Gift Roster 2003 - 2004
Alumni will play a vitally important role in the future of Antioch College. Because of this, the College is strengthening its connections with alumni and inviting them to renew their participation as active Antiochians. One alum who has renewed his ties with Antioch is Nate Levine’76. After graduating, Nate stayed close to a few of his friends from the College and sent sporadic financial support to Antioch over the years, but otherwise felt very little connection to the College. Twenty years after completing his degree, Nate finally returned to Yellow Springs. Nate described his experience as bittersweet—a mixture of fond memories and concern for the challenges the College was facing.
Nate recalls that, among other things, he was a “big jock” by Antioch standards during his time at the College. He was an avid volleyball player, playing both competitively and in recreational community leagues. Games and tournaments were held all over the Midwest. Nate played for a competitive team made up of Antioch students and staff, as well as other people from Dayton and the surrounding area. “We were a mix of hippies and factory workers. I’m sure they thought we were weird in many ways, but we were there to play sports, not debate politics,” says Nate. He recollected playing a team from the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. “Once Nixon came to the base and I was there with others from Antioch to protest. The next day I went back to play volleyball.”
One of a few physics majors, Nate appreciated the closeness he had with his professors, something he doubts he would have experienced at another school. “Andrew Evwarye was a seminal figure in my life at Antioch. He was a scientist and intellectual, and my exposure to that was very important.”
Nate found that he was able to explore many of his other interests at Antioch. “The beauty of Antioch was that you could explore something that interested you intellectually, politically or artistically even though you didn’t want to pursue it as career. You could be bad at something but do it anyway.” In addition to his science classes, Nate minored in art.
After graduating from Antioch, Nate went on to Cornell’s PhD program in biophysics, but after 3 years decided he didn’t like it. He then moved to San Francisco where two of his friends from Antioch, Matt Larsen ’76 and Josh Hanig ’74, were living. Nate had an interest in the combination of science and sport, and went to several area non-profits pitching an idea for a cardiac rehab program. One of his stops was at the Jewish Community Center, where the director took a shine to him and offered Nate a job as a physical education instructor. He spent the next six years working at various JCCs.
“I got hooked on community and non-profit work. I’ve found that non-profit work really resonates with my values and skill set,” says Nate. He spent several years working as the Director of Development for Stanford Law School, but returned to work for the JCC seven years ago. His experience in non-profits and development was critical to the task he was charged with—raising the funds for a new building to house the Center. “The San Francisco JCC has been in service for 128 years, but it was on the brink of financial disaster eight or nine years ago. It needed a new facility to survive.”
The new Center opened February of 2004 and offers a wide range of programs for people of all ages and cultures. At the heart of the new facility is a 30-foot sculpture inscribed with seven core values: being inclusive, welcoming strangers, justice, friendship, repair of the world, learning and spirit. “The values are truly universal, but this is the way they are expressed in Jewish culture.” The affirmation of Jewish life and culture while welcoming diversity is a hallmark of the JCCSF. Some of the programs that carry out this mission include a partnership with the Asian Art Museum and hosting events such as a performance by The Afro-Semitic Experience—a jazz ensemble that combines elements of Jewish liturgical music with African spirituals.
A little over a year ago Nate received a phone call from Lois Mann, Vice Chancellor for Development and External Relations. He agreed to meet with her and after discussing the College offered to host an event. Last September, Nate hosted a gathering of Antiochians at the JCC. Approximately 70 people, including alumni, students on co-op in San Francisco and prospective students, attended. As a result of this event many more alumni were able to reconnect with Antioch and become active Antiochians again. Nate credits Antioch with formulating the life skills and perspectives that have served him since, and was glad to renew his ties with the College, thus strengthening the institution even further.
