Submitted Tuesday, October 2nd, the day of municipal elections:
Congratulations to the recently elected Assembly and School Board candidates. While I’m sure that your plates are quite full, I hope that you’ll invest both time and energy in addressing the closure of Sheldon Jackson College and its impact on our community. To date, several faculty and staff remain unemployed, and many have left Sitka. The 100 students usually enrolled have also gone on to other schools, or have dropped out completely. Each one of these folks, in addition to being employed or enrolled at the College, were also taxpayers, customers, renters, homeowners, volunteers, and valued members of our community. What has their loss cost our community, now that they are gone? What can be done to support those who remain, and what is the city’s role in all of this?
I believe that the city has an opportunity, and an obligation, to respond in a meaningful way to these issues. I am counting on you to attend and participate in this Thursday’s assembly special session, where these issues will be addressed. To ignore the needs of those left in the wake of Sheldon Jackson’s closure, and to fail to address the potential loss of valued community resources previously provided by the College, is to fail those who elected you to serve their interests and the best interests of our community. Seize this opportunity to lead our community during this crucial time of need.
Sincerely,
Chris Bryner
Sitka, AK
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16 comments:
Bryner, your letter was thoughtful and heart filled. I hope that moving forward those charged with leading Sitka will think in those terms. I say Bryner for Assembly! lol
Nice letter Chris! I agree you should run for assembly next go around!
Marcel
Bryner,
Tell the bloggers here what is your ultimate goal for this site. Do you want to ideally get re-hired at SJC again? Aside from closure--tell everyone specifically what this constant re-iteration does--beside stimulate local awareness of new issues in the former college. Why are you not looking for another job as Dean of Student Life at a college in Alaska or in the Lower 48? What about Bryner? What is his future going to intail?
In response to the last Anonymous blogger, why in the hell would Bryner look for a job out of Sitka, when he likes living here. I have only talked to Chris once since the closure of SJ, but he likes his new job and I know he and his wife love living in Sitka. Next time even if you post anonymously please be brave enough to post your name.
Marcel
My purpose for this site is stated in the "What is SJC Watch" section on the main page. I doubt that anything I've written here will aid my rehire.
The closure of SJ is one thing. The future of the College, the campus, property, etc. is another thing. Many folks who live here care about these things. I am one of them.
And you have come here too. What is your purpose?
I am so sick of people attacking this blog. I came here via KT and I think it is a great resource for information. I mean, no one else is talking!
Think about it: what is going to happen to all the books in the library. All those one of a kind items in the archives. The buildings, the land?
And frankly, I think it is pretty obvious no one is getting rehired.
Bryner doessn't seem to have any answers. Prehaps he's somewhat new to Sitka and doesn't realize the amount of money this community has dumped into SJ? If SJ can't stand on its own two feet without help from the "Sitka General Fund" maybe we really should say good bye... It's sad but true...
Stop putting people down on here. A reminder to all of you who have called names and put people down
"With the suspension of academic programs and the termination of nearly all staff, Sheldon Jackson College is undergoing a period of serious tumult. What will happen to the 130 year old institution? This site will attempt to keep folks informed".
This site is to keep the ones affected by the shut down informed. Chris Bryner may not have the answers but he is talking to us and letting us know what is going on with SJ. Otherwise we (students) would not know.
katy93545
Well said katy93545!
Past employees also would not know what's going on without this blog.
Thanks Chris!
Marcel
Though there are numerous incredibly valuable "things' owned by SJC (held in trust by the Board), my main concern is that the founding mission of the college to " serve the needs of Alaska Native peoples" finally be fully realized. I've always had a bit of a problem with the school's Christian mission, mostly because of its impact on Alaska Native culture during it's first 100 years. But the mission to serve the needs of Alaska Native peoples is critical. It cannot be fully realized by UAS or by any other college. A tribal college could serve the same purpose, and without all the historical baggage, but few in power seem interested in going down that road.
Property can be sold. Archives can be moved and preserved. Buildings can be torn down and replaced. But who will take up the yoke of service to the Alaska Native people that has - for good or bad - been a part of the Sheldon Jackson College mission for almost 130 years.
Whatever anyone says in these posts, good or bad, is better than the apathy that would otherwise persist. I know there's a bible verse along those lines, but can't recall all the words at the moment.
Keep it up bloggers. With a couple exceptions, it's all good.
Good informed post Ted.. I would support anyone to take the bull by the horns only if it doean't involve city funds... No more draining of the Sitka General Fund... I guess I can't blame Chris for this blog.. but please everyone how about some substance?
Oh BTW Dr. Wright, isn't the actual church supposed to take over the college when the college cannot continue it's roll in education? I have heard this long ago about the agreement between the church and SJ, this signed by Sheldon himself?
Not sure about Anon's assertion that Sheldon Jackson signed an agreement with the church. I have read the original bylaws of SJC, and the section on dissolution (dissolving the organization) spells out the transfer of assets to the PC USA.
This can, of course, be changed. And assets can be sold prior to dissolution. SJ owes $11 million, for example, and can sell property to pay off debt.
Right now the college seems to have more debt than assets, so I wouldn't be too anxious to "own" SJC right now. And many of the assets of the college seem to be, shall we say, not very liquid...
Someone on here said it best when they expressed concern that the current regime of liquidators might sell off the property /assets piece by piece to tourism or other business interests that bring less permanent, full-time benefits than a "growth institution" like a college.
I doubt if there's a "return to the church" clause anywhere. But which clans owned that property before it was taken? That might be a question worth asking.
Ted
now now Ted...
Thanks for creating this site, Its one the only news about the school. Bryner thanks. The alumni thank you, we hear so little about the school. Thanks
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