Monday, September 13, 2010

Summer summary

I've been remiss in updating this blog about various events in and around Shimer. Selected recent events are summarized below.

(This seems like a good time to note that any interested Shimerian is welcome to post here; just ask me or SaraDevil for posting rights if you don't have them already. )


The latest in hot trustee-on-trustee action:
  • A few weeks after his unceremonious removal, Tom Lindsay filed suit against the College and numerous individual trustees, making accusations which I will not befoul this blog by repeating. Tom was joined in the lawsuit by his puppeteer, Patrick Parker. The suit is now wending its way through the Chancery Division of the Cook County Circuit Court. At this point it seems unlikely that the wrecking crew has anything resembling a case. It's not entirely clear what they are playing at, though one likely possibility is that they're angling for a large cash settlement.
  • In its most recent meeting, the Board of Trustees changed its bylaws to permit board members to be added and removed by a simple majority vote, thus depriving the rump Lindsay-Parker faction of its pernicious veto over student and faculty representatives. Thank you, Trustees!
In news of the internal community:
  • The College beat its alumni fundraising target for the past fiscal year. Kudos to Don Moon, Aaron Garland and Noah Kippley-Ogman! Thanks must also go to noted money-bomber Nate Lefebvre and many other alums who dug deep to support the college.
  • Shimer also exceeded the enrollment target for the coming semester. Kudos to Amy Pritts and Cassie Sherman! And to 38 brilliant young souls who made the right choice.
  • The Admissions crew has been putting out some very interesting student video blogs.
  • Shimer-in-Oxford has begun, under the capable leadership of Stuart Patterson.

In news of the external community:
  • Over the summer, former Shimer President Don Moon toured the country and met with alum groups in cities including New York, Washington and Seattle.
  • New members have joined the Alumni Association board, including 90s alums Erik Badger, Beth Matthews and Sarah Delezen.
  • Thanks to the yeoman efforts of alum Chris Vaughan, the Shimer College article on Wikipedia has gained Featured status -- no easy task.
  • Alum Ron Rothbart has posted a number of Mt Carroll and otherwise Shimerical photographs on the Shimer College Flickr stream. If you also have photos to share, please consider sharing them there.
  • Two alum reading groups have been meeting regularly in the Chicago area, thanks to the efforts of Bill Arnold and Jack Sigel. A good time has been had by all. The next such group will meet on Wednesday, 9/29, at 6:30 PM in the Infinity classroom at Shimer. The text is Roberto Bolaño's By Night in Chile. (Note: date recently changed)

4 comments :

Unknown said...

A couple of additions/corrections. Don Moon visited with alums in Berkeley as well as the other cities you mention. The photos are by a different Ron, Ron Rothbart (me).

Ricky Tenderkiss said...
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Ricky Tenderkiss said...

In re: It's not entirely clear what they are playing at, though one likely possibility is that they're angling for a large cash settlement.

The suit was filed in chancery court, which is for cases that specifically involve no monetary compensation. It's quite likely what they're seeking is exactly as stated: the undoing of every decision made by the Board since Lindsay was fired.

Unknown said...

@Ron: A thousand apologies! Not sure how I got my Rons mixed up. Fixed.

@Dan: Although the suit doesn't seek monetary damages, that wouldn't preclude it being used as leverage in a separate negotiation ("we'll drop our suit in exchange for $x"). At least I don't think it would.