Stephanielee (stephanielee) wrote, @ 2008-03-25 11:02:00

The Meeting
Okay, it has been too long since I posted anyway. And Katrina asked it.

Katrina, Eric and I got to the school just before 7a.m. Slowly others trickled in, and then we waited. A professor (Matt Ryan) was so excited for our gathering. At our peak, I think we hit about 18 people. Anyway. 7:45 rolls around and President Holst rolls in. There was a split second where I think we all thought he was ignoring us, but he welcomed us in, and asked us to sit (most didn't).

MaryLynn kicked it off, and then we all got a chance to say what we wanted - why we were there, how we felt, what we wanted out of this. The reasons ranged, the emotions were similar but personal to each, and the calls to action were slightly different. I really do think at that moment, President Holst genuinely regretted being in an administrative position, because he wanted to encourage our discussion and debate, and he really couldn't.

Josiah L. was brilliant and very articulately said that if this situation happened for reasons we think (and know), then he is demanding change. He asked the president if he would change the nondisclosure contract because that is how we can best move forward in this process. President Holst agreed to contact Randy and see if they could agree to break the nondisclosure together. I think it is a positive step.

Randy may not agree to break the contract, but I think people will still push for change in administrative decisions such as this. I think President Holst got his first taste of how it has affected students, faculty and staff and the decisions they may make based on it. People were blunt about wanting to leave Concordia, how it and the LCMS have offended. That is what redeemed President Holst a bit to me - despite knowing that people want to leave, he is still willing to open the lines between Concordia, Randy and the rest of us.

Some people might still decide to leave after knowing for sure what happened. Concordia will probably still stand to lose out on some of this situation. But I'm glad President Holst is willing to make a repair.

He said: "If this was a mistake, then examine it, so it does not happen again."

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