Dear Antioch Faculty and Staff,
Earlier today, CCG and Otterbein President John Comerford directed key Antioch administrators to remove the Antioch Forward website and other online content about the governance dispute by 5:00 PM Eastern today. He also instructed them to “cease all townhalls, alumni emails, and other efforts to continue PR work on behalf of the Advisory Board.”
Dr. Comerford justified these directives by referring to “the Court’s confirmation that we are a unified corporate structure.” He added that “it is important we be honest with people and give them hope for the future.”
We agree that honesty matters. That obligation begins with accurately describing what the court decided. Dr. Comerford’s characterization is misleading because it presents the decision as resolving the disputed scope of CCG’s authority.
The September 28 decision was important and disappointing. The court denied the Antioch Board’s request for a preliminary injunction based on its conclusion that the Board lacked standing to pursue the claims addressed in that decision. Although the decision describes the corporate structure, it does not finally resolve whether CCG’s disputed actions complied with the governing agreements, bylaws, and charter. Recognizing a corporate structure does not establish that its leaders may disregard the restrictions and approval requirements within it.
Several developments have followed:
- A CCG director has filed a new action that we believe addresses the standing issue identified by the court.
- An in-person court hearing is scheduled for Friday, October 9.
- We are working tirelessly to get the CCG to engage in mediation, ideally with the first session to occur this coming week.
With a court hearing approaching and a proposed mediation in the works, we urge CCG to avoid further disruptive changes, including shutting down communications that help the Antioch community understand what is happening. We continue to challenge CCG’s asserted authority through counsel and the court.
We are also deeply concerned about the implications of Dr. Comerford’s directive for freedom of speech and open discussion at Antioch. His email directs administrators to stop institutional communications on behalf of the Advisory Board. We dispute the justification for that restriction. It should not be understood as a blanket prohibition on faculty, staff, or board members discussing the dispute, expressing concerns, or questioning decisions that affect Antioch’s future.
An institution committed to critical inquiry should welcome difficult questions and honest disagreement. Closing a website and stopping town halls and alumni communications will not resolve the underlying governance issues. It will leave our community with less information and fewer opportunities to be heard.
We recognize that conflicting directives create uncertainty for faculty and staff. We are expecting prompt clarification through the court and will continue to share accurate information as developments occur. Until we get further orders from the court, the Antioch University Board of Governors and Antioch officials, including President Varlotta, will continue to provide direction to Antioch University
Our commitment remains to Antioch’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, and mission. We will pursue that commitment through the legal process, mediation, and open communication with our community.
Steve Crandall