Shimer College Memory Project
Dublin Core
Title
Shimer College Memory Project
The Thomas Lindsay Matter
Subject
Colleges, Small
Shimer College
Mission statements
Meetings
Student protests
Presidents, College
College Trustees--selection and appointment
Description
This collection documents pivotal events relating to Shimer College and the Thomas Lindsay debacle during the academic year 2009-2010
Welcome to the Shimer College Memory Project, an archival collection which I dedicate to the Shimer community. This collection, in particular, focuses on the Thomas Lindsay affair from the academic year 2009-2010 – the activities and events of Shimer College students, faculty, staff, and alumni to prevent what we interpreted as a right-wing hostile takeover of the college by means of stacking the Board of Trustees with ultra-conservative appointees and changing the college’s mission statement to reflect a conservative ideology. Basically, they wanted to transform Shimer into the Great Books version of Liberty University. As a result, President Thomas Lindsay and the Board faced a backlash and a great battle ensued to protect the integrity of the mission statement and the General Assembly, the college’s governing body composed of students, faculty, and staff, and who jointly make decisions regarding academic and administrative policies. By enacting policy and subverting voting on his own mission statement, Thomas Lindsay sought to undermine the authority of the General Assembly and of direct democracy procedures enshrined in Shimer’s legacy of self-governance.
Creator
Snyder, S Noelle
Date
2020-10-09
Rights
Rights are held by the creators of the item content.
Format
Moving image
Still image
Text
Newspaper article
Blog
Webpage
Language
English
Type
Collection
Identifier
SC-01
Coverage
Chicago, Ill.
Items in the Shimer College Memory Project Collection
Faculty to Board
The faculty unanimously sends a vote of no confidence in Thomas Lindsay along with an explanation.
Shimer Ousts Its President
Confirmation that the Board of Trustees of Shimer College voted to fire President Thomas Lindsay and select Ed Noonan as interim president.
Meeting with Joe Bast
Summary of a conversation held between members of the Shimer College Assembly and Shimer trustee regarding Barre Seid, trustee F.H. Buckley, Thomas Lindsay, and the college's mission statement.
Assembly of Shimer College Acts of the Special Meeting of February 28, 2010, The
A statement set forth by the Shimer Assembly expressing disregard for the newly adopted mission statement.
At a Tiny College, an Epic Battle Over Academic Authority
A brief history of the events that unfolded the state of affairs at Shimer College regarding the actions of then-President Thomas Lindsay taken to change the college's mission statement.