidating assets the college currently uses.
The class action, filed in mid-August, would require the university to keep the college open by “implementing the least drastic means” of dealing with the current financial crisis.

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YS Town Council Hears Plan on Development Alliance

The Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce, together with the Community Resources board and the soon to be dissolved Community Information Project, plan to establish an umbrella organization to become “the new economic authority in the area” by January 1st, 2008. This is the bottom line of a proposal that Community Ressources member, Dan Young, presented on behalf of the three boards at a Village Council meeting on Tuesday.
In addition to seeking approval to establishment the Alliance by 2008, Young and co-signers to the Alliance proposal, CoC vice president Ellen Hoover and CIP representative Ron Schmidt, ask the council to allocate recently raised economic development funds to the amount of $250.000.
“It’s multi-year spending. And its primary purpose is finding someone who can spend half time, maybe full time, promoting economic development in the village.” commented, Glenn Watts, member of CR on Wednesday…

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Referendum Issue #1: Vote of No Confidence in Antioch University Chancellor Tulisse Murdock

Antioch College is grounded in values of democratic shared governance, the worth and dignity of every individual, and the pursuit of social justice. These values have withstood over 150 graduating classes, two world wars, and 21 College Presidents, but right now these values are being threatened more than ever before.
Tulisse Murdock, Chancellor of Antioch University, has violated long-standing Antioch College values, community standards, and the Civil Liberties Code. Line six of the Antioch College Civil Liberties Code states, “We regard these as fundamental necessities of genuine education, individual worth and dignity, and democratic government.” Under Chancellor Murdock’s leadership the Civil Liberties Code has been violated and democratic shared governance has been stifled. The College’s financial stability and reputation have been repeatedly damaged over the past two years by Chancellor Murdock’s administrative decisions, which in many cases also circumvented the College’s shared governance policies. We acknowledge that problems have existed between the College and university long before Chancellor Murdock took office, however, Murdock has failed to bring the two institutions into right relationship and has never been an advocate for the College.
Chancellor Murdock’s removal of President Steven Lawry and her formation of a new administrative team is cause for question. Both President Lawry’s removal, and the formation of a new administrative team, occurred without the consultation of any of the College’s structures of shared governance. Weeks after the fact, Chancellor Murdock came to a meeting of the Administrative Council to answer questions about the recent changes in College administration. We found her answers incomplete and unsatisfactory, and we have yet to receive a candid account of the events of August 31, 2007. The administrative shake-up has damaged the College’s reputation and decision-making abilities at this critical juncture in Antioch’s history. Continue reading Referendum Issue #1: Vote of No Confidence in Antioch University Chancellor Tulisse Murdock

Referendum Issue #2: Vote in favor of the future of Antioch College as an independent and self-governing institution, no longer under the auspices of Antioch University

Referendum Issue #2:
Vote in favor of the future of Antioch College as an independent and self-governing institution, no longer under the auspices of Antioch University

Antioch College has maintained a proud tradition of educating progressive voices to counter oppression and to create just and sustainable communities for over 155 years. Antiochian leadership has benefited humanity in profound and transformative ways over the past century and a half, and the world needs Antioch now more than ever. Today Antioch College finds itself at the crossroads of its existence. The dedication and leadership shown by the Antioch College Alumni Association over the past few months is a testament to the possibility for institutional change. In order for the College to survive it must break free from University control.
Over the past several years, the University leadership and Board of Trustees have made decisions which have directly and indirectly damaged the College. Antioch University has removed financial decision-making authority from the College, and forced budget cuts which have reduced faculty, support staff, admissions, and development capabilities. The University imposed a “Renewal” curriculum on the College with minimal consultation with the Antioch College community, and then failed to financially support the drastic changes which it had mandated. The results of these poor business decisions have been exacerbated by the disconnected culture of secrecy under which the Board of Trustees and the University operate, culminating in the shocking decision to suspend Antioch College operations in June 2007.
We question the accuracy of the information used by the Board of Trustees to make its decision to suspend College operations in June, and we believe viable solutions to the College’s financial troubles exist. The Alumni Association and College Faculty are developing promising solutions. Options that were not on the table in June of 2007 now seem viable.
Today we, the students, professional educators, and staff members of the Antioch College community, call for our independence from the detrimental governance of Antioch University. We support the formation of an autonomous College Board of Trustees, no longer under the auspices of Antioch University. We intend to continue building a movement that will realize the full potential of our beloved institution.