The group of about 30 took part in a mock funeral for their school, which is closing at the end of the month because of severe financial problems.
Two “pallbearers” carrying a “coffin” — a violin case painted turquoise with the words “Burlington College 1972-2016” on it — led the procession on foot from the North Avenue school to the offices of Pomerleau Real Estate, where the chair of Burlington College’s board, Yves Bradley, is employed.
Their not-so-subtle message? The school’s leaders, and in particular its board of trustees, are responsible for its downfall.
Burlington College has a history of encouraging activism, and in recent years discord between the leadership and students and staff has intensified. A student protest in August 2014, led by some of the same people who attended Friday’s mock funeral, prompted then-president Christine Plunkett to resign. Afterward, Bradley criticized the protest, suggesting that it nearly destroyed the school, which angered students even more.
During Friday’s student-led ceremony, people placed the coffin on Pomerleau’s grassy lawn and assembled in a circle. One student wore a suit despite the sunny, mid-70s weather. Others had put on black Burlington College T-shirts with the motto “Small is Big” written on the back.
Molly Skerry, who graduated in 2015, told the group to “please deposit your dead hopes and dreams in the coffin.”
People fought back tears as they took turns eulogizing the college, some of them placing their prepared remarks into the coffin.
“I grieve for all the misfits who can’t find their home at Burlington College anymore,” said Marcia White.
Jon Chamis, who is just one semester short of the credits he needs to graduate, said the college was the first place where he felt welcomed. “Without this school, I wouldn’t even have the courage to step into this circle,” he added, before turning toward the white house on the hill and giving the finger.
Emphasizing that Burlington College “is not a building,” several made calls to resurrect the school. “Burlington College began in a living room, with a close group of people,” said Dylan Kelley, who graduated in 2012. “If necessary, this group will begin again in the living rooms, coffee shops and libraries of this community.”
At the end, Mikayla Johnson, who was chosen by her classmates to speak at her commencement last weekend, read the school’s mission statement, and then dropped the sheet of paper in the casket.
Related Stories
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
Instead of playing funeral, what they should be doing is hiring lawyers to try to get back some of the money they foolishly poured into this drain. Oh well, first you play school, then you play funeral. Probably easier than actually growing up and facing the hard knocks of life.
Former president Plunkett, who tried to save your school (and you hounded out of office) doesn’t look so bad now, does she, kids.
The thing is why aren’t they putting the blame where it belongs, the one who helped the collapse of the school, the one who LIED ..surely you all haven’t forgotten..The pres of the school..Jane Sanders the wife of Bernie Sanders the socialist.. the one who “stole ” $250,000 It’s a fact that she lied about the amount of the pledges..Take your blinders off and put the blame on the one who put the school where it is now..Sanders don’t care she got her money!!!!
Both Plunkett and Carol Moore were the epitome of dysfunctional leadership, and the reason why some of the best staff at the college fled the sinking ship, making problems worse. It was under Plunkett’s reign that faculty were not paid for up to several months at a time, while being lied to, with explanations like “mistakes were made in payroll”, when they were actually spending scholarship funds for day to day expenses. Carol Moore continued the policy of not paying some faculty, in a severely dictatorial and dysfunctional fashion, screaming at faculty in emails, and even instituting illegal policies of withholding pay to faculty that were blatant violations of Vermont labor law. Yes, she had a tough job to do, but Moore is no people person, she was a disaster.
Ernie Hotchkiss, you’re still not putting the BLAME on the one who lied about the amount of the pledges..SMH.. Take your blinders off..What is wrong with you people..SANDERS LIED, SHE CAUSE ALL THIS CRAP..It’s alright for her to lie, “stole” $250,000..??? What do you think that she’s a saint that she’s honest??? Face the facts she’s not.. she’s a lying crook, a thief ..
The college had always been struggling, but certainly there are many good men and women at the BC community that tried to make it work. Had there been solid unity and support, the College may still be around and probably thriving in prosperity. But because of the toxic culture influenced by a number of people ~ that no matter who took the lead as president of the college, they were always criticized harshly and met with hatred. No leadership will ever succeed without the support of its members. The way the students kicked out their president showed “no respect to leadership” has ever been incorporated in the curriculum taught to students either ~ it achieved nothing but only made themselves look bad. They brought this demise upon themselves. The land deal was just the last nail in the coffin.
Can I just say that I find it extremely frustrating that national and local media has only focused on the Jane Sanders connection in regards to Burlington College closing. Why is it that not one journalist has digged deeper into the land deals that took place? Something is off there. They gave staff and students only 5 days since the announcement to remove property and materials before they locked the doors. They have not released, to my knowledge, any financial aid refunds. They already have development plans drafted for the building and property. The dust hasn’t even settled yet.
Looking at the videos I’ve seen of the protests and protesters, all I see are a bunch of unreasonable children shouting rhymes, making demands, and bullying others into giving them what they want. They act like six year olds. I guess they got what they wanted in the end. I just wonder if they were equally childish and bullying to Sanders when she resigned the college – which she led to bankruptcy – with a big cash payoff.