DISPATCHES FROM GROUND ZERO OF THE EDUCATION APOCALYPSE: David Gibson on Oberlin College verdict: Kept fighting so his father didn’t “die being labeled as a racist.”

As the extended legal battle dragged on, many asked why I didn’t just quit. Wouldn’t it be easier to close up shop and move on?

What few understand is that this situation not only affected our business; it touched every aspect of our lives.

In the end, the words of my father inspired me to continue the fight. He said, “In my life, I’ve done everything I could to treat all people with dignity and respect. And now, nearing the end of my life, I’m going to die being labeled as a racist.”

There wasn’t enough time, he feared, to set the record straight. His legacy had been tarnished and he felt powerless to stop it. I had to see this case through.

This experience has taught me that reputations are a fragile thing. They take a lifetime to build, but only moments to destroy.

Something Oberlin has discovered in recent weeks. As Steve Hayward wrote in earlier this month, “Will Oberlin Learn Its Lesson? Short answer: No, they won’t.”