So I am sitting in a crowd of strangers, not in NE. Someone asks what I do. I say, which is partly accurate as of this moment in time, I am trying to save a small non elite college. I explain that despite the current protestations and accusations, I left it after 8 years in good shape and fully capable survival. In the 4 plus years since I left, it tanked. And it fell precipitously in the last 2 years. Someone said, that’s impossible. Colleges don’t crater and suddenly announce they’re shutting. Something’s wrong. Something happened in the recent past. I said, well, maybe but more likely something didn’t happen: fundraising, grant raising, admissions, athletic recruiting, poor acquisitions. But, I explained I hadn’t seen financials or data or what was filed with accreditors. The group looked at me quizzically and I just looked at them and said, beats me. My job now is to try to save it. Anyone here have 3 million and want a college named for them? A few laughs and no immediate takers but one fellow said: I bet there is someone like that. I said: I know. I am looking for him or her right now. Funny how life is, isn’t it? What if one of those people was that one? Folks: if you don’t try to save a place it will never be saved. …see more