All summer long Drake struggled to find students for what some called his folly, like a gazebo in the garden, an expensive and unnecessary ornamental structure.
Watching the creation of the new graduate institute, others guessed the truth. “You want the college to become a university, don’t you, Dr. Phillip”, Daria Sensah asked.
“Is that your guess, or what most of the students think?”
“It is both. I want the credit — I never heard it said before I did, but now everyone is saying so.”
“I was afraid of that. The college is just too damned connected. Well Daria, do you think everyone is right?”
“Yes. Almost all the information ends up being filtered through almost everybody. What isn’t true just doesn’t pass the test.”
“I suppose that means my wife knows. I went to some trouble to keep it from her, but I was the one who got her linked into the college. We do that for people who matter – as you probably know.”
“Yes sir, we do. We also know it isn’t easy. I’ve helped you in the past, Dr. Phillips. Now we all want to help. I elected myself spokeswoman.”
“What a surprise.”
Daria was a strong person, a leader in many ways. She had only finished her second year at the college, but people looked up to her. She promoted the idea of helping Drake to a receptive student body. Some of those were linked to faculty members. All the faculty were tied in, so what was happening would affect them too, inevitably.
Even with the whole college helping, it had been a great struggle, but there were enough true believers willing to take the risk. When the academic year started there were enough grad students. Barely. The higher years were poorly represented, but it seemed that Draked Phillips now had his Connected College Graduate Institute. Having NYU agree to take them as regular students in case of problems probably helped.
Because of the difficulties involved, there were only a few students enrolled in the final year of grad school. Though the college faculty did everything possible for them, it wouldn’t accomplish anything without the active participation of NYU in evaluating students to prove their worthiness to receive the degrees they had been working for.
Drake’s favourite among the grad students was Jerry Chu. The third-generation Chinese-American boy from San Francisco had gone to Social Tech High as a transfer student, done well, then on graduation had enrolled in Hunter College.
“I was tempted to leave there and transfer to Connected College when it opened, Dr. Phillips. But I felt I should finish what I started. Now that I have my B.Sc I want to study here”, he had told Drake in late spring, when recruiting was underway.
“My wife says she remembers you from the high school, Jerry. You were an exceptional student, she says. Sally hates it when her students choose to go here instead of to what she calls a ‘real university’, so she’d been read greatly relieved when you’d gone on to a ‘respectable’ place in the city. I just hope she’ll forgive me for luring you back.”
Jerry had a wife now, a girl he’d met using the school’s matching software. When he joined the college as a grad student, she transferred in as an undergraduate. He also had a close friend, selected with the same software, who had been a teaching assistant at NYU while working on his doctorate.
“Hamish wants to transfer into your graduate institute to be with me, even though he is due to start his research there. He’s an international student on a student visa and has a lady friend my age who wants to start grad school in psychology. They live in residence at NYU.”
“Ouch. Well, we can probably manage to work that out. Keep him enrolled there, enroll him here, and do what we can for him. I just don’t want Peter Henderson to think we are poaching his students.”
Hamish Andya from Bangladesh had another friend, who was at Columbia, in his final year, due to receive a doctorate the following June. It was hard to believe the man would give up the chance of a doctorate from Columbia, but he was not happy with his supervisor there and liked the one proposed for him at the new graduate institute. This man, Latar Sendra, would agree to transfer. He would study at the institute, but be examined by NYU faculty members, actually getting a degree issued by NYU.
The graduate institute did not stand alone, of course. There were many links to the undergraduate college, who all wanted the new project to be a success. They watched all year to see how it would go.
The success or failure of the graduate institute would depend only on one thing, the evaluations given to its students by NYU examiners. There was nothing that could or should be done to influence them, the students would have to succeed on their own.
On their own, but not without help and support. The college and its graduate institute – inevitably just called its grad school – was the best learning environment at its level, anywhere.
Drake envied his wife’s high-school, with its larger student population, because the more students, the tighter the links could be, but the college was big enough. And it had the tightening advantage of intimate relationships between its students.
Drake asked Jerry Chu what the difference felt like to him.
“Well, high-school was wonderful, with all the advantages thorough connectivity brings, but it was, after all, a high-school. It had a lot of hormonal kids, and couldn’t pander to them by helping them find sex. The older kids found it themselves, outside the school, which tended to draw them away a bit. I feel a lot more comfortable here.”
Drake’s wife, Sally Aston, principal of the high-school, was well aware of this difference even before Jerry enunciated it. Dammit! This college thing was working out. Worse, the “grad-school” was probably going to work out, and she knew what that meant.
Indeed it did work out as planned. All fourteen of the doctoral candidates who spent that last year of their education at the Connected College graduate students successfully defended their dissertations in May of the following year and would receive their degrees at the ceremony in June. Some already had offers of good jobs.
The college’s first graduation ceremony had been for a two-year college. To meet a commitment to its students, the college had immediately expanded to four years, giving out bachelor’s degrees at their second graduation ceremony.
In June, when Connected College held it’s third graduation ceremony it not only graduated its second class of students receiving bachelors degrees, but also had an NYU vice-president on the podium to hand out some masters and a few doctorates.
A doctorate in applied mathematics went to Latar Sendra, who immediately asked to teach at the college and was accepted.
At this point a big milestone was reached. The graduating students from last year and this year had written exams and done other things to qualify for admission to grad-school, including law school, or med school. They’d done exceptionally well on their exams and gotten admitted to good universities in record numbers.
That plus the vocal support of NYU was enough to satisfy the most prestigious accreditation board, which gave the college itself accreditation as a four year college. Next year those receiving those degrees would get them from a fully accredited institution. Graduate degrees would still have to be through NYU, but its bachelors degrees would henceforth be well recognized and accepted.
June was also the month in which young Kelly Phillips finished grade six and had her twelfth birthday. In the fall she would go to Social Tech High. Would she go on to Connected College after graduation? “Never!”, her mother said.
In September, Jerry Chu began his second year of classes at the graduate institute, while his wife began her senior year at the college proper. Jerry’s friend Hamish Andya began his final year of doctoral studies.
There were many other students Drake Phillips kept his eyes on, but none sufficiently interesting to distract his attention from what was going on with Kelly. His daughter in every way but the basic biological one, Kelly Phillips was now in grade 12, her freshman year at Social Tech High. Her mother had walked away from the job of principal to make things easier for Kelly and avoid accusations of favouritism.
The events of that year have been recounted elsewhere, in the book Social Tech High, available from the schools webpage, at http://www.SocialTechHigh.org/. Some of those events directly impacted life at the college.
As described in the book about the high-school, Drake and Kelly Phillips worked together on a project she inspired, to build a Markov music generator based on collections of music, as represented by the playlists of individuals. Sometimes several friends collected and combined playlists, to generate new music representing themselves as a group. Even schools and small businesses did the same thing, producing rich and distinctive music.
So far, the richest music had been generated from Social Tech High as a whole, because it had a large student, staff and teacher population, with the students mostly from overseas. Being a tightly knit group of people gave the school’s generated music a consistent style, a cohesive unity, highly distinctive despite its diverse origins.
Connected College also had a student population of international origins, though a much smaller one. But its members were almost all couples, often married ones. Those who just wanted a lover at first got one so compatible that most found marriage inevitable. Having married couples sharing rooms in residence changed the social and musical environment considerably.
In Social Tech High, the students in residence mostly shared with a friend of the same sex. They shared music common to people of the same sex, music different for men and for women.
This had clearly been demonstrated at the high-school, where playlists from all male students had been combined to make male-oriented music. It was music with a strong aggressively sexual flavour. The music of the collected girls was equally shocking, a collective cooing come-hither seductive sirens song. Both were kept away from the ears of parents bound to be shocked by them.
It was different in the college. The couples were rooming together, married or nearly so. Their intimacy changed the flavour of the whole college’s music, which in any case was more sophisticated than that of the high school. When the experiment of using separate male and female sources was done, the sexually satisfied people of each gender still produced different music, but not like that of the high school. Each emphasized love more and sex less. Sex yes, but sexual fulfilment in a stable relationship. Quite a different thing.
The musical phenomena changed the social dynamic of the college, since people were able to understand others in new ways, just by listening to their generated music. But otherwise things went on as before. Following the example of the high school, Friday afternoons had been set aside for work outside of regular classes.
For those days there was an attempt made to place people in classes only by their mutual compatibility, regardless of education level or other status. All students, staff and faculty participated, along with some visitors. Freshmen college students might be in classes with doctoral candidates. Classes might or might not contain a teacher, might or might not contain a staff member, perhaps even a building maintenance staff person. No distinctions were made. Each class was just as compatible as possible.
This worked better in the college than in the high school, though the college had many fewer students.
It was Kelly who suggested a change. “Daddy. About Fridays. I have one at the high-school. You have one at the college. But we share nothing. I’d like to spend some time with your college people. Couldn’t we spend dinner together. Maybe arrange entertainment for those who don’t have other plans.”
All Drake had to do to get a consensus of opinion on this was mention it to a few people. Ideas flew back and forth in the rich interpersonal communications environment of the college. When the consensus seemed to be in favour of the idea, all he had to do to make it happen was to mention the need for volunteer help.
It was easy to arrange for communal dinners, to which visitors could be invited. As for entertainment, New York was full of it, some expensive, some cheap, some free. Dinner would be casual, without any educational focus, just people getting together. Before or after it, many couples sought recreation in their rooms, but in the evenings most people did go out in small groups, enjoying each others company.
“Thank you, Daddy. This is just what I wanted. It is wonderful to be spending time with the people from the college, people I like.”
Kelly did not yet have a boyfriend, being only 12 and restrained by her two strong minded parents. Drake and Sally both worried about whom she might meet at these events, but no problems arose. Not yet. They’d keep an eye on her.
The high-school had 4200 people to the colleges original 800, now swollen to 1327, by counting the graduate institute. Relatively few students from the school came to dinner and went out for entertainment in the evenings, but that still meant a few hundred did so. Though nobody at the school was a slacker, the Friday participants were usually the best students, academically or socially or both. Their contributions were appreciated and they had fun, too.
As the year wore on, it established a precedent for other years, which would be like this in many ways, despite a few other social innovations.
In May, the two young women Ken Green had sent to Drake, Daria and Elena, both graduated with bachelors degrees at the college’s fourth graduation ceremony. Hasim Andya defended his dissertation successfully and received his doctorate from the NYU vice-president on the podium with Drake and other senior faculty members.
Like his friend Latar Sendra, Hasim asked for a position on the faculty. The college was expanding. There was room for him. Connected so well himself, having him remain in the college was desirable, so his request was granted. This would establish a pattern. Many people with doctorates from the graduate institute, via NYU, would be taken on as faculty members. It was a bit incestuous, perhaps. Nobody cared. Not yet.
After a summer of miscellaneous activities reminiscent of the amazing Social Tech High summer school but not as intense, the college resumed in the fall. By this time NYU had received two years worth of large donations and extra faculty because of its association with the graduate institute. This would be the third. Drake worried that they might become addicted to this and not want it to end. He said so the Ken Green.
“Mr. Green. Ken. You’ve done so much for us, I hate to ask for more.”
“I’m glad you called, Dr. Phillips, Drake, if I may. I was beginning to think it might be time for me to interfere. If you ask me to, all the better. So, how can I help?”
“I think NYU might be too comfortable with our current arrangements. What do you think?”
“Well, that is not the only issue, but it’s something I’ve thought about.”
“Oh. Is something else on your mind, Ken?”
“Yes, but let’s deal with NYU, first. I’m afraid this is going to cost me a lot of money, but let’s face it, what doesn’t cost me a lot of money? I am used to it by now. Besides, you have some of my kids on your side. There’s a lot of interest in education among them, and several are linked into the school or college. Of course I will support you. We should go and see Dr. Henderson together. With Sarah, too, I think. And let’s add the president of Green U as well, Mary Charles. I think you’ve met.”
“Yes. An impressive woman. Alright, let’s plan on that. I’m curious about the other issue you mentioned. Is something troubling you?”
“Ah yes. That. I’ve been thinking about my children, as always. There are several of their mothers in your college now. I was pleased to see that Daria and Elena graduated in June. Good girls, both. I take it that Daria wants to go on to grad-school with you, but Elena wants to teach somewhere at the elementary school level.”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“Their children are the oldest of the ones associated with the college, but I do have other children in New York as well. I’d like a school for them. Daria’s sweet little Amara and Elena’s handsome Nicholai will enter kindergarten a year from now.”
“You are thinking about a school for them.”
“Yes. I’d like you and Sally to help, if you don’t mind. If possible I think it should be called the Social Tech School. I don’t suppose Sally will object the way she didn’t want a college or university with the name, do you?”
“Probably not, no. As long as parents and kids in the school do not suppose that they will automatically get to go to Social Tech High.”
“Let’s leave that open. Yes, they shouldn’t be given those expectations, but we could also expand the high-school to accommodate them.”
“I see. Sally would like that, though of course she is not the principal there anymore. Don’t tell me that you want her to become the principal of this new school.”
“As I understand it Drake, one reason your wife left the high-school when she did was because your daughter Kelly would start attending. She didn’t want any conflict of interest. There might be a conflict of interest with the new school as well, don’t you think?”
“Ah. You mean Kate. Yes, of course. It there is a social tech school she will insist on going to it. I’ve heard her complaining about the lack of one already.”
“Good for her. How busy is Sally?”
“I have her teaching math at the college, but that isn’t full time. Looking after the kids takes most of it.”
“Still, I want her help, if at all possible. I suppose the right thing to do is grow a group of compatible people to work on it. People from your college would be ideal. Education students, due to graduate in the spring, perhaps. They could keep their links to the college, add new ones with other teachers hired for the school, make some connections with people in the high-school as well.”
“I see what you want to happen. You want to create a new school and have it intimately connected with the high-school and college.”
“Yes. And the university. We both know there will be a Social Tech University a year from now.”
“Are you sure? I’ve being doing everything I can to make it happen.”
He did a little more when Ken Green brought Dr. Mary Charles with him and flew to New York. After a strategy session in Sarah’s huge apartment, Drake took them to a meeting with NYU president Peter Henderson.
“Dr. Henderson, may I introduce Mr. Ken Green, Sarah Rivers and Dr. Mary Charles, president of Green University in Vancouver.”
“Yes, of course. Dr. Charles and I have met at a conference. Mr. Green and Ms. Rivers, welcome. I understand you are the major donors to Social Tech High and the Connected College?”
“Yes. And because of the college we donate money to your university, too”, Sarah said. “Money for services rendered, but still nice to have, I think.”
“Thank you both, I’m glad we can be of service. Now, what else do you want, and what else can I get from you?”
Mary Charles answered. “Dr. Henderson, I have some of the best faculty members in the world, and Ken has some of the greenest money in the world, though Canadian money comes in various colours. We can let you borrow our faculty members at no cost to you, and Ken says he is willing to donate money as well, but there must be a Social Tech University. That means Dr. Phillips needs your backing, though it means an end to your special relationship.”
“It also means you get a true competitor, Dr. Henderson”, Drake pointed out, “Though we are small and probably won’t take many students away from you. We usually get international students, drawing on the whole world in order to get the most compatible ones.”
Dr. Henderson thought about it. He respected the views of Mary Charles, who led her university brilliantly, now one of the best institutions in the world.
“OK, I see what you are telling me. And I admit it, I do think Connected College and its graduate institute could form a university, a good one. I will admit thinking they should. You want me to say so publicly? I suppose I can do that. Though I hate to lose what we’ve been getting. But is there an offer on the table here? Surely their must be.”
“We will also be getting a competitor, Dr. Henderson”, Mary Charles said, “and one based in New York City, an attractive location. Not under Ken’s thumb, either. Tech Fantasies has other donors. But we will lobby hard to get the new university accreditation. If you do the same, it will help. I believe Ken will make sure that doing so doesn’t come at loss to you.”
Ken offered Peter Henderson money, as everyone knew he would.
“Not to buy your support. Just to cement our ties. Some exchange of faculty between the three universities. And money enough to ensure you don’t lose anything by helping us. I’ll purchase an annuity in your name, the proceeds matching what you are getting now for helping to supervise and examine grad institute students.”
“I am going to pretend that is not an offer to buy my support. I’m sure it wasn’t. Anyway, I did admit what my views are, there should be a social tech university, so pushing for one is valid. You didn’t threaten to take our arrangement to CUNY instead, as you could have, which I appreciate. So I’ll do what I can. Love your music, by the way.”
It wasn’t going to be quite this simple. It would cost more. Over the next year people from Green U would accompany people from NYU to visit influential educators. More money would have to be spent, donations to favourite charities. But it should work.
Meanwhile, Sally Aston kept up the pretence of not knowing anything about a proposed Social Tech University. If asked, she gave only a grudging admission that she’d been wrong about the college. In private, however, the idea excited her. Could it really be done? Could there be a university based on the ideas of her high-school? A first-class one?
Whether there would be or should be a university, Sally did want there to be a school, Social Tech School, K-12. Maybe even pre-school to 12. If many of its teachers had gone through the high-school or college, all the better.
“I am not a high-school anymore”, she told her husband, “I am a school board. I want to run things from a higher level, with Paul Grey reporting to me, as he did before.”
Dr. Paul Grey had taken over as principal of Social Tech High when Sally left, just over a year ago. She’d enjoyed working with him and wanted to do so again. Would he want to work with her?
Ann Kelly was the president of Tech Fantasies, the parent organization. An old friend, she actually lived next door, with her husband. Ann was invited to a meeting with Paul Grey, Drake also attending.
“Paul, Sally and I want to put another layer between Tech Fantasies and the high-school”, Ann told him. “Something to run an elementary school too, and probably Drake’s college. A social technology school board, more or less. I think Sally wants to run it, but we’ve agreed to offer you the job first. Would you like to work for Sally again, or take the job yourself?”
“No thanks, I do appreciate the offer, but nothing is going to tear me away from my school. I won’t envy you a top management role, Sally. I wouldn’t want it. But I’d be glad to work for you, though. We always worked well in the past.”
“Thanks, Paul. Ann?”
“Alright. I already have a name for the organization and a website, http://www.SocialTechnologyEducation.org/ — including Drake’s college, whether Sally really it wants it there or not.”
Drake had not quite realized the implications of this until just now. Suddenly his college belonged to an organization run by Sally. He now reported to his wife. Who was on record as opposing the creation of a Social Tech University. Had she just undone all his efforts?
Lest it be forgot, Drake and Sally were the most loving of couples, not to mention being perhaps the most sexually satisfied. She was unlikely to walk all over him and his college, which now belonged to her, as well.
Lying back with his head on the pillow after once again exhausting but satisfying for the moment the seemingly insatiable woman with his passion and endurance, Drake pondered the situation. Interesting. Yes, she’d be good for the college for its remaining year. All he had to do was hide the coming transition from her.
Lying back with her head on the pillow and a warm smile on her face, Sally was glad she could now oversee that transition herself.