The Antioch Papers

The Antioch Independence Fund’s 2003 Final Report, “Passing the Torch” illuminates the deep structural problems affecting Antioch University/College. In this essay, authors Katy Jako and Connie Pelekoudas document a series of attempts to reestablish “centrality” and/or “independence” for Antioch College while outlining the systemic flaws in the development of the University/College that ultimately impact renewal efforts and strategic planning at Antioch campuses.

The four items in this document are a partial overview of some of the historical choices made in the creation of Antioch College’s Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom. Currently Antioch University plans to close the College and CSKC on June 30, 2008. It appears that the agreement between Mrs. King and Antioch College is structured in such a way that CSKC cannot live without the College, a mutual linkage designed in part by Mrs. King.

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On November 4, 2007, the Antioch University Board of Trustees amended their University Commitment Acceptance Policies by adding the Donor Bill of Rights. At the Board meeting in which the University Trustees adopted the bill, it was stated, “there’s nothing here we’re not already doing.” Given this statement, it is clear the Donor Bill of Rights extends these Rights to all Donors to Antioch College/University before and after the adoption date of these Rights. If you have donated to Antioch College/University, read the Bill and know your Rights.

This March 28 email from Antioch College Professor Robert Devine and March 21 letter from Antioch University Chancellor Toni Murdock provides a “teachable moment” on the topic of risk and well-being.

In one week (April 1, 2008) the 1st trial of Antioch College/University will go public. Greene County Magistrate Judge George Reynolds has taken the unusual step of calling for an evidentiary hearing in open court with witnesses on the stand in order to rule (in whole or in part) on the College Faculty’s request for Injunctive Relief against Antioch University. Attached is the Antioch College Faculty’s “Complaint for Specific Performance and Preliminary and Permanent Injunctive Relief.” Other links to the case outside the Antioch Papers website can be found at:
1) Antioch College Faculty
2) Greene County Clerk of Courts

Antioch College’s DC Alumni wrote this “Open Letter to the Higher Education Community” that was delivered to a phalanx of national higher education associations located at 1 Dupont Circle in Washington DC.

Cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet towards a 2002 Antioch University Board of Trustee meeting, Chairman-elect Dan Kaplan has an in-flight epiphany – the Board lacks information that would help them to steer the institution and the Executive Committee has possibly usurped the functions of the full Board. Kaplan reports that the Board has not been given information it needs to make “strategic, macro decisions,” a startling admission given the fact the Board has just terminated the College’s Strategic Plan based on the advice of an allegedly small secretive committee of the Board (see article Antioch Confidential ).

In the March 14 letter from the (AAUP) American Association of University Professors to Antioch University, it appears that the silence of Antioch University Chancellor Murdock, Chairman Zucker, and COO Bloch is leading the Antioch University Administration (Trustees included) toward a potential censure investigation by the AAUP. The March 4 letter from the AAUP marks the beginning of Antioch University Administration’s period of silence.

A statement of solidarity with UE Local 767 and “ Non-Stop Antioch,” and a call for corporate accountability at Antioch University made by the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America.

Antioch University’s Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Laurien Alexandre, gave a Power Point presentation titled “The Future of Antioch University: A View from the Academic Side” at the Antioch University Board meeting in Los Angeles on February 22, 2008. Dr. Alexandre’s presentation deletes Antioch College after slide 2 (“The ‘Old’ Transactional University”) although the other University campuses are represented in the evolving University depicted in the subsequent Power Point slides. Why has Antioch College been deleted from “The Future of Antioch University”? Inquiring minds (and long-time College donors) want to know why.

The Antioch Papers, an investigative journalism and media arts website, has received a chilling threat to its right to free speech from Antioch University. Antioch University has demanded the removal of all (allegedly) confidential and proprietary documents from The Antioch Papers website under the threat of future legal action .

The Antioch Papers staff members Tim Noble and Brian Springer responded to this demand stating, “The Antioch Papers follows the long tradition of First Amendment protected speech established by the Pentagon Papers. Antioch University and its Board of Trustees are public figures involved in a discussion about higher education—public figures constantly mentioned in the national and local press. The public’s right to know supersedes Antioch University’s assertions of private claims and private matters, especially since these materials were not ‘purloined’ as you persistently claim. Your concerns lie with Antioch University’s Board of Trustees’ inability to control its administrators and employees and not with The Antioch Papers.”
— Noble/Springer (see attached letter)

Antioch Confidential examines several documents that were until now Antioch University attorney-client privileged communications. What role has this confidentiality played in the health of a College that has functioned through a decades-old shared governance system, a governance system that has been integrated as a major component of its educational curriculum and that has historically brought students to the College?

2001 Ad Hoc Committee Report and Related Board Action Summary

Antioch University Finance Committee Minutes May 31 and June 1, 2001

Antioch University Board Of Trustees Investment Committee Minutes June 1, 2001

Antioch University Board of Trustees Annual Meeting Closed Session Minutes May 30 – June 2,2001 Keene, New Hampshire

Briefing Memorandum Antioch University Board of Trustees June 2, 2001

What is expected of Boards in higher education.

Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Antioch Board of Trustees October 1,2001, at Avon, CT

121 pages of interviews conducted by Kirsten Ervin as part of her 1991 Senior Project in Communications.

With: Phyllis Williams, Joyce Clayborn, Al Denman, Connie Gahagan, Virginia Garrett, Bill Houston, Jewell Graham, Kenneth Olson, Connie Pelekoudas, Nina Myatt, and John Ronsheim. Note: the pdf is bookmarked into individual interviews for better access

Announcing Custom Google Search in the sidebar. You can now search the entire contents of this site—including the more than 5000 pages of pdf documents.

Given the recent accounting error by the University in which they projected their cash flow to be 30% worse then it actually is (see pg. 3), the researchers at The Antioch Papers have created “Antioch Budgets for Dummies” Intended for Antioch Trustees, Alumni, Workers, Students, and Community Members; ABD is a “tool-kit” they can use to make sure such accounting errors don’t occur in the future.

An archeological overview of student and faculty numbers covering the past decade available at this point, compiled by the Antioch Papers.

More than 4000 pages of documents in pdf form.

January 11- Village council resolution recognizing and supporting the efforts of the Antioch College Continuation Corporation (AC3) to avoid even a temporary closure of the college.

The Faculty has dismissed their lawsuit without prejudice, while asserting their participation in rebuilding efforts in accordance with their contracts. Serious questions are raised for the university administration to answer in a timely fashion.

Bronze Level $25,000+
William Hooper Classroom
Donors: …

November 9 – A letter from Interim Antioch College President Andrzej Bloch to College Faculty about the likely termination of their employment.

“If it is an asset, it belongs to the University; if it is a liability, it belongs to the College.”

The $13,795,000 bond document that raised the fund’s for Antioch McGregor’s “Campus West”.

FUN FACTS
The number of times the following terms appear in the bond:
1. Antioch College – 15 times
2. Antioch McGregor – 9 times
3. Antioch University McGregor – 3 times

An Antioch Papers first, a document from the future! The Year-End Financial Statements for 2006-07 and First Quarter Performance of 2007-08 to be presented October 25-27, 2007. Presented to you in time to digest before the big show.

Sept. 24 – UE Local 767 asks for the Board to address and for the Chancellor to explain (and apologize for) a set of “secretive, unethical and illegal acts.”

Sept. 19 – A letter detailing the heightened concerns of the American Association of University Professors towards Antioch University and Antioch College.

This letter from College President Devine to Chancellor Hall states “the plan to charge depreciation to each campus is, for the College, the crushing blow. It renders the challenge of building a healthy and viable College a Sisyphean nightmare.” This plan would come into full force with University CFO Watts’ Drain The Pipes order.

May 7 – In a letter to University Chancellor Craiglow, former College President Bob Devine details the impact of the Drain The Pipes plan while asking “some ultimate questions regarding the unusual structure of the University.” This letter is followed by College faculty questions about Accountability and the Possible End of Antioch College

December 9 – A letter from 10 faculty members of the College’s CIS Department to Chancellor Craiglow and CFO Watts. The letter ends with the sentence, “We are committed faculty who are worried that this lack of accountability may ultimately mean the end of Antioch College.” One possible beginning to this possible ending starts here

November 7 – Members of Community Government heard but ignored at Board of Trustees Executive Committee Meeting

October 26 – This letter from Glenn Watts (University CFO) to Barbara Stewart (College CF0) begins the full implementation of the University’s Sisyphean plan for the College. Stewart resigned from her position a few weeks after receiving this letter. She is the last Antioch College CFO to date. The impact of the budget changes in this letter led former College President Bob Devine to ask these Questions Regarding the Unusual Structure of the University

Your resource guide for getting to know the voting members of the 2007/08 Antioch University Board of Trustees.

The agenda distributed to the “invited stakeholders” for the afternoon meeting with the BOT on August 25, 2007.

May 31 – The future status of the College will be announced as either Scenario I (Permanent Closure) or Scenario II (Suspend Operations for 3 Years)

May 31 – A framework for discussing the past history of the College and the University’s future planning assumptions through 2014.

May 31 – Financial projections based on 3 assumptions, #1 being the Board declares that financial exigency exists at the College at the June BOT meeting

Aug. 7 – The American Association of University Professors responds to request for advice and assistance by Antioch College Faculty.

June 7-9 – Includes the 2006-07 end of year projections, 2007-08 proposed budgets, and fiscal year 2008-12 capital budgets.

Oct. 26 – An essay by University Chancellor Toni Murdock that establishes a framework for discussing the Board’s operational style, communications patterns, and governance structure, including protocols for trustee/faculty interaction. Her bibliography makes no reference to Mort Rauh’s 1969 book.

August 2002 – A 146-page self-study created by Antioch University for the 2002 National North Central Association (NCA) Re-accreditation Visit.

Summer 2002 – A 124-page self-study created by Antioch College for the 2002 National North Central Association (NCA) Re-accreditation Visit.

Morton A. Rauh, Vice-President Emeritus, literally wrote the book on trusteeship. In this issue of Antioch Notes, he suggests ways in which a college or university board can expand participation in decision-making.