To the Shimer Community:
We all want to protect Shimer College. We want to see Shimer survive and thrive in whatever legal
form best suits the modern world, be it as an independent college or as a subsidiary of a larger
institution. Yet we should never allow the essence and autonomy of our community to be quietly traded
away.
It is a cornerstone of our academic program that nothing is presented to us with conclusions already
drawn. We must review the evidence presented and draw conclusions for ourselves. Last Wednesday
every conclusion as to our financial condition, our future enrollment, and the resources needed for
independent survival were presented to the student body as forgone conclusions.
Our Board of Trustees has gone down a road not uncommon for groups tasked with representing
communities. They speculate as to the desires of our community, or worse, they make determinations
about what our community ought to desire and use this as a basis for their decision-making. External
determinations as to the desires of any community, even if made with the best of intentions, are wrong.
The community must decide for itself. We are now of the conviction that the Assembly must vote on
the proposed merger with North Central College. The students, faculty, staff, and trustees must decide
for themselves as equal members of our governing body what action will best preserve the essence of
Shimer College.
The argument will be put forth that the Assembly does not have the ultimate legal right to dictate the
actions of the college. It is wrong to say on account of this that we have no power. Six years ago the
Assembly effected the removal of Shimer College's president; ten years ago the Assembly effected the
move from Waukegan to Chicago. The role and power of the Assembly is woven into our culture. As
the history of our college shows, the ultimate power of the Assembly is defined by the actions of its
members. It would be both foolish and wrong to abandon support for the Assembly simply because it
lacks legal authority.
Our students, faculty, and staff all put substantial academic, financial, and emotional investments into
our institution. We are all indentured to Shimer College both by choice and circumstance. At the same
time, Shimer College is indentured to us. This relationship is the basis of the Assembly's “moral
suasion.” Our rights as members of the Assembly and members of this community are not legal but
moral.
No vote of the Assembly can be reasonable if uninformed, but if we must vote uniformed, we will. We
can accept some answers regarding the proposed merger are simply unknown or must be withheld due
to contractual arrangements. We are willing to wait until the terms are finalized and the Assembly is
able to present us with the final negotiated deal.
It is critical we are given sufficient information to draw our own conclusions as to the best course of
action. This means we must see both Shimer's internal data (to accurately assess the risks of continued
independence) and full and accurate information as to our position post-merger (this would include
agreements regarding the transfer of our accreditation and the representations of or agreements with
NCC regarding our post-merger level of autonomy).
It should be the prerogative of those in favor of this merger ‒ including those at North Central College
‒ to present a deal to the Assembly favorable to independent operation, and it will be the prerogative of
the Assembly to accurately and prudently assess the risks and returns of all our options.

 Within the context of the merger we hope our Assembly will value the preservation of our independent
identity and autonomy. If we leave our independence unprotected, there is the risk that Shimer College
will eventually erode into something entirely different from the institution we know and love. We have
been told the North Central College of today wants everything that is Shimer College. They want our
unique academic program, our intellectual culture, and our offbeat reputation. Fine. But we are
concerned not with the North Central of today, but with the North Central of tomorrow. The essence of
Shimer College must be protected when the political winds eventually shift, and when new presidents
and administrators make new strategic plans which do not include a quirky Great Books college. If the
North Central College of today truly believes in the essence of Shimer College, they should have no
qualms about adequately ensuring its long-term protection. We hope that some form of protection for
our autonomy ‒ be it though financial control or some other method ‒ is included in any deal presented
to the Assembly.
As a community we have the right to accurate and honest information as to our options. We have the
right to determine our college's destiny as an equal collective body. Anything less is an insult not only
to our intelligence and abilities, but an insult to the Shimer spirit the Board claims they are preserving.
It is our obligation to ensure the will of the community is heard.
Again, we do not ask for much: only that the Assembly be allowed to vote. Whether the vote is
informed or uninformed depends on how much information the Board gives us, but we will ‒ we must
‒ vote regardless. We cannot sit back and “wait and see.” We cannot, in good faith, assume that we are
powerless in the face of such a vital and paradigm-shifting decision. Indeed, in the face of such an
event, our right to vote is elevated to a duty. The Assembly must vote!
Sincerely,
Some Concerned Shimerians