Letters to the Editor I am the class secretary for the Class of
pendent leader, social activist, and suc-
1970, and like other Mills alums, our
cessful in her endeavors. She is also loving,
class is saddened by the announce-
humble, and a great daughter and woman.
ment that Mills will transition into a
–Gilbert R. Almanzan, P ’92 Rosemead, California
new entity, but responses have varied. Some say that Mills’ financial situation and enrollment decline gave President
My choice to attend Mills in 1999 was
Hillman no choice. Others say that col-
both a radical departure from my life as
leges like Mills have gone too far out on
I understood it and an open door to a
a limb with extremely high financial aid.
future I never imagined. At Mills, I could
Others find the criticisms of President
imagine myself in a world that had no
Hillman and their confrontational tone
restrictions on my potential.
unwarranted and destructive.
I am aghast at the decision to sell this
So, as usual, we have a lot of different
powerful place without a transparent pro-
opinions. In general, most of us still sup-
cess or even an open conversation. Mills is
port the more broadly inclusive Mills as it
where I learned to build consensus, craft
has become over the years, but we don’t
unshakeable coalitions, and put first the
have a solution for its problems. I, for one,
voices of those most impacted by deci-
support President Hillman’s leadership
sions I was able to influence. I am stunned
and believe she has done all she could
that the place that taught me all of this
to save Mills. I may have stood with the
seems unable to do the same.
“Better Dead than Coed” 1990 rebels and
To the Mills College Board of Trustees
the Black Student Union demonstrators
and President Beth Hillman: The time
in President Wert’s office in 1969, but I do
has come for you to resign. You were
not believe it is time to go to the barri-
entrusted for years with our full faith
cades now, nor is it time for recrimination.
and support to manage and maintain this
–Kathleen Dalton ’70 Lexington, Massachusetts
incredibly special place, but it seems that
My letter is simple: be transparent and tell us the truth. We’re grown-ups. The Quarterly has remained rosy while the building is allegedly on fire. –Kimberlee Garfinkle MacVicar ’95 Alameda, California
our belief was misplaced. We cannot let Mills become absorbed when its student body so clearly represents the future— even if our current leadership doesn’t know how to honor and support that. –Darcy Totten ’03 Sacramento Change is coming, like it or not. Change
Volume CX, Number 4 (USPS 349-900) Summer 2021 President Elizabeth L. Hillman Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement Nikole Hilgeman Adams Managing Editor Allison Rost Design and Art Direction Nancy Siller Wilson Editorial Assistant Lila Goehring ’21 Contributors Shelley Moench-Kelly Kate Robinson Beckwith, MFA ’13 Carol Holzman Wolf ’80 Editorial Advisory Committee Angela Bacca, MBA ’12 Sheryl Bizé-Boutté ’73 Melissa Bender Henley ’99 Mira Mason-Reader ’15 Mari Matoba ’03 Livi Perez ’14, MA ’17 Mason Stockstill, MFA ’09
and maintaining its mission and princi-
Mills is the place for people like me.
ples for the benefit of both UC and Mills.
It teaches the most vulnerable people in
Mills’ legacy as a women’s liberal arts
the room to become leaders. Who else
The Mills Quarterly (USPS 349-900) is published quarterly by Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94613. Periodicals postage paid at Oakland, California, and at additional mailing office(s). Postmaster: Send address changes to the Office of Institutional Advancement, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94613.
would do that?
Copyright © 2021, Mills College
I, the father of a Mills alumna, support
isn’t always such a bad thing. We can
the creation of a UC Mills union as an
use this moment to fight for the kind of
independent model under the UC system
school that Mills could be. Or we could
and to remain a degree-granting college
cling to a ruined past that is over.
college that serves diverse and marginalized students will serve new students
It’s also one of the only places in the
well with its strong academia and spe-
entire country where women can work
cialized programs. UC Mills is a great
full time or take care of children and go
idea and a win-win situation for both
to school, in an academic environment
schools.
that supports their outside commitments
My daughter’s choice to attend Mills College helped her become a strong inde-
Address correspondence to Mills Quarterly, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94613. Email: quarterly@mills.edu Phone: 510.430.3312
and responsibilities. This moment needs us to be leaders. SUMMER 2021
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