<p>The issue of Swarthmore's tradition of decision-making by consensus on the Board of Managers was raised in another thread as it related to the decision to end intercollegiate football.</p>
<p>I thought some might be interested in the following analysis by an alumni task force in 2003.</p>
<p>The report details the traditional consensus style of governance derived from the Quaker principles of "the sense of the meeting". It also details several key decisions in the college's history that challanged that tradition, including the decisions to accept military student programs on campus during WWII, the decisions related to the construction of the Blue Route (I-476) through the campus, the decision to divest endowment holdings in S. African businesses, and the decision to eliminate the intercollegiate football program. It's an interesting read and provides some insight into what makes Swarthmore tick. </p>
<p>My own personal view is that the Swarthmore Board could have discussed the football issue for another 100 years and never reached a concensus, especially when the Board member leading the minority opinion had served as President of the National Football League. In fact, the history books show a lack of Board consensus on the issue of intercollegiate football at Swarthmore dating back to the early 1900's.</p>