Here is a report from an eye-witness at a recent Antioch College YSO convocation held in June 2006:
Maybe you are in Yellow Springs this weekend for the reunion and you already know about this. If not, here you go...today Jewel Graham received the JD Dawson award from Antioch. She gave an incredible speech followed by a Q&A. All the notables were there; faculty, alums, students, administrators (including the new president of Antioch, Steven Lawry). A student was filming it all
During the Q&A someone made the statement that Jewel had been "the conscience of Antioch.' This statement evoked loud applause. When the ovation subsided, the student who was filming made the statemant that it was interesting to notice that the only person who wasn't applauding for the comment was President Lawry. Lawry, who is quickly proving himself to be a classic out of control RAGEaHOLIC leapt to his feet and screamed that he was demanding an apology for the statement. Then he proceeded to completely flip out and stormed out of the assembly, leaving a very sour taste in the room following such a rousing speech.
So Antioch continues to bring in anger addicts to fill key positions. Remember former WYSO station "manager" Steve Spencer? Another complete rager. He flipped out so badly one day in the office of former President Straumanis that he was ordered to go to "anger counseling".
Ironic, eh?
just thought you would want to know cuz Antioch sucks more than ever
Comments
Steve take a chill pill!
Check out the news feeds on your left. Interesting video comments from some people on campus after Steve Lawry's presidential address to Antioch College. Not the same day as the above story I believe but still interesting.
Steve Lawry is a FACIST!
According to the rumor mill, Steve Lawry has a problem with Antioch's identity politics. First off, this man is in the powerful position at Antioch, As a white man with privilege and HE has been on the offensive since the first community meeting that he attended. At this meeting he stated that Antioch has a culture of conflict.Did i mention that was his first day on campus too???
Well, yes Steve, Antioch does have a culture of conflict because facist bastards like yourself have all the power in this world. Those of us who happen to be born as a Person of Color, or as a woman, or Gay or Transexual are not given the same privileges as yourself. How we are born directly affects our status, and thus we have to fight to be recognized and given equal opportunities.
This is what i have to say, if you don't like the culture at Antioch then fucking leave, nobody wants you there anyways, go to OSU, or some other mediocre college.
Good Work Antioch Presidential Search Committee, you've picked a little Eichmann. Fire LAWRY-HE DOESN'T GET THE VALUES OR PURPOSE OF ANTIOCH-HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE THERE.
The Meaning of The Word
Dear Courtney,
Your complete mis-use of the word fascist and the very inflammatory idea of using such of the word to describe your college president reveals a lack of education, maturity, and wisdom.
The history of Fascism is very clear, and it doesn't resemble the views of Mr. Lawry, who certainly does not deserve to be compared to one of the greatest monsters in the history of war crimes, Eichmann. It is very irresponsible to use this kind of language simply to provoke others, especially when applied to someone who seems by all measure to have spent a life on the opposite side of such extreme views of people who call themselves Fascists.
But then, you are young, so now I must remind you, that if you had witnessed someone being gassed to death, or having their skin torn off, or genitals mutilated, or burned alive by a Fascist, you would not use such words lightly. Perhaps if you had lived with a relative that had unending nightmares for over forty years, and bore the numbers branded on her skin by the Nazis at Auschwitz, you would understand.
You would only choose to use such an evil word very sparingly because you would understand how loaded it is. Many, many people died fighting the evil of Fascism- and when you grow up, you'll realize the depth of hatred, and evil that word represents, you will look back to blush at the absurdity of your comments. Countless millions died horrific deaths, to acquire freedom from Fascists so you can now bandy the term about irresponsibly.
It isn't just extremely immature for you to say something like this, I should inform you that what you said about this person could land you in court, because what you said is slander. From all appearances, Mr. Lawry seems to be interested in a broad campus culture, where regardless of sexual preference, gender, political affiliation, or religious beliefs, students would feel free to express themselves, without slandering or hurting others.
This would also mean that people would not use a special minority status they feel they have to intimidate others- an act that is as malicious and indecent as a majority group using their powers to intimidate people who they feel don’t belong. What you are saying when you use race and sexual preference in such a conspicuous manner is that you are prejudice. To refer to your college president "as a white man" as though that is some kind of unpardonable sin, is mean spirited, without dignity, and reveals a low level of education. This kind of comment is a disgrace to the college of Antioch.
Proclaiming that being white and male automatically grants a glorious life of privilege, is deeply offensive, and categorically untrue. Excluding many white man and women, or heterosexuals who have fought along side of people of color, with gay and lesbian activists to help ensure equal justice under the law, is something that only a person who is completely unaware of the Civil Rights Movement could even sugges You have no idea what it has been all about, do you?
Your statements, indicate a colossal measure of ignorance, revealing a total lack of understanding of the history of this nation. I have tried to address them as fairly as possible, but I fear you lack the maturity and knowledge of how offensive your statements are to people who have fought all their lives for individual liberty based upon open minded discourse.
But all that you really need to know right now is that in the history of the world it is the best people who rise above persecuting others, based upon differences, and the worst, who use those differences to achieve what they mistakenly believe is power. The most supreme power on earth is the ability to love others. Get on board and learn respect is based on mutual open mindedness.
gender issues
Little Steve Lawry has trouble keeping control of his temper. He has some serious issues with women. Condescending to females. A rager. Little Stevie Spencer was the former WYSO station manager. He was an out of control rager who was allowed to completely screw over the radio station. Big Barbara Gellman-Danley rules Antioch McGregor by threat and intimidation. Just ask the two professors over there who tried to get involved in the union. Oh, sorry, they both lost their jobs. I guess we can't ask them. Lawry, Spencer, Gellman -Danley...it follows a pattern that is Oh SO MANLY! Bad for Antioch. Bad for Yellow Springs. Now McGregor is preparing to divorce itself from Antioch by building a new campus across town. Why? What will that cost? Do they have the money? They claim they need more space. Weren't they supposed to break ground this spring? What happened? Is it true that the plan for the new building keep getting scaled back because they don't have the money? Is it true that McGregor has lots of financial problems? Is it true that many students go to McGregor because it is located on the Antioch campus? So if they build it and nobody wants to come, what happens then? Is Barbara merely padding her resume'? She tried to get the job over at Sinclair Community College. Won't that be a hoot? They build that new building. It ends up being no larger than their current space. Antioch College folds because they can't stop the bleeding and McGregor fails because of the failed vision of the new campus. Danley will follow all those other people, the former head of the Yellow Springs Village Council who suddenly fled town a year ago after he engineered the sweetheart deals to build the new McGregor. The former Village Manager, he fled town just as fast for the same reasons. Antioch faculty are floating their resume's. Antioch boasts that they have a record number of applications to the college. What percentage of those applicants will actually enroll? 1%? 2%? Where is the accountability? Who is responsible for this slow motion disaster? President Lawry whines that Antioch faculty can't afford to live in Yellow Springs. Wasn't it Antioch that sold off land to build luxury homes? Gee whiz, won't it be interesting to see who the investors were in that project? What a mess! Antioch teeters on the brink of oblivion while the Board of Trustees fiddles and the College burns.
I am so glad this site is back up!!!
I am so glad this site is back up!
Antioch has serious problems.
I think the learning communities are awesome and are a great first step to returning Antioch to greatness!
If some of if the freaks ("womyn" "transfolk" & "afrikans") get their feelings hurt in the process, all the better!!
Courtney Combs is a Face Ist
Learn to spell when you attack the whitey.
Perhaps Lawrey has problems. But, your ad hominem attacks on him detract from any such arguments.
I coudn't stand people like you when I was at Antioch. Perhaps Lawrey CHOSE to preside over Antioch because of its radicalism, and perhaps he ought to not be attacked in spite of it.