June 16, 08

Hi from Tex (aka Yazz aka David) Allen '66 (Email me at TexAllen@Hotmail.Com):

Antioch alumni I've been in contact with have emailed me recently and asked if Antioch College Ohio will reopen after being closed down by the Antioch University Board Of Trustees in June 2008.

I've replied to several people, and laid out the facts as I see them briefly, and hopefully without tears. The closing of Antioch College Ohio is a terrible (and unneccessary) tragedy, but it appears to be a done deal. Time to face up to that, and move on....respectfully.

Here, FYI, is the text of my summary of what happened, and why. I may not be correct and Antioch College Ohio may indeed re-open again soon or at least someday. I hope that happens.

Meanwhile, here's what I've replied to Antiochians who contacted me, asked if Antioch will re-open, and "what happened?"

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I think it's very unlikely Antioch College will survive the current closedown imposed by the Antioch University Board Of Trustees.

I wish it weren't so, but I see no evidence to the contrary.

The current Trustees seem intent on closing the school down (for a variety of no doubt unstated reasons), and no serious challenge to their closedown decision has been mounted after one year. When they announced the closedown decision last year (June 2007), they (the Trustees) were on extremely shaky ground and quite vulnerable to challenge and displacement.

The passage of time (one year by now) has changed that. The Trustees now hold the "high ground" and the closedown news is no longer new and shocking.

I believe the Trustees anticipated the violent reaction to their closedown decision, and stage managed things effectively, also recruited allies in the camp of those who seized leadership in the challenge to the closedown. They waited things out, set up ground rules and overall assumptions never challenged or overturned or even widely disputed, networked with key opposition people with great success, and otherwise "pushed the buttons" of Antiochians active in the challenge to the closedown decision in ways beneficial to the Trustees.

I wish the final results were otherwise, but I don't think things will change.

The passing away into history of Antioch College, Ohio is sad, but it is one of those occurances which any student of cultural and educational history knows about. Immortality isn't part of the history of cultural institutions like Antioch College, Ohio....nothing lasts forever.

Best not to let you heart be broken about what's happened. Antiochians who valued what Antioch gave them will keep the memory of Antioch at its best alive, at least during our lifetime.

Best wishes always,
Tex (aka Yazz aka David) Allen, Antioch College, Class of 1966 (Education Major)