The College Faculty

Hi Folks,

Perhaps, lest I sound like an apologist for Antioch University, I should remind you that I am the lead plaintiff in the faculty lawsuit. I am an advocate for fighting the University in every legal way in order to preserve Antioch College as we all have known it.

Some of you know how strident I have been in trying to persuade all who would listen that no one should consider keeping even a pencil labeled “Antioch College” or “Antioch anything” if the University prevails and the College closes. Much less steal anything the University genuinely values.

Based on how nicely Toni, Andrzej, Lynda Sirk, and Mary Lou LaPierre have dealt with Antioch College this year, if the University prevails I expect to have a search warrant executed to search my apartment for any college “treasure”. If I were stupid enough to have stolen (kept) College (University) property, I probably deserve the legal consequences I am sure Toni and Andrej would gleefully impose on me.

On the ACAN and Organizers discussion group there has been open discussion about some of y’all “liberating” the university property that is more valued by the University than any other asset in Yellow Springs.

You all know that the University legally owns all Yellow Springs assets, and yet many of you have openly plotted to remove Antiochiana and “put it in Bob Devine’s basement, stash it in Wisconsin, or give it to Wright State”. Antiochiana is not yours to put, stash, or give. If the University prevails I advise you to not remove a single paper from Antiochiana. The University will not take removal of Antiochiana assets lightly.

Scott Sanders “The Boss of Antiochiana” is a University employee specifically because the University values the collection so much they have not dared to have the collection overseen by a College employee. If you go to University Web sites, you can see that Antioch University wraps itself in the heritage and values of Antioch College.

If you have never done this, I very highly suggest you take a trip across Antioch University and see how much they value our heritage. In fact, they consider it “their heritage” because they were created by Antioch College. To facilitate your trip across the University, I am providing clicks below:

Antioch Seattle
www.antiochsea.edu/about/tradition.html

Antioch LA and Santa Barbara are almost identical
www.antiochla.edu/about-antioch/history-of-antioch/index.html
www.antiochsb.edu/general-category/history-of-antioch-university.html

Antioch McGregor
www.mcgregor.edu/about/index.html

Antioch New England
www.antiochne.edu/aboutane/history.cfm
www.antiochne.edu/aboutane/whyiloveane.cfm

If you have taken the Web trip by clicking above, you can see how much Antioch University values Antiochiana, and how seriously they would view attempts to remove any portion of the Antiochiana collection.

Should you still doubt how valuable Antioch University considers Antiochiana and the Antioch name, let me quote the first paragraph from the letter Antioch University lawyers sent faculty warning those of us teaching next year for Non-Stop ——- not to use the name “Antioch”. The same introductory paragraph was used in the letter demanding that the faculty of Antioch College stop using the name “The Faculty of Antioch College Legal Fund”.

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

“This firm represents Antioch University (”Antioch”). As you know, Antioch is a well-established and well-respected business that has developed a reputation based upon its educational services. Antioch has been using its well-known trademarks and trade name ANTIOCH, ANTIOCH COLLEGE, and other marks and names containing the ANTIOCH mark, as well as the distinctive “A” DESIGN mark, in connection with providing educational services for many years. In connection with its business, Antioch has expended and continues to expend substantial sums in promoting its distinctive campuses. As a result of these efforts, the mark ANTIOCH has developed a high degree of distinctiveness and is widely recognized by consumers as being associated with services having their origin with Antioch.”

How ironic and flat out stupid that a University leadership that claims to embrace the heritage of Antioch College, and appears to value the name Antioch so much, has done so much damage to the name ANTIOCH and ANTIOCH COLLEGE over the past 10 months.

How shameful that the Board of Trustees to whom the name ANTIOCH and ANTIOCH COLLEGE is entrusted have allowed the name to be so damaged. This is one more example of the Board’s appalling lack of fiduciary responsibility.

Peter Townsend
Faculty of Antioch College

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