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As a first step, we asked that the Trustees establish a joint Trustee Election Work Group to investigate how direct elections could work for Colgate. |
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On behalf of 2,177 Colgate alumni, A Better Colgate presented a petition to the Board of Trustees asking for a simple request: allow alumni to elect a meaningful number of trustees and
The Trustees said no.
Their objections to reform: 1) our peer schools don’t allow elections; 2) elections can be controversial; 3) there’s no need to change.
We disagree. Many prestigious schools allow alumni to elect some trustees; we believe Colgate alumni can conduct themselves appropriately in an open election; and as the graph below shows, the status quo begs for changes to make a better Colgate.
In the graph below, the red line marks Colgate’s fall in peer school rankings from a high of 15 to the current 21. The blue line marks the decline in alumni donor participation from a high of 55% to the current 39%. (Source: US News & World 2011Report)
We’re optimistic. We love Colgate. We want alumni involvement to improve. Importantly, we believe the direct election of some trustees by alumni will capture this spirit and most importantly strengthen Colgate for generations to come.
Go ‘Gate!
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