Marlboro

The Commons • November 16 2022

Community can take active role as stewards

On Nov. 5, I attended an informational meeting at the Marlboro Community Center run by Brian Mooney, director of Potash Hill, the subsidiary of Marlboro Music Festival in charge of renting out the campus.
I was very impressed by his understanding of the values held by various stakeholder groups that have overlapping histories and are affected by what will happen there: alumni and others who cared about the college, the music festival, and the town, region, staff, etc.
I see in him strengths that...

The Commons • June 17 2020

Democracy Builders overpromises

Seth Andrew is adept at using words that evoke the democratic ideals of our country. However, it is by no means clear that he delivers on these lofty ideals. As reported in the article, there have been questions raised about Seth Andrew's organization. The email quoted in the article appears to dodge the question asked, instead asserting that the community is “confused.” According to a letter to the Vermont Attorney General, Democracy Builders Fund, Inc. is seeking to buy the campus. According...

Times Argus • May 23 2020

Failed leadership

Marlboro College held its annual meeting May 16 in which they overrode term limits and ignored a petition with more than 800 signatures calling on leadership in favor of closure, to resign. Their plan to give away millions of dollars to Emerson College, while taking on new debt, $1M in Paycheck Protection Program funds from the federal government and $1.5M to build a new dorm this year, lacks judgement. The trustees voted to give another term to Chairman Richard Saudek, who has been on the board...

Rutland Herald • May 23 2020

Failed leadership

Marlboro College held its annual meeting May 16 in which they overrode term limits and ignored a petition with more than 800 signatures calling on leadership in favor of closure, to resign. Their plan to give away millions of dollars to Emerson College, while taking on new debt, $1M in Paycheck Protection Program funds from the federal government and $1.5M to build a new dorm this year, lacks judgement. The trustees voted to give another term to Chairman Richard Saudek, who has been on the board...

Vermont Biz • May 16 2020

Marlboro College’s so-called merger

by Jonathon Podolsky For months now, I have watched and worked with others to engage like-minded individuals in support of the continued operation of Marlboro College with some success. Much to my amazement, many think that saving Marlboro is a lost cause--I know it is not. I was deeply involved with the Save Hampshire College movement. Why? Because I understood the importance of offering alternative educational opportunities to students interested in a smaller, more flexible learning environmen...

keenesentinel.com • May 15 2020

Marlboro College’s 'merger' means 'extinction'

For months now, I have watched and worked with others to engage like-minded individuals in support of the continued operation of Marlboro College with some success. Much to my amazement, many think that saving Marlboro is a lost cause — I know it is not. I was deeply involved with the Save Hampshire College movement. Why? Because I understood the importance of offering alternative educational opportunities to students interested in a smaller, more flexible learning environment.After having been...

VTDigger • May 15 2020

For Marlboro College, 'merger' is just another word for extinction

Editor’s note: This commentary is by Jonathon Podolsky, of Northampton, Massachusetts, who is an active participant of I Believe in Marlboro College and in Mobilize Marlboro. He is an alumus of Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was active with organizations that worked to save Hampshire College.For months now, I have watched and worked with others to engage like-minded individuals in support of the continued operation of Marlboro College with some success. Much to...

Brattleboro Reformer • March 13 2020

Marlboro College leaders abandon ethos ahead of 'merger'

The leadership of Marlboro College claims their proposed "merger" (which would actually close Marlboro) will preserve the college's ethos. However, during recent Marlboro events, the administration has damaged their credibility by violating the core tenets of their own institution, even before the finalized agreement has been signed.Marlboro's DNA centers around the small town democratic ideals students can learn (and practice) in Town Meetings, created by the college even before it had a facult...

The Berkeley Beacon • January 30 2020

It’s a Closure, Not a Merger

Jonathon Podolsky is the moderator of Local Frogs: Hampshire College Alumni of Western MA and has been very active in the saving Hampshire College movement. If you would like to send a letter to The Beacon please email [email protected]. Letters for print must be sent by Wednesday, 6 p.m. EST and not exceed 200 words. 
Marlboro College’s proposed “merger” with Boston’s Emerson College would spell the end of the small Vermont college forever. Despite this grim news, growing resistance to the merg...

Brattleboro Reformer • January 29 2020

It's a closure, not a merger

Marlboro College's proposed "merger" with Boston's Emerson College would spell the end of the small Vermont college forever. Despite this grim news, there is growing resistance to the merger and clarity that other options can be considered. "Marlboro's curricular and pedagogic experiences are profoundly linked to and influenced by the Vermont rural landscape. Its setting is the raison d' tre — the animating spirit that brings to life, in full measure, the teaching and learning that takes place o...