Meeting Minutes
NYC Antioch College Community Chapter
November 12, 2008
153 W. 119th Street  New York, NY
——————————————————————————————–
Meeting started at 7:30
Attending: Matthew Derr, Calista Hendrickson, David Ottaviano, Susan Opotow, Donald Davidson, Noreen Dean Dresser, Jeff Wood, Harold Calhoun, Janet Goldner, Lynda White, Victoria Hochberg (from Los Angeles), Aaron Gruenberg
- – -

Matthew Derr — member of the Task Force and the Antioch College Board Pro-Tem — presented the latest developments to the group and took questions.  Except where noted, the following is a summary of Derr’s comments.

“We [Antiochians] were all trained to support causes and Alma Mater was not a cause that we identified with…if anything has come out of this last year, the College is now a cause.  We identify with it now in a way that we probably would not have if this terrible event [closure by the University] had not unfolded in the way that it has.”

OPENING
The Task Force is creating an agreement to separate Antioch College from Antioch University and has been working since July.  Derr is confident the process will go well and thinks we may be mere weeks from an agreement, adding that if an agreement is reached soon that Antioch College should be re-opened and running by 2010 (“I can’t imagine any later than that”).

BOARD PRO-TEM
To avoid the snare of creating yet another corporate entity the Board Pro-Tem has assumed the incorporation of the Antioch College Continuation Corporation (AC3).
The Board Pro-Tem has said it will not speak until there is a college. There are 14 members presently, eventually expected to be 20-25 people. Lee Morgan is chairperson, and as of yet there are no bylaws. The Board Pro-Tem is geared to thinking post-separation, and recognizes that time is of the essence and so is prepared to act in a timely manner once an agreement is reached.

The finances of the separation must remain confidential at this time.
The College endowment has many YSO restricted covenants.
The University needs a solution as much as the College and has worked on a separation concept for some time.

THE NAME “ANTIOCH COLLEGE”
Several NYC alums expressed apprehension that Antioch College and the University might remain interlocked by virtue of sharing the name and firmly stated that the College should own the name as opposed to just licensing the name from the University. Concerns were expressed that the moral and financial confusion of sharing the name could sap our future efforts. Coordination/management of name sharing should be well thought out. Derr said he has never heard a University board member express an interest in not allowing us to use the name “Antioch College”.  Derr mentioned that the Great Lakes College Association has been helpful here and that the University efforts to “protect” the name through threatening legal action is standard practice for those seeking to keep a name fully protected.

“After separation, the University will be the least of our problems,” said Derr.

OPPORTUNITIES AND GOALS FOR THE FUTURE
American higher education may now have a break-down moment such as the one Antioch College has experienced. However, Antioch College is now essentially free of debt. The nature of our style in the areas of academics, social change, work and community position us well for the future.  Nonstop Institute faculty and students have found their way and are “in charge of their own fates.”

When the College opens, it will be small. “I remain concerned that the College cannot come back as an anemic place” so the Board Pro-Tem is disinclined to start with small faculty salaries because they are morally indefensible.

There is a “low cost niche” for a college like Antioch.  Other colleges may have overbuilt (ie, in-suite bathrooms, academically unnecessary and extravagant facilities) and a crisis in higher education is imminent with the economic downturn. The future question will be where does frugality stop and poverty start. The Board Pro-Tem wants the new college to reflect the mission as it is traditionally understood.

The campus, Glen Helen, and name will be included in Antioch College.

The potential for lawsuits did not play a role in forcing the University to constructively negotiate. Derr said the University board is not monolithic and some are truly saddened by the events of the last year.

The separation process has lasted so long partly due to inadequate legal advice.  “It would be very difficult for Antioch College if the University were to fail.”

Fund raising needs a business plan.

COMMUNICATIONS
Derr said he’d like to see NYC chapter communicate with other NYC alumni. Active communication bears significant meaning for University and the College.

Several NYC alums criticized the CRF and Alumni Association for failing to communicate with chapters as well as failing on the public relations front. Several NYC alums said it was often hard to get information and a response.

Derr in response said we have to change a “culture of criticism”, adding that there was no paid communications staff.

Several NYC alums continued to cite the insufficiencies in the communications area as a critical failure that is resulting in loss of interest of alumni and allies.  Derr says that he will take these communications concerns to YSO on Monday 11/17 and the NYC Chapter should write directly to Nancy Crow and Ellen Borgerson requesting that a paid Communications position be created. Derr also suggested NYC raising money for a Communications position to make clear our concerns to the Board Pro-Tem.

Might publicity work be a future NYC effort? In the current holding pattern there is frustration for several NYC alums on this public relations front.  Interest was expressed for contacting the Brian Lehrer show for publicity.

INVENT-A-COLLEGE
Alums expressed concern that there has been no reporting by the Alumni Association or CRF follow-up of the Invent/Create a College meeting at Earlham in the 5 weeks since it occurred. Derr said the GLCA completed its report on October 20, and it should be up on the website.

CLOSING
Derr’s 3 Most Important Things to keep in mind:
1) the imminent separation of the College from the University,
2) alums have to be prepared for the next stage,
3) money/fundraising will be crucial in the near future.

Meeting adjourned 9:50

Minutes compiled by Harold Calhoun & Jeff Wood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOCAL FUNDRAISER TO SAVE ANTIOCH COLLEGE

antiochians.org

For more information, press photos, or interviews contact

Jennie Knaggs at 517 – 420 – 0211 or email jennieknaggs

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2008
2:00 to 5:30 pm.

AJ’s Café
240 W 9 Mile Rd
Ferndale, MI 48220
(248) 399 -3946
www.ajsmusiccafe.com

South East Michigan Antioch College Alumni Chapter to hold Fundraiser Event

Since the closing of Antioch College this past June, negotiations to reopen have been underway, but we can’t wait. The Nonstop Institute is a collegium of former Antioch College students, faculty, staff, and alums inspired by the College’s high academic standards and curriculum based on social justice. The Nonstop Institute was created in response to Antioch University’s decision to close Antioch College and dismiss its tenured faculty.

The NONSTOP  Liberal Art Institute was created to carry the Soul and the DNA of Antioch.  Since September 4, 2008 the vibrant NONSTOP learning community has been growing and inventing itself and carrying forward the traditions of Antioch College in Yellow Springs.

The tradition of activism and progressive education that makes Antioch College and The Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute so important today still thrives in the work of students and alumni all over the world.

Come and learn about — and celebrate – NONSTOP with an afternoon of film, poetry and music from Antioch Alumni. Featuring local poet Terry Blackhawk; Tendaji Ganges of the Antioch Alumni Board; Hassan Rahmanian, Professor at NONSTOP Liberal Arts Institute; Laurie White, filmmaker, with trailer for her new film “Refusing to be Enemies”; music by Jennie Knaggs and the Sure Shots, Tom Sain, and Dan Shoemaker; and a showing of the 1960′s film,“The Antioch Adventure”.

“Other reforms are remedial; education is preventative.” – Horace Mann

* * * *
“Be ashamed to die before you have won some victory for humanity …”

Following the herald of founder Horace Mann, Antioch College Alumni chapters all over the country have been passionately  organizing to save the historic liberal arts institute of Antioch College. Founded in 1853,   Antioch College was a liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio,  based on Horace Mann’s theories that blended practical work experience with classroom learning and participatory community governance. Boasting alumni such as Stephen Jay Gould (Science Historian), Eleanor Holmes Norton ( activist, Delegate to Congress), Mia Katherine Zapata ( lead singer of The Gits), Coretta Scott King ( civil rights activist, author), Antioch College was one of the first colleges in the US to enroll women and African Americans, and the first in higher education to give equal pay and rank to a female professor.

Antioch College is part of the Great Lakes College Association. The GLCA is based in Ann Arbor,  collaborating within a  liberal arts college network in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

LINKS

About NONSTOP and ANTIOCH ONLINE:

www.ysnews.com/stories/2008/10/102308_nonstop.html

nonstopinstitute.org

chronicle.com/news/article/5355/aaup-to-investigate-closing-of-antioch-college

Jennie Knaggs and the Sure Shots:
www.jennieknaggs.com

Great Lakes College Association:

www.glca.org/

Antioch DC Alums meeting Nov. 8, 2008

We had a good turn-out of 27, fitting snugly into my living room with a few in the peanut gallery on the stairs.  Matt Derr began by telling us the “conversations” between reps of the BoT (Dan Fallon and Jack Merselis) have been ongoing with him and Lee Morgan from side and that he is confident an agreement will be hammered out before too long.  Having been wrong on previous time-line predictions, he thought it best not to pin it down. Matt, for those of you who don’t know, is now working full-time on saving the college, employed by the College Revival Fund (CRF), which is funded by alumni.  He supervises a staff of five – Risa Grimes, Aimee Marayuma, Fred Kraus, Steve Duffy and one other support staff.

[BTW, there is a new Antiochians.com website.  You may have trouble signing in, as I have.  I haven’t figured out how to fix this yet.]

The reason these are called conversations instead of negotiations is that both sides agree on the fundamental issue – transferring the college from the university to independent status.  The goal is a Letter of Intent that spells out the path to resolving specific ownership issues – untangling bond debt, who gets WYSO and AEA, accreditation, etc. The basic values of rigorous academics, co-op jobs and community governance are not in dispute. The endowment (now about $22 million) is restricted to use by the College.

There is a pro-tem board in place ready to hire a president as soon as the college is ours.  They have already had a meeting in New York.

The college is currently closed, except for the library, which is open limited hours with a staff of three.  Matt said the other buildings have been brought into code compliance for empty facilities, which is basically draining the pipes and moving furniture out of the way of firefighter access.  The University has not agreed to heat the buildings this winter.

He also said the estimate for restoration and renovation is between $24 and $30 million – considerably less than the $50 million the University’s consultants predicted.  These improvements and deferred maintenance could be accomplished over 5 or 6 years as the student population grows.  He also noted that this is an opportunity for the school to become ADA compliant and greener.  Thanks to Arthur Morgan, we have our own heating plant that is available for new technology.

Gary pointed out that only 2% of the college age population goes to a residential, private, liberal arts college.  In the current economic climate, and with demographic trends predicting a decline in graduating high school seniors, the re-born Antioch must be able to communicate its special qualities.

Matt pointed out that Antioch has always been a highly tuition dependent college.  Several alums said that designing programs in which students actually help build state of the art green infrastructure would be innovative and cost effective.

Mark Haskell asked Matt “what do you want us to do?”  Matt said: Keep having meetings.  Talk about Antioch to non-Antiochians.  Think about creating co-op jobs.

Catherine McHugh said she had decided to make a monthly pledge rather than leaving Antioch money in her will and urged others to think about that.  Karen Mulhauser said that one of the pro-tem board members, Atis Folkmanis, has offered some of his company’s puppets to our group for a fundraiser when we’re ready.  (www.folkmanis.com).
She also said we should think about how to recruit students in this area.

If you know any alums in this area who are not on this list, please forward this info to them if you wish.  Forgive us if you get this twice.
There was also some discussion of the Non-Stop Institute in YSO, but I’m trying to keep this brief.

–Megan Rosenfeld

Please join us for a status report from and a chance to ask questions of Matthew Derr (member of the Antioch College Board Pro-Tem and Alumni Association representative on the Task Force to separate Antioch College from Antioch University) who will be in NYC on Wednesday 11/12.

When: Wednesday November 12, 2008 at 7:30pm
Location: TBD – announced ASAP

Jeff Wood ’88
NYC Chapter Co-Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
info

CHICAGO FILM THE FIRST BREATH OF TENGAN REI
PREMIERES AT GENE SISKEL FILM CENTER, 164 N. STATE ST., CHICAGO
FRIDAY, NOV. 21, 8:15 p.m, SATURDAY, NOV. 22, 8 p.m, MONDAY, NOV. 24,  7:45 p.m.
Antioch College Alumni Chapter Hosts Reception before Nov. 22 Screening

The emotional international drama The First Breath of Tengan Rei, written and directed by Chicago husband/wife filmmaking team Junko Kajino and Ed M. Koziarski, has its Chicago premiere in a three-night run Nov. 21, 22 and 24 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.  The First Breath of Tengan Rei screens Friday, Nov. 21 at 8:15 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m., and Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:45 p.m.

Kajino, a native of Nagano, Japan, and Koziarski, from Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, met on a film set at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1997 when Koziarski was completing his senior film there when Kajino moved to town to start her film career.  Together they have helped produce dozens of independent films, all the while battling to make their own feature film.  They finally got their chance when Junko was inspired by a tragic true story that she felt a special responsibility and opportunity to tell, as a Japanese woman living in the U.S.

In The First Breath of Tengan Rei, Japanese star Erika (of Kore-Eda’s renowned After Life) plays Rei, a young Okinawan woman who kidnaps Paris, the teenage son of a U.S. Marine convicted of raping her when she was a girl.  While Rei holds Paris captive, the two are drawn together despite the scars of the past, as they prepare for a final confrontation with Paris’s father, Nelson.

Kajino and Koziarski filmed The First Breath of Tengan Rei in Chicago and Okinawa with a Japanese and Chicago cast and crew, overcoming language and cultural barriers and shooting through a typhoon in a former leper colony off the Okinawa coast.  North Carolina newcomer Katori Eason plays Paris.  Chicago stage veteran Sean Nix, mostly recently seen in Timeline Theatre Company’s production of Gore Vidal’s Weekend, portrays Nelson.  Nelson’s partner in crime, Carter, is portrayed by local film and TV actor Ric Arthur, who himself served in the Marines in Okinawa.  Mark Messing, leader of acclaimed local band Mucca Pazza, designed the sound for the film, and composed the score, featuring music by cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm and Califone guitarist Jim Becker.

Before the Saturday Nov. 22 screening, the Chicago Alumni Chapter of Antioch College hosts a benefit reception for the college, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Film Center’s Gallery/Café.  A historic leader in progressive, experiential education, operations of Antioch College were suspended by Antioch University last summer.  College alumni are negotiating and raising funds to reopen the college as an independent institution next year and restore its vital place in the educational landscape.

$9 general admission tickets for the screenings can be purchased from the Film Center box office or from Ticketmaster at 312.575.8000 or www.ticketmaster.com.   There is no charge for the Nov. 22 reception. After-parties will follow each night, with locations to be announced at each screening.

Download press kit and stills at www.tenganrei.com/media.html.  Screeners available on request.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Junko Kajino
312.850.1247
kajinoj

Ed M. Koziarski
773.910.1444

The Antioch College Alumni Association, DC Chapter
Invites you to join a discussion with

Matthew Derr (’89)
Member of the Board of Trustees Pro Tem

Please join us for a status report from Matt Derr, who is on the negotiating team that is trying to make a deal with Antioch University for the independent rescue of our college.

Saturday, November 8, 2008  2:00 pm
Parish Hall at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
118 3rd Street SE
Convenient to Capitol South Metro stop.
Map available at www.stmarks.net

Refreshments will be provided! We are asking for a $10 donation to
cover the cost of the room.

RSVP: rosenfeldm(at)verizon.net
Antioch College Alumni Association
PO Box 444
Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
www.antiochians.org

The Boston Chapter of the Antioch College Alumni Association
Invites you to a Fall Symposium…

Reinventing Liberal Arts Education for the 21st Century:
Promising Directions for a New Antioch College
Saturday, November 15, 2008

Dudley House, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
(near Harvard Square Red Line stop)

AGENDA
_____________________________________

Morning Session: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
From Past to Future: Lessons from Experience and Imagination
A Facilitated Roundtable Discussion
Lunch (on your own) :  11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.
Afternoon Session: 1:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Updates:

Status – Negotiations to Re-Open Antioch College
Lee Morgan Class of ’66, College Trustee Pro Tem

The Nonstop Institute and Antioch College Revival Fund
Hassan Rahmanian, Director, Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute

Keynote Speaker

Trends in Higher Education: Peril and Promise
Cary Nelson,  Antioch College Class of ‘67
President, American Association of University Professors

Panel Discussions
Service Learning & Co-operative Work-Study Programs
Inquiry-based Studies in Science and Environmental Sustainability
Computer Technology, the Internet,  & Innovative Classroom Learning
Education for Participation in Democracy

Social Hour and Dinner 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
($30.00 advance contribution)
Proceeds to benefit the Nonstop Institute and the College Revival Fund
________________________________

Map & Directions To Harvard University, Dudley House

www.map.harvard.edu/level3.cfm?mapname=camb_allston&tile=F7&quadrant=C&series=N

RSVP by November 2 to Barbara Wallraff,
Boston Chapter, Antioch College Alumni Association
barbara or call her at
617-365-9068
Please indicate which you plan to attend: morning session, afternoon session, and dinner

Full Agenda Below:

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