[17530] in APO News
Re: [The Tech] Request for interview on APO conclusion
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Brad Lichtenstein)
Wed Aug 7 20:25:02 2019
From: Brad Lichtenstein <brad.lichtenstein@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <789432231.2482488.1565213275970@mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2019 20:21:28 -0400
Cc: wcmccart@mit.edu, apo-actives@mit.edu, apo-alumni@mit.edu,
apo-alumtracker@mit.edu, apo-announce@mit.edu, apo-admincomm@mit.edu,
apo-advisors@mit.edu
To: yalezuss@aol.com
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Thanks also for the several replies to my own message, and I=E2=80=99d like t=
o address a few of their points:
I=E2=80=99m not blaming anyone for what=E2=80=99s happened thus far, and I r=
eally wouldn=E2=80=99t expect the active chapter to have the perspective of t=
ime, to be on top of these trends, let alone the experience and perspective t=
o react appropriately to them. Or maybe they do, and I=E2=80=99m only rememb=
ering how naive I was - in any case, I apologize for appearing to.
Second, by =E2=80=9Cteach recruiting=E2=80=9D, I really meant developing a c=
ulture of engagement. Like most enginerds, I=E2=80=99m by preference an intr=
overt, but that doesn=E2=80=99t get much done in life. I did not mean a one-=
off event, nor just one semester or even year: I would expect it would take m=
ore than a couple years to get numbers and culture back to sustainable on th=
e modern campus, tho again, maybe I=E2=80=99m selling today=E2=80=99s younge=
r adults short.
Third, although it is obviously up to =E2=80=9Ca future group of students=E2=
=80=9D to revitalize the chapter, it makes sense to me to START finding that=
group NOW, for several reasons. First, to have the collective =E2=80=9Cus=E2=
=80=9D (alumni, sister chapter volunteers, and sectional/national employees)=
roaming the public areas of campus engaging students, we=E2=80=99ll want ad=
min approval. That sale to the admins should be a lot easier while there is s=
till a charter, and while we have at least one student member to extend an i=
nvitation to us.
Fourth, as long as we DO have an officially sanctioned, centrally-located ga=
thering space - that=E2=80=99s HUGE! Face to face is ALWAYS more important t=
han online, and having a place for that - seems like a major good fortune, e=
specially as the dorms seem to have become, appropriately, rather like close=
d vaults to outsiders. But, now that the cat=E2=80=99s out of the bag, it wo=
uld seem helpful to quickly develop a plan to use that space, a plan =E2=80=9C=
we=E2=80=9D can present to the admin, before it's gone. And starting with an=
=E2=80=9Caggressive=E2=80=9D media campaign like Yale suggests, is a great f=
irst move. Using the tech for advertising, via press releases or other ads a=
bout events, is smart. I=E2=80=99d hope National has people who=E2=80=99ve o=
pened chapters available to provide proven experience, and if not, this woul=
d be an opportunity to develop our own experience being leaders that way.
Fifth: if Yale and I are the only ones, it=E2=80=99s not a battle I pick. So=
me historians think the US revolution from Britain came about because of jus=
t 2 people - Sam Adams for sure, John Hancock, iirc, the other. Yes, 56 peop=
le signed the Declaration, and thousands served in the army and navy, but 2 g=
ot the ball rolling when about 2/3 of the country were loyalists. And while J=
oe Kuchta keeps coming to my mind, I don=E2=80=99t want to commit quite as m=
uch for AX as any of those wonderful people did in founding our country.
Brad Lichtenstein
BJL@Alum.MIT.edu
Cell 617-548-0239
Scent form me iPhon - pleas forgave thy autoconnect bloomers!
> On Aug 7, 2019, at 5:27 PM, yalezuss@aol.com wrote:
>=20
> Hi William,
>=20
> The closing of AX is now public information, and some thought should be gi=
ven to possible consequences:
>=20
> In your last message, you reported that we would have use of 415 through t=
he coming academic year, but that MIT didn't know what was happening with us=
. Now they do and it seems unlikely they will be willing to have a signific=
ant student activities space occupied by a non-functioning organization for v=
ery long. We may need a plan for what we do if they want 415 cleaned out mu=
ch sooner.
>=20
> I recommend that you, or someone you might designate, meet with Mr. Gandhi=
and use this opportunity to have The Tech come to our aid. There should be=
brothers on some of these lists who once had influence there who might give=
us some help with this.
>=20
> The message that ought to be conveyed has three prongs.
>=20
> The first is how an active APO chapter contributed to MIT student life whe=
n the Chapter had sufficient membership: Brothers manned the baggage check-i=
n and R/O Office, so often the first several students a newly-arrived fresh=
man would meet were brothers. The first draft for the accessibility map in t=
he Infinite Corridor was done by AX. I know you have fielded a question abo=
ut Book-X. UMOC and Big Screw brought the community together. At one point=
, we even shoveled snow from passageways. Brothers reading this should feel=
free to add items to the list.
>=20
> The second prong should note that an APO chapter's ability to provide serv=
ices to its campus, as well as the wider world, depends on having a healthy m=
embership. At this point, try to draft The Tech into publicizing events pla=
nned for the fall to revitalize AX. It would be really useful to have some c=
oncrete items to mention that might appear in editions of The Tech appearing=
during Rush. If this will require some time to consult with Section and/or=
the other chapters who have been recruited to help, see whether Mr. Gandhi w=
ill give you the time to do so.
>=20
> The third prong is something we might pioneer on behalf of National: State=
a belief that face-to-face communities are at least as valuable as on-line v=
irtual ones, and that the two can live together in parallel. Learning how t=
o be a leader, how to work together, etc., might be mentioned.
>=20
> One last point: Despite what I just wrote, it would have been my responsi=
bility as an adviser to see to it that you don't shirk your academic respons=
ibilities. Please give them the attention they deserve.
>=20
> YiLFS,
> --Yale
>=20
>=20
> In a message dated 8/6/2019 9:47:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, rujul@mit.ed=
u writes:
>=20
> Good evening APO exec,
>=20
> I am a reporter for The Tech, MIT=E2=80=99s undergraduate student newspape=
r. I am writing an article about the recent announcement that the MIT chapte=
r of Alpha Phi Omega has concluded operations. Would it be possible for a me=
mber of your team to do a brief interview with The Tech about the circumstan=
ces leading to this decision? If so, I will be available before 11 a.m. or b=
etween 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, any time on Saturday, or after 4 p.m. on Sunday=
. Please let me know. Additionally, if you know of any APO alumni who may be=
willing to speak about the history and significance of APO, please put me i=
n touch.
>=20
> Thanks,
> Rujul Gandhi
> The Tech
>=20
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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3D=
utf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto"><div dir=3D"ltr"><span></span></div><div di=
r=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><span></span></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Thanks also f=
or the several replies to my own message, and I=E2=80=99d like to address a f=
ew of their points:<div><br></div><div>I=E2=80=99m not blaming anyone for wh=
at=E2=80=99s happened thus far, and I really wouldn=E2=80=99t expect the act=
ive chapter to have the perspective of time, to be on top of these trends, l=
et alone the experience and perspective to react appropriately to them. Or m=
aybe they do, and I=E2=80=99m only remembering how naive I was - in any case=
, I apologize for appearing to.<div><br></div><div>Second, by =E2=80=9Cteach=
recruiting=E2=80=9D, I really meant developing a culture of engagement. Lik=
e most enginerds, I=E2=80=99m by preference an introvert, but that doesn=E2=80=
=99t get much done in life. I did not mean a one-off event, nor just one sem=
ester or even year: I would expect it would take more than a couple years to=
get numbers and culture back to sustainable on the modern campus, tho again=
, maybe I=E2=80=99m selling today=E2=80=99s younger adults short.<br><div><b=
r></div><div>Third, although it is obviously up to =E2=80=9Ca future group o=
f students=E2=80=9D to revitalize the chapter, it makes sense to me to START=
finding that group NOW, for several reasons. First, to have the collective =E2=
=80=9Cus=E2=80=9D <span style=3D"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">=
(alumni, sister chapter volunteers, and sectional/national employees) roamin=
g the public areas of campus engaging students, we=E2=80=99ll want admin app=
roval. That sale to the admins should be a lot easier while there is still a=
charter, and while we have at least one student member to extend an invitat=
ion to us.</span></div><div><span style=3D"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 2=
55, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style=3D"background-color: rgba(255, 25=
5, 255, 0);">Fourth, as long as we DO have an officially sanctioned, central=
ly-located gathering space - that=E2=80=99s HUGE! Face to face is ALWAYS mor=
e important than online, and having a place for that - seems like a major go=
od fortune, especially as the dorms seem to have become, appropriately, rath=
er like closed vaults to outsiders. But, now that the cat=E2=80=99s out of t=
he bag, it would seem helpful to quickly develop a plan to use that space, a=
plan =E2=80=9Cwe=E2=80=9D can present to the admin, before it's gone. And s=
tarting with an =E2=80=9Caggressive=E2=80=9D media campaign like Yale sugges=
ts, is a great first move. Using the tech for advertising, via press release=
s or other ads about events, is smart. I=E2=80=99d hope National has people w=
ho=E2=80=99ve opened chapters available to provide proven experience, and if=
not, this would be an opportunity to develop our own experience being leade=
rs that way.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Fifth: if Yale and I are the on=
ly ones, it=E2=80=99s not a battle I pick. Some historians think the US revo=
lution from Britain came about because of just 2 people - Sam Adams for sure=
, John Hancock, iirc, the other. Yes, 56 people signed the Declaration, and t=
housands served in the army and navy, but 2 got the ball rolling when about 2=
/3 of the country were loyalists. And while Joe Kuchta keeps coming to my mi=
nd, I don=E2=80=99t want to commit quite as much for AX as any of those wond=
erful people did in founding our country.</div><div><br></div><div><div id=3D=
"AppleMailSignature" dir=3D"ltr"><div>Brad Lichtenstein</div><div><a href=3D=
"mailto:BJL@Alum.MIT.edu">BJL@Alum.MIT.edu</a></div><div>Cell 617-548-0239</=
div><div><br></div>Scent form me iPhon - pleas forgave thy autoconnect bloom=
ers!</div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br>On Aug 7, 2019, at 5:27 PM, <a href=3D"mailto=
:yalezuss@aol.com">yalezuss@aol.com</a> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type=
=3D"cite"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>
<div class=3D"userEdit" style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; f=
ont-size: 14pt; color: #000000;">
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">Hi William,</span></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">The closing of AX is now public information, and some t=
hought should be given to possible consequences:</span></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">In your last message, you reported that we would h=
ave use of 415 through the coming academic year, but that MIT didn't know wh=
at was happening with us. Now they do and it seems unlikely they will b=
e willing to have a significant student activities space occupied by a non-f=
unctioning organization for very long. We may need a plan for what we d=
o if they want 415 cleaned out much sooner.</span></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">I recommend that you, or someone you might designate, m=
eet with Mr. Gandhi and use this opportunity to have The Tech come to our ai=
d. There should be brothers on some of these lists who once had influe=
nce there who might give us some help with this.<br> </span></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">The message that ought to be conveyed has three prongs.=
<br> </span></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">The first is how an active APO chapter contributed to M=
IT student life when the Chapter had sufficient membership: Brothers manned t=
he baggage check-in and R/O Office, so often the first several student=
s a newly-arrived freshman would meet were brothers. The first draft f=
or the accessibility map in the Infinite Corridor was done by AX. <spa=
n style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color=
: #000000;">I know you have fielded a question about Book-X.</span> UMOC and=
Big Screw brought the community together. At one point, we even=
shoveled snow from passageways. Brothers reading this should feel fre=
e to add items to the list.</span></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;"><br></span></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">The second prong should note that an APO chapter's abil=
ity to provide services to its campus, as well as the wider world, depends o=
n having a healthy membership. At this point, try to draft The Tech in=
to publicizing events planned for the fall to revitalize AX. It would b=
e really useful to have some concrete items to mention that might appear in e=
ditions of The Tech appearing during Rush. If this will require some t=
ime to consult with Section and/or the other chapters who have been recruite=
d to help, see whether Mr. Gandhi will give you the time to do so.<br></span=
></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">The third prong is something we might pioneer on behalf=
of National: State a belief that face-to-face communities are at least as v=
aluable as on-line virtual ones, and that the two can live together in paral=
lel. Learning how to be a leader, how to work together, etc., might be=
mentioned.</span></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">One last point: Despite what I just wrote, it wou=
ld have been my responsibility as an adviser to see to it that you don't shi=
rk your academic responsibilities. Please give them the attention they=
deserve.</span></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">YiLFS,</span></div>
<div><span style=3D"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14=
pt; color: #000000;">--Yale</span></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
</div>
In a message dated 8/6/2019 9:47:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, <a href=3D"mai=
lto:rujul@mit.edu">rujul@mit.edu</a> writes:
<div><br></div>
<div class=3D"quotedReply">
<blockquote style=3D"padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; border-left: blue 2=
px solid;">
<div id=3D"yiv7604220720">
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<p id=3D"yiv7604220720docs-internal-guid-54188295-7fff-65fd-a6e4-9cc817f3acd=
0" dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0=
pt;"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; bac=
kground-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-varia=
nt: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pr=
e-wrap;">Good evening APO exec,</span></p>
<br>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0=
pt;"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; bac=
kground-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-varia=
nt: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pr=
e-wrap;">I am a reporter for </span><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400;=
font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-a=
lign: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Tech</span><span style=3D"font-s=
ize: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent=
; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoratio=
n: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, MIT=E2=80=99s u=
ndergraduate student newspaper. I am writing an article about the recent ann=
ouncement that the MIT chapter of Alpha Phi Omega has concluded operations.<=
/span><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; ba=
ckground-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-vari=
ant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: p=
re-wrap;"> Would it be possible for a member of your team to do a brief=
interview with </span><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; c=
olor: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-variant=
: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-=
wrap;"><em>The Tech </em>about the circumstances leading to this decision</s=
pan><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; back=
ground-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-variant: normal; text-deco=
ration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?</span><spa=
n style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-c=
olor: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: norma=
l; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">=
If so, I will be available before 11 a.m. or between 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, a=
ny time on Saturday, or after 4 p.m. on Sunday. Please let me know. Addition=
ally, if you know of any APO alumni who may be willing to speak about the hi=
story and significance of APO, please put me in touch.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0=
pt;"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; bac=
kground-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-varia=
nt: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pr=
e-wrap;">Thanks,</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0=
pt;"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; bac=
kground-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-varia=
nt: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pr=
e-wrap;">Rujul Gandhi</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0=
pt;"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; bac=
kground-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-varia=
nt: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pr=
e-wrap;">The Tech</span></p>
<p><br></p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>=
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