Ohio LAC pecking order shakeup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Students don't apply to both.

Oberlin has taken a couple tough hits to its reputation in the last 20 years. I used to think well of it, always a liberal school. But it's now gone so far in that direction that it's no longer liberal, and the handling of the bakery case was disastrous and has strong implications for how affairs are generally handled at the college.

Denison and even Kenyon both are much more balanced atmospheres than Oberlin.

“The bakery case” was from almost 8 years ago, and is over. There has been a complete turnover of the administration and the students have turned very twice. If you want to look at how current leadership behaves in a crisis, look at how the new admin handled COVID. They had the school open for in person instruction— including the Conservatory— in August 2020. With virtually no campus spread. And they some creative things like all single rooms and adding a third semester, May to August for sophomores and juniors, to de-density and keep classes small enough to hold in person. You would be hard pressed to find a school in the country that handled COVID better. Carmen Ambar is a rock star, and Oberlin is lucky to have her.

If you want another example of current leadership, look at the One Oberlin plan. Not everyone likes very part (like contracting out food services and taking seats from the Con and moving them to A&S. But it’s a solid way to deal with the demographic cliff and shows a lot of foresight.

[Anonymous]

I knew when I saw the title of the thread it would be someone cheerleading for Denison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usnwr rankings are especially meaningless now.

Now? They’ve never reflected anything real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kenyon parent here --

Many prospective students and parents who travel to Ohio visit all of these schools and realize that there are great options beyond NESCAC. From there, students sort themselves by campus vibe and culture. A rising tide lifts all these boats.

This poster - although not on purpose - has identified Kenyon for what it is: a backup for NESCAC wannabes. Kenyon’s yield is ridiculously low because it is rarely anyone’s first choice.

[Anonymous]

People have only heard of two of these schools, Oberlin and Kenyon, and even those people are a specific kind of suburban twee

[Anonymous]

Oberlin was a great college back in the 1970s and 80s. Now it is the slow train to woke hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kenyon parent here --

Many prospective students and parents who travel to Ohio visit all of these schools and realize that there are great options beyond NESCAC. From there, students sort themselves by campus vibe and culture. A rising tide lifts all these boats.

This poster - although not on purpose - has identified Kenyon for what it is: a backup for NESCAC wannabes. Kenyon’s yield is ridiculously low because it is rarely anyone’s first choice.

Except for the 45 percent who apply ED. 🤪

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Hmm. My bright senior daughter’s in her right mind, and so am I. And I understand the historical standing of Oberlin, and also of Kenyon. But she wouldn’t choose Oberlin, ever. And probably not Kenyon. Very possibly Denison, however. Why? Normal mainstream smart kids, a beautiful campus near a thriving city, a negligible quotient of silly woke warrior students and administrators flavoring the soup, and a clear pathway to gainful employment.
Oberlin has long since gone over the line, with Kenyon not far behind.

[Anonymous]

I wish I had this much time on my hands.

Good Lord.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay…

Yeah, honestly I’m reading OP’s post and wondering “so what?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Students don't apply to both.

Oberlin has taken a couple tough hits to its reputation in the last 20 years. I used to think well of it, always a liberal school. But it's now gone so far in that direction that it's no longer liberal, and the handling of the bakery case was disastrous and has strong implications for how affairs are generally handled at the college.

Denison and even Kenyon both are much more balanced atmospheres than Oberlin.

“The bakery case” was from almost 8 years ago, and is over. There has been a complete turnover of the administration and the students have turned very twice. If you want to look at how current leadership behaves in a crisis, look at how the new admin handled COVID. They had the school open for in person instruction— including the Conservatory— in August 2020. With virtually no campus spread. And they some creative things like all single rooms and adding a third semester, May to August for sophomores and juniors, to de-density and keep classes small enough to hold in person. You would be hard pressed to find a school in the country that handled COVID better. Carmen Ambar is a rock star, and Oberlin is lucky to have her.

If you want another example of current leadership, look at the One Oberlin plan. Not everyone likes very part (like contracting out food services and taking seats from the Con and moving them to A&S. But it’s a solid way to deal with the demographic cliff and shows a lot of foresight.

Oberlin forced the Gibson family to litigate "the bakery case" to the Ohio Supreme Court (during which time at least two of the family members died) and finally paid the judgment 18 months ago. They're still suing their insurers, because Oberlin's behavior was so bad that the insurers are refusing to cover their losses. Oberlin has yet to admit any wrongdoing in the case. Had they been willing to do so, the case would have been over 8 years ago. The handling of the case showed incredibly bad judgment, not only in defending the shoplifting students, allowing administrators to support the protests at the bakery, and punishing the bakery by revoking school contracts, but for not knowing how to cut their losses.

https://www2.oberlin.edu/appeal/

https://www2.oberlin.edu/appeal/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Oberlin is known outside of Ohio for the conservatory. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Students don't apply to both.

Oberlin has taken a couple tough hits to its reputation in the last 20 years. I used to think well of it, always a liberal school. But it's now gone so far in that direction that it's no longer liberal, and the handling of the bakery case was disastrous and has strong implications for how affairs are generally handled at the college.

Denison and even Kenyon both are much more balanced atmospheres than Oberlin.

“The bakery case” was from almost 8 years ago, and is over. There has been a complete turnover of the administration and the students have turned very twice. If you want to look at how current leadership behaves in a crisis, look at how the new admin handled COVID. They had the school open for in person instruction— including the Conservatory— in August 2020. With virtually no campus spread. And they some creative things like all single rooms and adding a third semester, May to August for sophomores and juniors, to de-density and keep classes small enough to hold in person. You would be hard pressed to find a school in the country that handled COVID better. Carmen Ambar is a rock star, and Oberlin is lucky to have her.

If you want another example of current leadership, look at the One Oberlin plan. Not everyone likes very part (like contracting out food services and taking seats from the Con and moving them to A&S. But it’s a solid way to deal with the demographic cliff and shows a lot of foresight.

Oberlin forced the Gibson family to litigate "the bakery case" to the Ohio Supreme Court (during which time at least two of the family members died) and finally paid the judgment 18 months ago. They're still suing their insurers, because Oberlin's behavior was so bad that the insurers are refusing to cover their losses. Oberlin has yet to admit any wrongdoing in the case. Had they been willing to do so, the case would have been over 8 years ago. The handling of the case showed incredibly bad judgment, not only in defending the shoplifting students, allowing administrators to support the protests at the bakery, and punishing the bakery by revoking school contracts, but for not knowing how to cut their losses.

https://www2.oberlin.edu/appeal/

https://www2.oberlin.edu/appeal/

This! It’s disingenuous for PP to say this case was “eight years ago”. It is a catastrophic ultra liberal action on the part of the school (and very cruel to the Gibson family) that is not going away for a long time, especially considering that the insurers are refusing to pay and attorneys fees are piling up through all of the appeals. You’ve got some 5,000 colleges to pick from in the US plus many more in Canada, the UK, Germany, etc. why would you pick Oberlin? Yes, I would judge you if you were a colleague or associate. This is not a smart way to invest your hard-earned money

[Anonymous]

OBERLIN CHOSE just six months ago to sue its own insurers over the $37 million it owes. This is not going away any time soon. This is a school heading towards bankruptcy due to its terrible mismanagement and leadership. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12385157/Oberlin-College-legal-battle-defaming-bakery-Woke-school-sues-insurance-false-racism-claims.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OBERLIN CHOSE just six months ago to sue its own insurers over the $37 million it owes. This is not going away any time soon. This is a school heading towards bankruptcy due to its terrible mismanagement and leadership. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12385157/Oberlin-College-legal-battle-defaming-bakery-Woke-school-sues-insurance-false-racism-claims.html

OBerlin’s endowment tops $1 billion. It will be fine.