Reply to Can Oberlin ever change its image as a failed school?

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[quote=Anonymous]Can Oberlin change its image? Yes, but not easily, and not without serious institutional effort. Think:
Leadership with vision and credibility: A president who can unify old-guard academics, wary donors, and idealistic students. Someone who can both honor Oberlin’s history and push for academic renewal.
Clear recommitment to academic excellence: Public investment in faculty, curriculum innovation, and research. Oberlin should be known for top-tier teaching and scholarship—not just student politics.
Public-facing transparency and humility: Address past controversies (like Gibson’s) with clarity and contrition, rather than retreat or deflection.
A marketing pivot: Not to hide values, but to reframe them as compatible with academic seriousness, intellectual diversity, and open debate.
Rethink admissions priorities: If Oberlin doubles down on a niche ideological profile, it may further narrow its student base. Broader outreach could help—geographically, politically, and socioeconomically.[/quote]

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