Save Southern Vermont College
To whom it may concern:
Unfortunate events have come to my attention with Southern Vermont College in Bennington's closure set for this coming spring.
It is to much dismay that I heard that after the New England Commission of Higher Educations (NECHE) hearing last week, that the best way to proceed is to close the school altogether.
Being an alumni 11' I have experienced all Southern Vermont College truly has to offer upon transferring there in 2009. Though I was never an above average student in high school, I was able to succeed at a very high academic level once I arrived in Bennington. The warm welcomes from faculty and staff treated us as one of their own children. At SVC one was not merely a number, as is the situation at many other colleges and universities, we were a family.
Additionally, with the faculty that strives for each and every single student's well being, this never went unnoticed to myself or many of the others with whom I've attended, and past alumni as well.
As I stated, SVC's sprawling 371-acre campus allowed so many to evolve and come into their own from a personal and academic sense. Without SVC I'm unsure where life would have brought me or if I'd still be here today. This vision echos with all my former classmates and alumni as well. This small close-knit school in Bennington, Vermont brought us all together as a family, from strong academics and professors to the Division III programs it offered. I even followed my former assistant coach for baseball there.
While here, possibilities were endless for all. I'm so saddened by the fact not only will newer students not be able to fulfill their dreams of becoming a Southern Vermont alum but additionally, all the faculty and staff will need to find new employment. For some this may be all they know and others may welcome the opportunity.
However, in December of 2010 events changed my life as a whole; I was diagnosed with cancer. During these trying times of my life, my family and friends wanted me to undergo treatments back home in CT. However, I opted to stay in Bennington with my family from Southern Vermont college. My lifelong friends, my mentors, my teachers, and my president at the time, Karen Gross, I knew were all there for me.
Over the next six months of treatment every day with chemotherapy, I still attended classes. My teachers offered any additional assistance, as did my President, with whom at the time I was in a class. With them by my side and Southwest Vermont Medical Center, which is a world class hospital, I knew I could accomplish everything and still walk at graduation, which I did that May.
Aside from this, it is not about me, it is about all who ever graced the presence of 982 Mansion Drive. It brought together younger as well as older students from diverse backgrounds, demographically as well as culturally. It brought together lifelong bonds and friendships through athletics, with friendships that will last a lifetime. Additionally, some of the best mentors and teachers I've ever encountered came from SVC and I owe everything I have thus far, as well as my second chance to each and everyone I've come in contact with at the school. I've seen breakups and makeups there as well as now husbands and wives. Former students to teachers and lawyers alike. Athletes that took it to the next level after playing collegiality. Whether you were from the country, the suburbs or inner city, we were all equal and could not have done it without Southern Vermont.
Furthermore, I know many other factors come into play, finances being one of them as they play a part in every aspect of life as well. I understand the struggles financially SVC was incurring over the past several years, though I do not have an accurate number. I still feel it's probably in the millions. However, Bruce Laumeister had donated the Bennington Center of the Arts to Southern Vermont in 2017. During this transfer, Mr. Laumeister stated, "It's been a great ride" "But the BCA is only ending physically, not mentally. We'll be around." He further indicated he wanted it to stay in the community and Southern Vermont can be a better source, which is all the programs and classroom space it provides, which gives a real history to not only Bennington but Vermont as a whole, and it was a strong move in the correct direction for the Arts in the surrounding area. Now what happens with that as well?
Not only will teachers be displaced, so will faculty, so will coaches, so will shuttle drivers. The list is immense; now this trickles to the Laumeister Center as those individuals will be affected as well. This is going to be a very sad chain of events and a community that was becoming more vibrant and artsy and opportunistic once again will now see decreased jobs, lack of those close to gaining an education. This will then result in the population being uneducated to a higher level degree. Furthermore, from here the area will go back to a former industrial city with not much job opportunity and not much growth to be had. This will then lead to increased crime rates and drug usage and a lower employment level to boot. Doesn't one see the chain of events that is going to take effect?
SVC has so much potential and it shows in the alumni and community. What I'm asking is how can we save it? Yes, financially was the reason why they will be closing - how can that be fixed? SVC was a private school so it receives less state funding. What are the options, donors board of trustees? But they clearly don't have faith anymore as they gave the go-ahead to close the doors. However, if SVC drops from a private school to a public university in Vermont, won't that open more opportunities for grants? Keeping enrollment up for those wanting to stay local? Keeping higher education a priority as well as financially beneficial for the state? What can be done? I know there are many more specifics, however, with every a...
