save chatham

Chatham University issues cease and desist to Independent Alumni Association

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On Monday, June 9, 2014, a law firm representing Chatham University issued a cease and desist letter to the Chatham College Independent Alumnae Association (CIAA), requesting that they stop using the name “Chatham” in the title of their organization.

The organization, formerly known as “Save Chatham,” began as a movement against the University’s proposed shift to coed.

In the letter, attorney Christiane Campbell of Duane Morris Law Firm said that “the University’s Board is concerned with the CIAA’s use of ‘Chatham’ as part of the name for an organization that is raising funds contrary to Chatham’s mission and interests.”

The letter, which explained Chatham University’s ownership of the name and trademark “CHATHAM,” also requested that the CIAA respond with written agreement to the terms no later than June 20, 2014.

Two days after the initial contact, another email was sent to the organization from Jennifer Potter, the chair of the Chatham University Board of Trustees, explaining the rationale behind the decision to issue the cease and desist letter. “While it is the right of all to associate freely for whatever purpose is chosen,” she wrote, “our duty is to prevent any harm that could come to the institution through any illegitimate use of our name.”

Alexa New, Sarah Stulga, Rachel Lunsford and Kelly McKown–the four organizers of the CIAA to whom the letters sent–chose to suspend activity on the organization’s website for a short time, while they met with legal counsel regarding the matter. They did, however, stress the fact that, contrary to the arguments in the cease and desist letter, the CIAA never made any fundraising efforts.

On June 20, 2014, Nicholas Roumel of Nacht Law, the legal council for the CIAA, responded to the cease and desist letter. His letter stated that the CIAA had a legal right to use the name “Chatham” in their title.

Furthermore he stated that, “your concern is that there is a likelihood of confusion, and/or that third parties will mistakenly believe there to be some ‘sponsorship, affiliation, or connection’ between your client and mine. This argument is misplaced…the CIAA is stressing its independence, [therefore] there can be no such confusion.”

Despite this assertion, the CIAA made the decision, on June 28, 2014 to fully disassociate with the ‘Chatham’ name. “It is you that has pursued us,” they stated in their final correspondence with the university. “You have threatened legal action not once, but twice. You threw us off campus and threatened us with arrest when we were protesting peacefully. Then when we exercised our First Amendment Rights to accurately identify our group, you threatened to sue us…so take the family name. Chatham, as both an institution and a brand, no longer holds real value. Your daughters are breaking ties.”

The CIAA has since reorganized as the Filiae Nostrae Society. According to their website, the name was taken from Psalm 144:12, “That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.”

This quote was chosen because it is “well-cited one in the history of women’s education” the group explains on their website. The website further says that the new organization is dedicated to “honor[ing] and preserv[ing] the spirit of women’s education.”

“Save Chatham” group organizes protest

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An unusual sight greeted Chatham University students on Wednesday, April 23, as a group of about 15 Chatham students and alumnae protested, in continued efforts to halt Chatham’s possible coed future.

Cars honked at the group, which stood on 5th Avenue at the bottom of Woodland Road after being kicked off of campus by the administration.

Armed with signs and banners showing support for the women’s college, the participants showed clear dedication to their cause, despite the unseasonably cold weather.

The protest was organized through the “Save Chatham” Facebook page, which had over 1000 members within a day of the coed announcement being made, and currently has over 2000”, explained Kelly McKown, Class of 2002. ‘The ultimate goal of the page is to protect the [Chatham] college for women forever, but the reason we are out here today is to [convince the board members to] delay the vote for at least a year.”

She, and the rest of the protesters, want the board to work with them to look at financial options, think about the impact that going coed could have on the University, and put in the work that they “haven’t put in so far.” “The alumnae have been the backbone of this institution,” said McKown, “and to dismiss them and kick them off of campus shows a huge lack of respect.”

The administration, according to Christina Griffin, Class of 2007, told them to leave because the school was “private property” and they did not want protestors. They were told that they could protest on May 1st (the day of the vote), but Griffin did not feel that they could organize another protest in such a short time span.

Despite the setback, the protesters were still determined, and when asked why she felt so passionate about the topic, Jessica McMeyer, Class of 2000, said, “coming to Chatham gave me gifts far beyond an education. It normalized women in positions of leadership.” She then went on to explain that she drove here from Chicago with her father–who originally did not even want her to go to Chatham–in order to attend the protest.

In addition to Chicago, there were also protestors from Atlanta and Kentucky, as well as local alumnae, and current students.

The was also a wide age range among the group, which Nancy Chubb, Class of 1973, joked about. According to her, if Chatham went coed, the world would be loosing something special and unique. “I love Chatham. I love the spirit of Chatham, and I think going coed would destroy its soul,” she said. However, she seemed optimistic about their efforts, saying, “We can turn this around–I know we can–with the right passion and effort.”

Chatham alumna helps found “Save Chatham”

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In 2008, Alexa New graduated from Chatham University. During her stay at Chatham, New was extremely involved, and even served as the student body president for two years. During her two years as president, Chatham chose to make a change that would affect past, present, and future students.

When New was applying to colleges, she applied to Chatham College for Women; however, it was during her term as president that the transfer from a women’s college to the term university occurred.

The possibility of change meant the possibility of losing Chatham’s identity as a women’s college, which was viewed as unacceptable by the student government and student body.  New regarded her position as a student elected official, stating she felt they owed it to all generations of Chatham women to question the transfer.

New commented, “It was an exciting time to be a student, and we were very protective of the undergraduate college.”

Photo Courtesy of Alex New

Photo Courtesy of Alex New

The transition included small changes that could have had a large impact.  New and the other students serving on student government fought to maintain the school’s color as purple, not green, and made sure you could still find, “Chatham Women’s College” clothes in the bookstore. This is what New and her fellow students fought for, plus much more.

However, New looked back to graduation, explaining, “My diploma says I graduated from Chatham University, when I graduated from Chatham Women’s College.” New and other students during the time worked extremely hard to protect Chatham’s image, identity, heritage, and future as they continued to ask questions and think critically about the transition. She said, even back then, once the transition was made, the, “writing was on the wall,” for Chatham University.

She remembered, “We saw that in a few years there would be an announcement of coed plans.  We did everything we could to protect that!”

Just as the students felt, Chatham is now looking at the idea of a coed university, and New, among other alumnae and supporters, are working vigorously to create resources on women’s education and the effects of the transition.

Beside her extensive current and past activism on Chatham’s campus, New has other fond memories of Chatham, as well. She served as an R.A. for three years, and spent a Maymester in Russia in a hospital. Also, New worked a different internship every summer, just to ensure her time at Chatham was well spent.

When she spoke of her favorite moments on-campus, they all revolved around the school’s traditions. Her favorite memories were of Battle of the Classes and Airband. The traditions were part of the identity New lead the student body government in protecting only a few years ago.

Looking back on her years at the school, New stated, “Chatham gave me the opportunity to really flex my leadership and flex my voice.”

Now, New is newly 28 years old, and has a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She is working as the vice-president of advancement of a large health and human services organization in Cleveland, Ohio.

Her job entails managing fundraising, marketing, working with individual and corporate donors, and managing government and foundation grants. While she does not utilize her Biology degree directly, New said it is her scientific background that helps her get through the day: “One of the things the degree has done is identify an end goal.  In sciences, you figure out what the problem is.  It helps you dive in, and ask the right questions!  It helps you determine what steps you need to take. It helps me immensely in my analytical skills and being strategic.”

It wasn’t until her senior year that New realized she wanted to work in a non-profit sector, and attributes part of her success to her advisor during her time at Chatham. Now that New has made it into her non-profit sector, she has a side project that is relevant to all current and previous Chatham students.

New and eight other alumni are responsible for the “Save Chatham” movement which includes students, alumnae, a Facebook, Twitter, a blog, and a whole lot of heart. All the administrators have outside commitments, but New and her fellow alumnae are still working hard to protect and serve the past, present and future generations of Chatham.

After walking down memory lane, New provided some advice for all students attending Chatham. She began by explaining the need to take advantage of the all the on-campus opportunities. She explained, “Chatham is the time you can find your voice and hone in on your leadership skills that will continue to serve you beyond your years at Chatham University.”

Also, New commented on the amazing network of sisters each graduate has in the alumnae association. She urges students to take advantage of the sisterhood at hand, and contact alumnae in the field you want to work. Lastly, New repeatedly stated the importance to question everything and think critically.