THANK YOU, ALUM OFFICE. Always enjoy picking up your mail. Unfortunately, as it stands, I am busy with the residential housing issue to do much leisure viewing right now. Please know we appreciate how this controversy (is and) will hit your office. Hard. How hard is what we’re most concerned about. Consider this:RE: “NEW VISION” FACT? “Organizations that choose to retain ownership will no longer be residential and accordingly will not be recognized by Colgate after June 2005. In this regard, we are aware that there are ideas of houses functioning as eating clubs or even continuing as underground, unrecognized fraternities. Everyone should understand that the University will not permit this and will adopt a policy that any student who participates in an unrecognized fraternity or sorority will be subject to disciplinary actions including, possibly, suspension or expulsion.” David Hale, Financial Vice President, Treasurer, Colgate University, June 22, 2004

OR OPINION:

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF AN APPARENTLY HASTILY WRITTEN (or copied), PROPOSED, AND CALLOUSLY UNDERTAKEN UNIVERSITY POLICY ARE LONG-TERM AND FAR REACHING. IS THIS THE END OF AN ERA OR JUST THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER MYOPIC TENURE? IN MY MIND, IT IS A PRECEDENT-SETTING ISSUE WHOSE EFFECT ON THE SPIRIT, THERFORE THE ENDOWMENTS OF COLGATE AND SMALL PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES LIKE COLGATE COULD BE DISASTROUS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME. SUCH ACTIONS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. IT COULD CHANGE MUCH MORE THAN RESIDENTIAL LIFE, THE HEART OF COLGATE. IT COULD AFFECT THE VERY LUNGS OF COLGATE – ALUMNI GIVING. ANNUAL GIVING. SADLY ALTERING THE BODY OF CU MORE THAN IT EVER INTENDED TO.

SUCH A SHAME. AFTER PROVIDING 185 YEARS OF A PERPETUAL, CREATIVELY BALANCED EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. OF WHICH THE LAST 40 SHORT YEARS HAVE SOUGHT TO FURTHER SHAPE AND EMBODY A LEGACY OF INTEGRITY THAT FULLY EMBRACES CO-EDUCATION. A SHAMEFUL, HYPOCRITICAL EMBARASSMENT TO THE STUDENTS, FACULTIES, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND BOARDS OF TRUSTEES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED BEFORE THEM. CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME, THEIR ENERGY, THEIR LIVES, AND THEIR MONIES. AND CONTRIBUTED THEIR CHILDREN.

AND THEIR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN. BEFORE SUCH FARSIGHTED ACTIONS PROGRESS ANY FURTHER, LET’S EMPLOY MORE HINDSIGHT NOW. CALL IT VIRTUAL HINDSIGHT IF YOU MUST. IS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN A POSITION TO CLAIM THEY HAVE DONE THEIR HOMEWORK? IS THERE ACTUAL RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTS OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE CHANGES – OF THIS PROPORTION – AND HOW IT RELATES TO FUTURE ENDOWMENT? DID THEY FULLY OBTAIN IT? DID THEY ADEQUATELY AND OBJECTIVELY UNDERSTAND IT? IF SO, HOW MUCH TIME DID THEY SPEND ON THIS HOMEWORK? DID THEY DO IT WELL? OR JUST DO IT.

JUST DO IT TO GET IT OVER WITH.

LIKE AN IMPATIENT STUDENT IN A REQUIRED CLASS. OR PERHAPS, A STEP IN A PERMIT PROCESS ONE HAS TO SATISFY FOR THE AGENCY OVERSEEING THE PROCESS. JUST METHODICALLY DOING THE BARE MINIMUM TO MAKE IT APPEAR AS IF COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY-MINDEDNESS ARE THE FOCUS OF THEIR DILIGENCE. JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS TO REACH PERSONAL GOALS. SATISFY PERSONAL AGENDAS, FEEDING WELL INSULTATED EGOS. FORKFULL AFTER FORKFULL OF CALCULATED INDIFFERENCE CLOTHED IN “WELL-BEING “.

AS WHEN ONE BUILDS GRAND ESTATES, SEASONAL RETREATS, CORPORATE HQ’S, REGIONAL OFFICES? AND THEN, YEARS LATER, WHEN ONE MANIPULATES THE PROCESS TO WORK IN ONE’S FAVOR? OR AS WHEN ONE AGREES TO REPRESENT THEIR ASSOCIATION BOARD IN SUCCESSFULLY OBJECTING TO THAT GROUP HOME OR ADULT DAYCARE, YOUTH CENTER OR ALTERNATIVE LIVING RESIDENCE BEING PROPOSED ADJACENT TO THEIR GATED COMMUNITY?

OR PERHAPS REMAINING ADJACENT TO THEIR NEWLY ACQUIRED PROPERTY. IN THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD.

INTERESTING.

BUT WHY? BECAUSE WHAT IS GOOD FOR ONE IS GOOD FOR THE WHOLE? OH BABY…. FORGIVE ME, ISN’T THAT ONE OF THE ABJECT ANTITHESES OF PR101? BLISSFULLY IGNORANT OR NOT, ARE SIMILAR MISGUIDED ATTITUDES NOW PUSHING THE GREEK SYSTEM OUT OF COLGATE’S NEIGHBORHOOD? PROVE TO ME THIS IS MERELY A GROSSLY OVERSTATED ACCUSATION. SHOW THE CONVERSE TO BE TRUE. DO THEY TRULY HAVE A HEALTHY REGARD AND RESPECT FOR COLGATE’S HISTORY AND TRADITION? DO THEY EVEN KNOW THE HISTORY OF COLGATE? IF SO, DO THEY POSSESS THE CAPACITY FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPERATIVE, HOW CRUCIAL IT IS TO APPROACH UNIVERSITY ALTERING DECISIONS FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE?

CAN THEY SIMPLY TELL US WHY THESE CONCEPTS ARE SO IMPORTANT?

CAN THEY? PROVE IT. WE CAN’T MAKE THEM CARE, BUT WE CAN MAKE THEM PROVE IT.

KEEP MAKING THEM PROVE IT. THEY WANT TO MAKE HISTORY. THEY’VE MADE THIS PERSONAL. SO LET’S EXPLORE WHAT THE WORDS PERSONAL AND HISTORY REALLY MEAN. THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME THAT COLGATE HAS DELVED INTO THE SUBJECT OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE AND IT ISN’T THE FIRST TIME IT CLAIMS TO BE SUFFERING FROM A HOUSING CRUNCH. AND GUESS WHAT? IT WON’T BE THE LAST. NO MATTER HOW THIS MATTER IS RESOLVED, IT WON’T BE THE LAST TIME WE VISIT THIS ISSUE. IT IS THE NATURE OF THE CREATION. IT IS THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE EVER-CONSTRUCTING AND REMODELING OF CAMPUS LIFE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE HIGHER GOALS.

TO PROVIDE THE BEST? YES. BUT BEST WHAT? TO PROVIDE FUTURE STUDENTS WITH THE BEST PRODUCT OF OUR PRESENT ABILITIES? AND PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS? TOGETHER? HMM.

FROM MY VIEW THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. THE ESSENTIAL PARTS OF THIS PROCESS WHEN ALLOWED TO FUNCTION FREELY – THE EPITOMY OF SUCCESS – HAVE AT THEIR INTEGRAL CORE, COOPERATION. CONSIDERATION. COMPASSION. COMPROMISE. I DON’T SEE ANY OF THE ABOVE. I HAVEN’T HEARD HOW THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO FUNCTION. HOW MEASURES HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED TO FACILITATE THEIR VITALITY.

THEREFORE, IT WON’T SURPRISE ME IF, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT OUR TRUSTEES’ TRUE FEELINGS AND MOTIVES ARE HIDDEN BEHIND THE GUISE OF A HOUSING SHORTAGE, BEHIND THE EXPANSIVE COVER OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE. THAT OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT’S PERSONAL OPINIONS ARE CAMPING OUT THERE AS WELL. HONESTLY, HOW MANY ROOMS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HOW MANY BEDS ARE WE REALLY GOING TO “FREE UP”? HOLD IT, HAVEN’T THESE BEDS HISTORICALLY BEEN OCCUPIED BY STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF WHO OWNED THE PROPERTY? WHY THE BULL-DOZING? WHY THE TAMPERING WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION? AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

DO THEY HAVE THE PROPER PERMITS? DID THEY OBTAIN THESE PERMITS PROPERLY?

IF THEY TRULY HAVE, LET ME KNOW. BECAUSE AS OF THIS WRITING, THIS HOMEGROWN ALUM IS STEADILY BEGINNING TO SUSPECT THAT INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AT COLGATE (AND AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS) – THE INNER CO-ED, IF YOU WILL IS RE-SURFACING. IS THIS ALL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF COLGATE? OR IS THIS ABOUT HEALING ONE’S OLD WOUNDS, OLD HURTS? OR DOES IT JUST HAPPEN TO BE THE RIGHT TIME TO IMPLEMENT PERSONAL VIEWPOINTS? THEIR AGENDA. NEW PRESIDENT, HOUSING SHORTAGE, DISTASTE FOR THE GREEK SYSTEM. DISTRUST OF THE GREEK SYSTEM AND ITS PURPOSE AND VIABILITY ON THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY CO-ED CAMPUS. THE FERVENT NEED TO APPEAR POLITICALLY CORRECT AND “CUTTING EDGE” IN THE EYES OF THEIR PEERS. OR WAS IT SIMPLY THE DEAL THAT CHOPP CUT IN ORDER TO BE NAMED PRESIDENT? OR WORSE: THE IMPLIED AGREEMENT THAT WAS NEVER SPOKEN.

HOLD THAT LINE. HAVEN’T WE AND DON’T WE NOW HAVE ENOUGH AMERICAN DIVAS AND “STAR CHAMBER(S)” TO CONTEND WITH? DO WE NOW HAVE THEM AT THE HELM OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY?

THINK BACK.

I FEAR PRIVATE DISDAIN FOR HISTORY, TRADITION, PRESERVATION. I FEAR THE EXPLICIT REJECTION OF HOW EACH CAN DELICATELY CO-EXIST WITH GROWTH AND CHANGE. FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE INSTEAD OF THE PART. AND NOT DEFICIENTLY LACKING IN THE NURTURING PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN CONCEPTS OF ADDITION VS SUBTRACTION.

WILL SUCH REMARKS BE WRITTEN ON THE BOTTOM OF OUR BOARD’S FOURTH QUARTER/SECOND SEMESTER REPORT CARD? THINK ABOUT IT. I FEAR THEY VERY WELL MIGHT AND HOPE TO GOD THEY DO NOT REFLECT FLAWED ASSESSMENTS AND THEREFORE PREDISPOSITIONS OF MOMENTS FARTHER BACK IN TIME. I HOPE LIKE HELL I’M WRONG.

SO I WILL SPEAK WITH THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, VARIOUS BILL OF RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS REGARDING THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS LOVELY EDICT HAS ALL COME ABOUT. AND IT’S IMPLEMENTATION THUS FAR. WHY? BECAUSE OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE BOARD CONTINUES TO PURSUE ITS OBJECTIVES.

“OUR” OBJECTIVES? COLGATE’S OBJECTIVES?

AND WHILE I DO THIS, I’D LIKE YOU ALL TO ENTERTAIN ME FOR A BIT LONGER. RECALL YOUR SECONDARY AND UNDERGRAD AMERICAN (AND EUROPEAN) HISTORY 101: WHERE DOES THE CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY , FREEDOM OF CHOICE, PROPERTY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INTERSECT WITH THE FUNDAMENTAL PROVISION FOR ALLOWING A BALANCED ARRAY OF ADEQUATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION? WAS IT RIGHT AROUND THE WRITING OF “LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS”? WORKING THE “BIG HOUSE”? “WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT”? OR HEART-BREAKINGLY, DURING THE DAYS OF “SEPARATE BUT EQUAL”?

ALL OF THE ABOVE? NONE? MANY INSTANCES SINCE? YOU TELL ME. EDUCATE ME. AFTER ALL, I WAS RANKED WITH THE LAST HALF OF THE CLASS OF ’80.

WHAT DO I KNOW?

AHHH, I KNOW THIS IS PERSONAL. IT TUGS AT MY HEART. IT TAKES AWAY MY BREATH. IT SHOULD AND THEREFORE IT DOES. I KNOW ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE THE TIP OF A BIAS-TAINTED ICEBERG I AM PERSONALLY HESITANT TO APPROVE COLGATE NAVIGATE. AT THE CORE IS FROZEN SOLID THE PRACTICE OF CHANGE FOR CHANGE’S SAKE INSTEAD OF ALLOWING CHANGE TO HAPPEN ON ITS OWN ACCORD. GRADUALLY, NATURALLY. BIO 101.

REVIEW THE UNIVERSITY’S EDUCATIONAL CHARTER, AND ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK . REVIEW THE TENETS OF ITS ACCREDITATION. ITS ORIGINAL MISSION STATEMENT AND ITS SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS. ALL THESE CAN BE FOUND IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE LIBRARY. ON PUBLIC RECORD. THE ORIGINAL WORDS OF 1819. THE SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS THAT ALLOWED ALL US HOT MOMMAS TO WALK THOSE HALLOWED HALLS. TO WALK THE WAY WE CHOSE TO. TO TALK THE WAY WE WISHED TO. TO EXPRESS OURSELVES THE WAY WE WANTED TO. WHEN WE WERE 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, AND EVEN 23…. TO LIVE WHERE WE WANTED TO LIVE,

APPRECIATING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THE FACT WE HAD CHOICES.

HAVE YOU TALKED TO OUR PEERS IN SIMILAR ALUMNI OFFICES? THE SMALLER IVYS, THE SMALLER PATRIOT LEAGUERS? THE ALUMNI CORPORATION IS A NON-PROFIT IN AND OF ITSELF. NOT FOR PROFIT. THAT MEANS IT CANNOT BE BOUGHT, NOR MAY ONE ENTITY OR FORCE PROFIT FROM ITS EXISTENCE. IT IS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE A UNIVERSITY OFFICE. POLI-SCI 101 IN LIVING COLOR. MACHIAVELLI, JEFFERSON AND HAMILTON TO NAME A JUST THREE WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF WE DIDN’T CALL FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY EXPLORE THIS ISSUE BEFORE MORE DECISIONS ARE MADE.

THE BOARD ATTEMPTS TO LEAVE A LIVING LEGACY WHILE WE STAND TO INHERIT ANOTHER LICENSE FOR CALCULATED LIMITATION. AGAIN.

YET AGAIN. (Well that’s all I have at the moment. Too clich?e? Too liberal? No and no! It simply reflects the basics of our freshman year. Our foundation. It forthrightly and appropriately calls up the emotion of my dream for having my daughters experience the unique educational environment their mother and father grew within. If they choose to. Like many other alum, I loved those freshman course requirements as deeply as I fell in love with my husband that first semester. And I grew to fully comprehend the term, “liberal art” – what it truly means and where it has its origin. I respect how it withstands the tests of time and I will never forget. Forget how important it is to speak on the subject. Perhaps that sets me apart yet again, from the majority of our illustrious trustees. Distribute as you wish. It’s the product of a Colgate education that embodied as many setbacks as it did accomplishments. It is personal, but not private or unique. Our living environment was only private enough to cultivate our public minds. It is a testament to how Colgate allowed me and many, many other young women and men to learn about life within its carefully preserved yet state of the art environs before we had to go it on our own. A thriving co-existence of publicly accountable responsibility and our growing consciences, among individuals from varied backgrounds, families, economic status and walks of life. With those same individuals who quickly became our friends. Sharing several amazing years of gladly bridging it all to glorify collective opportunity. To remember and understand more fully what it means to live and let live. We still can return to each other and collective opportunity. The Colgate of the mid 70’s displayed diversity. Tolerance. Foresight. Generosity. Spirit. Democracy. It proudly displayed the imperfections and genius of the decades it stood upon. Knowing full well that THAT was precisely all it was expected to do. That’s all. And today it’s January 28th. Let’s all giddy – up on the same wintry Hamilton path. That’s all we’re expected to do! Let’s work for Colgate in the tradition we were educated in and are privileged to carry forward. It served us well and we should continue to serve it in the spirit for which it was created.

Volunteer. Call for a vote. Flood the Office of the President, the Alumni Office with your opinions. Call for a full and impartial alumni vote as well as a campus vote. Not just on the decision facing Delta Upsilon. But for the repeal of the “New Vision”.

Colgate wasn’t blind. It didn’t need new sight. Maybe improved sight, yes. We all can appreciate improved, enhanced vision, now can’t we….

Sincerely, Karen Lou Mauhs Karath ’80

Who am I? Personal history includes: Granddaughter and Grandniece of Syracuse University “alum” and Oneonta Primary School for Teachers alum; daughter and niece of Colgate alum-DKEs, daughter-in-law of Ohio State alum, sister and sister-in-law of Colgate alum – DU and Theta Ki, Ohio State, SUNY Cobleskill and Siena College alum, cousin of Hamilton and Colby College alum, and wife of a Colgate alum-DU. Past life experiences include: babysitter, lifeguard, water safety instructor/director, Colgate Chip, co-founder of Women at Colgate,member of Peace House, graduate of Colgate University, Colgate Class Agent. Current life experiences include: Colgate alum of 24 years, wife of 19 years to that Colgate DU, mother and aunt to 7 jr.high and high school age children, Classes of ’06 – ’09. Trivial peanuts? You do the math: (30K x 4)(7 + y) = ?

y=their friends, classmates, and potential students their parents were recruiting…Math 100Hmm,and the “multiplier effect”- Economics 101. God bless Frank Farnsworth and his partner in crime, Harry Behler. May they continue to have serenity, serendipity, and peace. —– Original Message —–