[jerrya]

Apparently, Oberlin's President sent out the following email which states their insurance will pay

> Dear Obies,

> Today, Oberlin College and Conservatory initiated payment in full of the $36.59 million judgment in the Gibson’s Bakery case, an amount that represents the awarded damages and interest owed. Please see the college’s public statement below.

> While this outcome is a disappointment, our financial plans for this possibility, which included insurance coverage, mean that this payment will not impact or diminish our academic or student life experience, or require us to draw down Oberlin’s endowment.

> Like me, the majority of the campus was not here at the beginning of this matter in 2016. But it is also true that this case has been difficult for all of us who love this institution and its hometown. I am looking forward to all that is ahead, and remain focused on Oberlin’s core mission of providing a truly excellent liberal arts and musical education.

> Carmen Twillie Ambar > President

[RhysU]

> Like me, the majority of the campus was not here at the beginning of this matter in 2016.

The buck stops with my predecessor. Delightful executive engineering of the slimiest sort. One gets paid to own the past at that level. Accepting the job requires due diligence on the past and being paid to own any uncertainty. That is one disgustingly cowardly sentence meriting immediate action by the board to throw this bum out.

Notice, I don't care about the outcome but only the integrity that such an exec should show.

[etempleton]

It is a poor public statement but the leader also probably needs to distance themselves from it in this official letter for the very reason of this discussion. They use some phrases that are particularly poor. Really their PR team and crisis communication team should do better, but I have seen worse.

“I was not here. The reason I am here has something to do with what happened.”

I would guess most of Oberlin’s leadership from the time of the incident has moved in. At least those who would be seen as culpable, fair or not.

Edit: yes, basically all new leadership since the incident: https://www.oberlin.edu/president. It may seem like they are distancing themselves, but, well, they are distant from it. They have probably spent their time at Oberlin cleaning up other people’s messes and are fairly exhausted by it. Not an excuse, but you can imagine it has lingered over their tenure.

[heartbreak]

Can I ask why you’re so upset about something that apparently does not involve you at all?

[JumpCrisscross]

> Can I ask why you’re so upset about something that apparently does not involve you at all?

We’re in the same society, this is bad precedent, and I’d prefer for it not to happen where I am.

[josephcsible]

Isn't this basically the same as asking "why do you care about people other than yourself?"

[theflyingelvis]

Some folks have standards and principles.

[eganp]

I'm surprised the insurance will pay for this. The judgment, and actions by Oberlin's administration, strongly suggest they were acting in bad faith. The college's behavior exceed negligence, the typical threshold in these sort of insurance contracts.

Pretty incredible Oberlin can get out of this considering what other insurers will do to avoid paying for incidents with cause.

[Kadin]

> I'm surprised the insurance will pay for this.

Yeah I'm a bit surprised by that, too. The negotiations with their insurer must have been really something. Only thing I can imagine is that they cut some sort of deal that makes it worth the insurance company not trying to fight with them over it. Maybe they have to basically pay it back over time with interest..?

[etempleton]

My guess is Oberlin pays them a whole lot of money every year. And will pay increased premiums moving forward. For the insurance company it may be a no brainer to keep their business. It will pay for itself in 5-10 years.

[SilasX]

Yeah, I was wondering about that. I would expect that, at a minimum, the insurer would raise Oberlin’s rates and/or required them to make changes in policy.

[crackercrews]

I wonder if their insurance premiums have gone up though.