Tag: faculty

Letter from Louise Smith, ‘77 Professor of Theater and alumna

“I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.”
-Blanche Dubois

Since the announcement that we have been given a reprieve from suspension, the theater department has been immersed and focused on the opening of “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams. All term, I have been struck with the resonances between the play and our situation here. It started when John Fleming, the director, put out audition notices in which he crossed out the word ‘Streetcar” and wrote the word “College” so that the poster read “ A College named Desire”.  Continue reading Letter from Louise Smith, ‘77 Professor of Theater and alumna

Letter from Joni Rabinowitz ’64

To the Editor,

My feelings about the current state of affairs are very mixed. I applaud all the people – on both boards and those on no board – for their tireless labors of love  and generous contributions, to bring us to this point.

On the other hand, I’m very suspicious. The same people seem to still be in charge. The same ones who have ripped us off for years. I see people who don’t  identify with our traditions, and who want  to destroy the college, still holding the bulk of the power. Continue reading Letter from Joni Rabinowitz ’64

“You’re Doing It Wrong” – Letter from Ryan Boasi, 4th year student

To my fellow students,

Since the BoT decided to suspend the operation of the college this June, dedicated alumni, faculty, staff and students have been abuzz with activity and positive energy in an effort to do everything possible to save our home. Their efforts to protect the things they love here in Antioch have been historic, and evoke in me a sense of pride and distinction that no Ivy League education could hope to offer.

Continue reading “You’re Doing It Wrong” – Letter from Ryan Boasi, 4th year student

To The Editors

To the Editors, Kim-Jenna  Jurriaans & Jeanne Kay:

It is hard to express all the feelings of joy and frustration, of elation and disappointment  from being on campus last week during the meetings of the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Board.  Particularly as decisions which we all hoped would have already been made are still on hold as negotiations continue.  But it is easy to be proud to be an Antiochian, more so now than ever.  Proud to see the Alumni rise up and support our college.  Proud to get to know the incredible alumni who have put together plans for the future and raised more money in four months than has ever been raised before in many times that period.  Proud to see the students led by CG pull together for the common good of the college which they clearly love as much as any who have graduated.  And who are as deserving of the degree as any who have gone before.  Proud of the faculty who have stood by the college and the students.  Proud of the staff who are working under the most trying of circumstances, with special kudos to the development staff who have accomplished miracles over the past few months without knowing whether it would be enough (it is, for now). Proud to walk around the village and see such support from the YS News and other local businesses. I arrived cautiously optimistic and, since the announcement that the AB had raised $18 million almost three times the  figure that the BoT said was required, remain optimistic that the suspension order will be lifted, the college will get its own board of trustees and will become sustainable on the model that we recognize as the heart and soul of the Antioch experience.
I look forward to being proud that the University Trustees will recognize the right thing and do it soon.  That they will soon acknowledge all the “yes” signs, large and small, around campus and the quality, dedication and potential of the current students who posted them.

Allen Spalt, ‘66

Dispatches from Community Meeting

If Horace Mann’s vaunted credo weren’t so fitting, “Work hard; party hard” might do the trick. So when attendance at Community Meeting waned, one of the parties in Antioch’s Holy Trinity was trash-talked by several community voices.
The Black and Tan Formal, of one of Antioch’s cultural cornerstones, was criticized by several community members for potentially depressing student attendance at important and expensive Community Day events.
Student and former Community Manager, Levi B. Cowperthwaite wanted students to consider monitoring their partying and regulating their workload so that they could participate meaningfully in events planned for Community Day, including guest speaker Allan G. Johnson’s 10:00 a.m. presentation.
Cowperthwaite observed that students have treated the past years’ Community Days as time to recuperate from the previous night’s partying or to catch up on homework.
Associate Dean of Faculty, Eli Nettles said, “I’m terrified Allan’s going to show up and there are seven people here.” She then said that she’d be honored if the date of Black and Tan was changed.
Nettles also said that an anonymous donor gave $5,000 to bring Johnson back to campus, because in light of the suspension of operations, Antioch couldn’t afford Johnson’s price tag.
“Since I was a first year, I though it was unfair to Community Day to have Black and Tan the night before,” said third-year Rachel Sears.
Events Manager Rory Adams-Cheatham was a staunch proponent for the party to remain the night before Community Day, “It’s the best party of the year a lot of the time…Antioch used to be the people who partied the hardest worked the hardest.”
But she conceded to the concerns raised, “I want to do what you all want…Come talk to me.”
And elsewhere in McGregor 113…Community Member of the Week was awarded to a talented cadre of current and former students, Dennie Eagleson was in two places at once to equalize Allan Johnson’s levels, CGC gave an update on Antioch’s next best thing, and announcements revealed that Antiochians are preoccupied with identity, sex, and war.
Community Member of the Week was awarded to fourth years (trivia with) Beth Goodney and (“lost in the Glen”) Julian Sharp. Nobel Prize Winner Mario Capecchi ’61 also got a certificate and most probably a hit-up for a donation.
Author Allan Johnson is coming to talk and do workshops on Community Day. A video of his presentation last term was projected on the wall.