HOLIDAY HOURS An The News will be INDEPENDENT closed Dec. 30–31. JOURNAL of NEWS Papers will arrive and OPINION as usual. YELLOW SPRINGS NEWS SINCE 1880 YELLOW SPRINGS, OHIO THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2010 VOLUME 131, NUMBER 52 PRICE: $1.25 Roosevelt ready to lead, and sink roots into community By Megan Bachman instructor, has an interest in wellness, which also makes Yellow Springs a good To some of Mark Roosevelt’s col- fit. The couple recently bought a home on leagues, leaving a job as superintendent Hyde Road. of the 30,000-pupil Pittsburgh school dis- Though Mark Roosevelt plans to take trict to lead a reopened small-town college in his share of local chamber music and hoping for 25 students next fall did not hit the tennis courts (he is an avid tennis seem wise. But Roosevelt said he could player), his focus has been firmly on the not pass up the chance to become the first college since arriving Dec. 9. And though president of a revived Antioch College. he said he does not believe the vision Even though he has never been a col- for the college should come from him lege administrator, Roosevelt has focused alone, Roosevelt is already full of ideas for much of his career on reforming educa- Antioch’s rebirth. tion, which he sees as one of America’s “I don’t think it’s an institution where greatest failures, and said he believes he one person articulates the vision,” he has the skills to lead Antioch through this said, adding that he will work with critical period. board and faculty to build on Antioch’s “I’ve been a non-traditional applicant for strengths, like its co-op program, and every job I’ve applied for,” Roosevelt said address its weaknesses, such as student in an interview last week. Particularly retention, which nationally is only around attractive about the post at Antioch was 50 percent and has historically been a “an incredible history and opportunity to problem at the college. To keep students, re-think the role of faculty, role of co-op Roosevelt is starting to look at ways to and basic questions around foundational better mentor students with academic curriculum.” and co-op advising. “It’s not about the numbers [of stu- “We make several transitions in life dents],” Roosevelt said. “It’s the ideas harder than they need to be,” Roosevelt that help the college come to life, grow said. “Antioch is uniquely positioned to and prosper.” speak to a better transition between high The allure of small town life and the school to college and college to work.” vibrant arts and culture of Yellow Springs Roosevelt also brings a self-described also drew Roosevelt to the position, which obsession with American history to his he begins Saturday. Having grown up in new job, having recently taught classes Washington, D.C. and living most of his on the historical roots of public discourse life in Boston, Roosevelt, 55, along with at Carnegie Mellon University and his wife, Dorothy, 44, wanted a close-knit Brandeis University. He said he hopes community in which to raise their four- that all Antioch students graduate with an year-old daughter, Juliana. historical understanding of the different Yellow Springs had all of the ameni- viewpoints in this nation, as well as what ties the couple was looking for — arts, it means to be an American. Roosevelt PHOTO BY LAUREN HEATON music, good coffee, good food and lots admits to being a “total Lincoln fanatic,” New Antioch College President Mark Roosevelt and his family recently moved to town with his wife, Dorothy, son, Matthew, of recreation — and they felt the poten- who has already adorned his South Hall and daughter, Juliana. Roosevelt said he and his family are looking forward to putting down roots in the Yellow Springs tial to develop roots in the community. Plus, Dorothy Roosevelt, a former yoga community. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 YELLOW SPRINGS 2010: THE YEAR IN REVIEW ANTIOCH COLLEGE VILLAGE COUNCIL Dogs, energy, housing and fluoride A dog park, fluoridation and sustainable over the summer due to the need for more Economic development steps energy were three of the topics that kept research and a desire to sponsor a com- In January Council approved the creation of Yellow Springs Village Council very busy munity forum to present both sides of the a new Economic Sustainability Commission, in 2010. While the dog park plan was even- issue. charged with promoting economic devel- tually postponed, by the end of the year the The issue seemed to lose steam over opment with a focus on localization efforts. Village had moved ahead with finding alter- the months, and about 30 people attended The new board was one aspect of a new focus native energy sources for electrical needs. a November community forum on fluo- on economic development, with another Below are a few of the highlights of ridation. An expert on each side of the aspect the recent hiring of Sarah Wildman, Council’s year. fluoridation question presented their case, the new economic sustainability coordinator. and questions followed, with some villagers During the year the Center for Business Dog park controversy suggesting compromise solutions. and Education, or CBE, moved ahead, In January, Yellow Springs High School At the end of the year, Council had not and in August its developer, Community students Lucas Donnell and Marlee Layh yet addressed its fluoridation policy, but Resources, held a public meeting to update approached Council with a proposal to cre- said it would do so at the beginning of the the public on progress. In development ate a dog park at Ellis Park, a project the coming year. since 2004, the CBE has been held up by two students hoped would fulfill their com- More alternative energy options complications around federal grants, but munity service requirement at the school. those difficulties have passed, CR leaders In 2010 Council moved ahead in its While the 150-foot by 300-foot park would said. The project recently completed its goal of finding new sources of alternative cost $7,500, the two young people planned first design phase and will move ahead in energy for electrical use, after voting the to raise the money, with the Village being the spring of 2011 with infrastructure con- PHOTO BY MEGAN BACHMAN previous year against signing on to a new asked to contribute maintenance. struction. Organizers hope the park will be AMP coal plant. Antioch College Interim President Matthew Derr earned a standing ovation from Antioch Soon, however, villagers who value open for business in 2012. Due to cost overrides, the AMP coal College employees at a reception in his honor in December. Derr, who co-led the effort Ellis Park as a natural area complained, and Village staff sought alternative plant was canceled, and AMP, a municipal Affordable housing moves ahead to gain independence for the college, served as interim president for a year. He recently power cooperative, focused more on alter- moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he will work for the Great Lakes College Assocation. locations, identifying the Gaunt Park In June Council co-sponsored, along with hill as the best option. However, Talus native energy sources. In May, the Village Home, Inc., a community presentation on Drive residents, who live immediately signed on to several new AMP hydro proj- community land trusts, presented by land behind the park, gathered 76 names on ects on the Ohio River, and in September, trust pioneer John Davis of Burlington, Vt. Working toward reopening a petition opposing the plan. Council Council subscribed to an AMP solar energy Council President Judith Hempfling then went back to the initial Ellis Park project. While Council also stated its inter- and Vice-President Lori Askeland in In 2010 Antioch College continued on its University sanctioned est in finding a solar site in Yellow Springs, new path as an independent liberal arts col- plan, although Council President Judith October made a proposal for a small In June the American Association of Uni- Hempfling opposed the change, citing by the end of the year AMP had not found a affordable housing project on Cemetery lege, getting ready to welcome its first class versity Professors, or AAUP, announced sanc- site in the village. of new students in the fall of 2011. the opposition of the Yellow Springs Tree Street, using the land trust model to tions against Antioch University for infrac- Committee, which has planted more than In July Council created the Village make four single-family homes perma- In January the new staff of the college, tions related to AAUP governance standards. Energy Board, making permanent the headed by Interim President Matthew Derr, 130 trees at the location. Still, the Ellis nently affordable. Council approved In its report, the group also concluded that the Park plan passed 4–1, with only Hemp- previously-named Energy Use Task Force. moving ahead with the first step of the moved their offices to the renovated South closing of the college had been unnecessary The new board was charged with helping Hall, which was rededicated in a special fling voting against, at a March meeting and not warranted by the college’s financial that drew 70 citizens. the Village reduce its carbon footprint. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 ceremony. The move to newly refurbished problems at the time. offices followed by four months the college’s However, in April a petition with 126 signa- successful tranformation from one of five Bequest enhances town/gown tures by those opposed to the Ellis Park plan was presented to Council, with many villagers campuses of Antioch University to a free- At the college’s annual June reunions, standing liberal arts college, after a two-year speaking about the value of the park as a natu- college leaders announced a $3 million ral habitat.