Press Archive
Goddard College Governance Issues

Below are links to press clippings (from 1938 to the present) related to governance issues at Goddard College.

We present these, along with official college governance documents and correspondence that took place between individuals regarding governance issues, in an effort to be as comprehensive as possible in documenting the history of governance at Goddard. Although we rarely endorse the views that the commercial press puts forward on the issues and events on which they report, the documents they generate constitute a 'public record' of sorts. From it anyone with a serious historical interest in understanding what has taken place in Goddard governance policies and practices since 1938 can gleen much information. A number of these clippings are referenced in papers that appear on this web site, and paraphrasing or quoting snippets from these articles would not provide the reader with the full flavor of exactly what was publically said at the time and how it was said. So we opted to present primary source materials here, and let the material speak for itself.

We also wanted to provide the reader with a good historical sense of precisely how the commercial press contexted governance-related debates, activities, and decisions at Goddard. Although a few reporters are to be credited with accuracy and understanding, many sought to minimize the importance of the questions that were raised, and to expose the group that raised such questions to ridicule - despite the fact that this group constituted an overwhelming majority of the Goddard community at the time - the students, faculty, staff and board members who took issue with the corporatization of the college and the increasingly authoritarian policies of the college administration.

The links below are listed chronologically, and labeled according to -

Title of Article, Date, and Publication

    The Early Years (1938-1969)

    Under Royce Pitkin, Founder (1938-1969)

  1. Plan New College in Vermont Hills - 3/16/1938, New York Times
  2. New College Links Culture and Trade - 5/15/1938, New York Times
  3. Goddard College Adds Trustees - 7/21/1938, New York Times
  4. Goddard to Start New Plan - 8/7/1938, New York Times
  5. Adult Study for Goddard - 12/24/1938, New York Times
  6. Goddard at 25 - 4/8/1963, Newsweek
  7. Two Very Different Colleges - circa 1960s, National Review
  8. Goddard Opposes Restrictions - 11/4/1968, Times Argus
  9. Goddard Board Grants Seats to Students - 11/26/1968, Times Argus
  10. Goddard Students Demand Say in Pitkin's Successor - 3/10/1969, Burlington Free Press
  11. Goddard Students, Faculty Won't Strike Over President - 3/22/1969, Burlington Free Press

    The Middle Years (1969-1994)

    John Seeley, the President that Almost Was (1969)

  12. Dr. Seeley, Canadian, Offered Presidency of Goddard College - 6/16/1969, Burlington Free Press
  13. More Than 300 at Party Honoring Pitkin, Retiring Goddard President - 6/16/1969, Burlington Free Press
  14. Dr. Seeley Among 5 Asked to Leave Study Center - 6/17/1969, Burlington Free Press

    Under Gerald S. Witherspoon, President (1969-74)

  15. Witherspoon, Former Tax Chief, Named Goddard President - 6/24/1969, Burlington Free Press
  16. Goddard College Launches Self-government Plan - 9/16/1969, Burlington Free Press
  17. Goddard's New Governing Council Plans to Review College Budget - 9/18/1969, Burlington Free Press
  18. Witherspoon May Resign Goddard Post - 4/10/1971, Burlington Free Press
  19. Witherspoon Not Quitting, Goddard Official Asserts - 7/21/1971, Burlington Free Press
  20. Witherspoon Wants to Keep Goddard Post - 7/24/1971, Burlington Free Press
  21. Goddard College Wins Court Suit - 7/24/1971, Burlington Free Press
  22. Goddard Trustess to Evaluate Witherspoon - 7/26/1971, Burlington Free Press
  23. Goddard Plagued by Administrative Confusion - 10/8/1972, Burlington Free Press
  24. Tuition Increase Debated at Goddard - 10/31/1972, Burlington Free Press
  25. Goddard March Protests Reorganization Proposal - 1/13/1973, Burlington Free Press
  26. Goddard Opposes Witherspoon's Reorganization Proposal -1/18/1973, Burlington Free Press
  27. 50 Students Protest Goddard's Financial Policies - 3/28/1973, Burlington Free Press
  28. Group Seeks Removal of Goddard Head - 5/17/1973, Burlington Free Press
  29. Group Students Ask Witherspoon to Quit - 5/19/1973, Burlington Free Press
  30. Goddard Faculty Votes today to Fire Witherspoon - 5/25/1973, Burlington Free Press
  31. Fire Witherspoon, Says Faculty - 5/26/1973, Burlington Free Press
  32. Goddard College Ills - 5/28/1973, Burlington Free Press, Op Ed Piece
  33. Goddard President Answers Critics - 6/1/1973, Burlington Free Press
  34. Trustees Express 'Faith' in Witherspoon, Goddard - 6/4/1973, Burlington Free Press
  35. Speculation Rises on Goddard President's Plans - 6/5/1974, Burlington Free Press
  36. Goddard Trustees Accept Witherspoon's Resignation - 6/24/1974, Burlington Free Press
  37. Jacqueline Snelling is Finalist for Goddard College Presidency - 5/7/1975, Burlington Free Press

    Under Richard Graham, President (1975-76)

  38. Goddard Names Harvard Educator - 6/4/1975, Burlington Free Press
  39. Goddard Seeks the Roots of Good Education - 9/1/1976, Burlington Free Press
  40. Student Charts Own Course - 9/1/1976, Burlington Free Press
  41. Union Levels Charge at College - 9/10/1976, Burlington Free Press
  42. Goddard Head Plans to Quit - 10/8/1976, Associated Press

    Under John Hall, President (1977-80)

  43. Financial Troubles Threaten Goddard - 2/22/1977, Burlington Free Press
  44. Goddard College President Named - 7/31/1977, Burlington Free Press
  45. Goddard Marches on, Despite Financial Woes - 12/11/1977, Burlington Free Press
  46. Morale Shaken by Changes at Goddard - 12/12/1977, Burlington Free Press
  47. Goddard College's Roots Deep in Vermont History - 9/4/1980, Burlington Free Press
  48. Goddard Head Quits Over Salary Donation - 10/27/1980, Burlington Free Press

    Under Victor Leofflath-Ehly, Interim President (1980-81)

  49. Third Goddard Administrator Resigns - 10/28/1980, Burlington Free Press
  50. Norwich, Goddard May Join - 2/6/1981, Burlington Free Press
  51. Goddard Enrollment Declines - 2/7/1981, Burlington Free Press
  52. Goddard Flavor Spices Slice of Life in Vermont - 2/15/1981, Burlington Free Press
  53. Goddard Lays Off 13 Employees - 3/1/1981, Burlington Free Press
  54. Norwich Officials Boycott Meeting on Merger Plan - 3/13/1981, Burlington Free Press
  55. Goddard College Gets Reprieve From Trustees - 3/23/1981, Burlington Free Press, Burlington Free Press
  56. 'Streamlined' Goddard College Winds Time - 3/25/1981, Burlington Free Press
  57. Money is What's Needed, Not Hot Air, Goddard Faculty, Students Tell Trustees - 3/27/1981, Burlington Free Press
  58. Union to Stay at Goddard - 5/7/1981, Burlington Free Press
  59. Goddard Selling Four Programs To Remain Open - 5/12/1981, Burlington Free Press
  60. Goddard Gets Extension On Accreditation Ruling - 5/19/1981, Burlington Free Press

    Under Jack Lindquist, President (1981-90)

  61. Academic Dean Takes Goddard College Reins - 5/28/81, Burlington Free Press
  62. Lindquist Named President of Goddard College - 9/30/81, Burlington Free Press
  63. Expansion Program Set at Goddard - 10/18/81, Burlington Free Press
  64. NLRB Investigates Goddard Charges - 11/18/81, Burlington Free Press
  65. Goddard Offers to House Juveniles - 11/19/81, Burlington Free Press
  66. Cash Crunch Hits Goddard - 4/8/82, Burlington Free Press
  67. Goddard College Pulls Through its Fiscal Crisis with Payroll - 4/9/82, Burlington Free Press
  68. Union to Ask for Probe of Goddard - 4/18/82, Burlington Free Press
  69. Goddard, Faculty Union Officials to Talk - 4/22/82, Burlington Free Press
  70. Goddard's Rebound - 10/14/82, Burlington Free Press
  71. Goddard Off Accreditation Probation List - 12/3/82, Burlington Free Press
  72. Goddard Changes Drastically, But Stays Viable - 12/12/82, Burlington Free Press
  73. Goddard College Optimistic About Future - 5/9/83, Burlington Free Press
  74. Goddard Shows a Small Surplus - 2/15/85, Rutland Daily Herald
  75. Goddard Finally Ends Year with Surplus - 2/15/85, Burlington Free Press
  76. Goddard College Changes to Survive - 2/24/85, Burlington Free Press
  77. College Gest Energy Study Grant - 7/7/85, Burlington Free Press
  78. Goddard College Names Main Campus for Founder - 9/2/85, Burlington Free Press
  79. Goddard Shows a Surplus - 9/17/85, Rutland Herald
  80. Goddard Program to Aid Single Parents - 4/28/86, Burlington Free Press
  81. Goddard College Founder, R.S. Pitkin, Succumbs at 85 - 5/6/86, Burlington Free Press
  82. Course at Goddard Straightens Road for Troubled Teens - 7/27/86, Burlington Free Press
  83. Sale of Goddard Land Pays Off Federal Debt - 5/14/88, Burlington Free Press
  84. Former Student Sues Goddard College - 8/5/88, Burlington Free Press
  85. Activists Close Goddard - 10/11/88, Burlington Free Press
  86. Students End Protest at Goddard College - 10/12/88, Burlington Free Press
  87. Goddard Disciplines 2 Student Protesters - 10/24/88, Burlington Free Press
  88. Black Woman Sues Goddard College - 5/10/89, Burlington Free Press
  89. Goddard Program on Trial - 5/12/89, Burlington Free Press
  90. Goddard Loses Lawsuit - 5/13/89, Burlington Free Press
  91. Goddard Chief Threatens to Resign - 5/23/89, Burlington Free Press
  92. Goddard President Lost a 'Vote of Confidence' - 5/26/89, Rutland Daily Herald
  93. Goddard President to Resign - 9/27/89, Burlington Free Press

    Under Beth Warrell, Interim President (1990)

  94. Goddard Names Acting President; Outgoing Official to take Sabbatical - 3/31/90, Burlington Free Press
  95. Goddard Nears End of Search for President - 5/10/90, Burlington Free Press
  96. Goddard Can't Pay Employees - 6/7/90, Burlington Free Press
  97. Goddard College Making Payroll - 6/7/90, Rutland Daily Herald
  98. Goddard College Names President - 6/9/90, Burlington Free Press
  99. Cost Cutting Irks Faculty at Goddard - 6/14/90, Burlington Free Press

    Under Jackson Kytle, President (1990-94)

  100. Goddard College on the Rebound After Fiscal Crisis - 8/2/91, Rutland Herald
  101. College Presidents Face Tough Job - 10/30/91, Burlington Free Press
  102. Goddard President to Step Down in 1994 - 5/11/93, Burlington Free Press
  103. Goddard Students Occupy Building For Endowment - 12/2/93, Rutland Daily Herald

    Recent Years (1994-Present)

    Under Richard Greene, President (1994-96)

  104. Goddard College Selects President - 5/20/94, Burlington Free Press
  105. Goddard President Redefines School's Goal - 8/8/94, Burlington Free Press
  106. A Moment of Your Time... - February 1996, Nudepaper
  107. Campus Blotter: Showdown at Sarducci's - 3/18/96, The Nudepaper
  108. From the Board's Eye View Files, It's ... My Lunch with Lynn - 3/18/96, The Nudepaper
  109. The Financial Dance - Spring 1996, The Nudepaper
  110. Faculty to be Axed Because of Cash? - Spring 1996, The Nudepaper
  111. Interview With Jamie Klein - Spring 1996, The Nudepaper
  112. Admissions Fissions - Spring 1996, The Nudepaper
  113. Goddard Students Protest Possible Faculty Layoffs - 4/11/96, Times Argus
  114. Goddard Students and Faculty say they are Upset with President - 4/14/96, Sunday Rutland Herald
  115. Letters to the Editors - 4/15/1996, The Nudepaper
  116. This Blows for Real - 4/15/1996, The Nudepaper
  117. Goddard Cuts Under Protest - 4/15/1996, Burlington Free Press
  118. Sudden Resignation Set Off Goddard Protest - 4/16/1996, Times Argus
  119. Goddard Students on Hunger Strike - 4/18/96, Times Argus
  120. Goddard Faculty Want President Gone - 4/20/96, Times Argus
  121. Anarchy 101 - 4/23/96, Times Argus
  122. Goddard's Greene Says He has no Plans to Step Aside - 4/24/96, Times Argus
  123. President Thwarting Goddard's Mission - 4/24/96, Times Argus
  124. Goddard Group Gathers to Denounce Greene - 4/26/96, Times Argus
  125. Newspaper Owes Goddard an Apology - 4/26/96, Times Argus
  126. Editorial Expressed a Boring Cliche - 4/26/96, Times Argus
  127. The "Rally for Democracy" - 4/29/96, The NudePaper
  128. Goddard Editorial Fraught with Errors - 4/29/96, Times Argus
  129. Goddard Community Strives for Fairness - 4/29/96, Times Argus
  130. 'Vicious' Attack on Goddard Faculty was Unfounded - 4/30/96, Times Argus
  131. Goddard Community No Anarchistic Mob - 4/30/96, Times Argus
  132. Leave Cartooning to the Professionals - 4/30/96, Times Argus
  133. Goddard Needs to Grow Up and Get Rid of its Presidency - 4/30/96, Times Argus
  134. Issue of Anarchy a Smoke Screen - 5/1/96, Times Argus
  135. Crash Course - Is Goddard Talking About a Revolution, or More of the Same? - 5/1/96, Seven Days
  136. 'In' Box - 5/3/96, The Chronicle of Higher Education
  137. Goddard Sings the Blues: Financial Woes Have Students, Faculty and Staff up in Arms - Graduation 1996, Vermont Collegian
  138. Goddard Trustees Expected to Endorse Greene - 5/3/96, Times Argus
  139. Goddard Trustees Come Out in Support of Greene - 5/6/96, Times Argus
  140. Frustrations Tear at Goddard's Soul - Growing Pains, Anger at Leader Haunt College - 5/8/96, Burlington Free Press
  141. Goddard Students 'a Life to be Lived' - 5/8/96, Burlington Free Press
  142. Campus Mood is Oppressive - 5/9/96, Times Argus
  143. Fundamental Change Essential for College's Future - 5/9/96, Times Argus
  144. An Open Letter to Jane Sanders and the Executive Committee - 5/13/96, The Nudepaper
  145. BoardWatch: The Statement - 5/13/96, The Nudepaper
  146. Follow the Bouncing Ball... How One Employee left Goddard - 5/13/96, The NudePaper
  147. The Letter - 5/13/96, The NudePaper
  148. Goddard College Employee Union Drive - 5/13/96, The NudePaper
  149. The Resignation of Jamie Kline - 5/13/96, NudePaper
  150. Goddard Trustee Disputes Greene Vote - 5/14/96, Times Argus
  151. Sanders Denies 'Shut Out' by Student Trustee - 5/15/96, Times Argus
  152. Goddard College Graduation Ends with Orderly Protest: 35 Students, Others Show Dissatisfaction with Greene - 5/19/96, Times Argus
  153. Restore Democracy at Goddard - One student asks 'what happened to principles?' - 5/29/96, SevenDays
  154. Goddard Fires 16 Employees - 6/6/96, Times Argus
  155. A Stuggle for 'Autonomy' at Goddard College - 6/7/96, The Chronicle of Higher Education
  156. Fired Goddard Workers Turn Wrath on Board - 6/7/96, Times Argus
  157. Goddard Removes 16 Workers - Professors see political motives - 6/7/96, Times Argus
  158. Greene Say's Critics Were not Target of Job Cuts - 6/12/96, Times Argus
  159. Fired Goddard Workers Assail Greene - 6/13/96, Times Argus
  160. Goddard College Teachers, Students Protest 16 Firings - 6/13/96, Burlington Free Press
  161. Goddard Board Won't Reverse College Layoffs - 6/16/96, The Sunday Rutland Herald & Times Argus
  162. Goddard Staff to Form Union - Trustees decide not to rehire 16 - 6/16/96, Burlington Free Press
  163. Survival Fight At Goddard: President Greene Is Under Fire For His Style As He Tries To Keep School Afloat - 7/7/96, Times Argus
  164. Cultures Clash as Non-Traditional College Gets a Tough-as-Nails President - Termination of 16 employees sets off a fierce debate at Goddard - 8/2/96, The Chronicle of Higher Education
  165. Goddard President To Resign - 8/10/96, Times Argus
  166. Greene Makes Resignation Formal - 8/16/96, Times Argus

    Between Presidents: Under Jane Sanders, Provost (1996-97)

  167. Jane Sanders Takes Helm at Goddard - 8/17/96, Burlington Free Press
  168. Goddard College Regroups, Looks Forward: Some Fired Staff Could Be Rehired - 8/18/96, Sunday Rutland Herald and Sunday Times Argus
  169. Goddard Agrees To Recognize Union - 7/21/96, Times Argus
  170. Can Goddard Learn? - 8/20/96, Times Argus
  171. Goddard College May Rehire Fired Staff Members - 8/22/96, Burlington Free Press
  172. Editorial Betrays Ignorance Of Goddard - 8/24/96, Times Argus
  173. A Progressive Mission - 8/24/96, Seven Days
  174. Just Jane: Activist Roots Pull Sanders Home to Goddard College - 8/31/96, Burlington Free Press
  175. Goddard College Presidential Search: Goddard Looks For a New Kind of Leadership - 3/3/97, The Nation
  176. Goddard Narrows Search for President: Jane Sanders among candidates - 4/21/97, Burlington Free Press

    Under Barbara Mossberg, President (1997-2001)

  177. Goddard Trustees Have Settled On a Candidate - 6/16/97, Times Argus
  178. Goddard Names President: California Administrator To Take Post - 6/17/97, Burlington Free Press
  179. Goddard Picks New President - 7/19/97, Times Argus
  180. Goddard Put's Heads Together on Future - 12/7/97
  181. Goddard College Assesses Goals for Future - 12/7/97, Burlington Free Press
  182. Why I Wouldn't Leave Home Without Chaos Theory - Oct/Nov 1998, The Inner Edge
  183. Goddard College Faculty Vote for Union - 11/19/98, Burlington Free Press
  184. College Faculty Want President To Resign - 11/13/99, Burlington Free Press
  185. Goddard President Given Five-Year Pact - 1/25/00, Rutland Daily Herald
  186. Goddard President Resigns - 2/27/01, Rutland Herald
  187. Goddard President Looks Back With Satisfaction - 3/1/01, Times Argus