New College Independent Alumni/ae Association

It has been suggested that come what may regarding the future of New College, the present conflict might be used as a learning lab for seeking the truth about the school’s past–as a seminar on institutional behavior and social change. We couldn’t agree more.

Constructing that narrative can take many forms — from informal testimony to sworn oaths — but all are necessary to create an authentic institutional memory of what transpired at our alma mater as lessons for future reference and scholarly research.

Archiving these truths is a project already begun by independent alumni/ae engaged with the unofficial transition process. Where that process leads cannot and should not be determined in advance; rather, the facts must precede the policy and priorities for change. Otherwise, we merely reinforce the habitual opinions that led to this tragedy in the first place.