Brad Campbell became acting president on August 1, 1995, with the departure of Alan Barkley to the Ontario College of Art (where he brought along the idea of putting classrooms on top of a parkade). Campbell stepped into the breach at a crucial time in the Institute’s history. Budget cutbacks were looming, the future of Intermedia was murky, and the front doors threatened dismember- ment on a daily basis. As Brad enteres the twilight of his days a chief-executive, POA requested an interview to sum up his experiences during the year. Have you found the power of chief executive at ECIAD to be corrupt- ing in its impact, or has it made you a kinder, gentler person? | certainly wouldn’t say I’ve found it corrupting, but | don’t know if it’s made me kinder or gentler, either... I’ve always tried to deal with people fairly and equitably. What are you doing to make sure that the initiative to build a decent lounge at ECIAD isn’t lost because of your departure? I'll be crossing over with [new ECIAD president] Dr. Ron Burnett during the month of August, and we'll be talk- ing about a number of ongoing pro- jects that the Institute is involved in. And certainly the lounge will be one of them. I’m sure Dr. Burnett will be keeping in touch with the Lounge taskforce group as the recommenda- tions go forward on that. What other unfinished business will you be passing on to your succes- sor to deal with, and which of these items will probably cause the biggest headaches? This is the first year of any roll-backs in provincial funding since I’ve been here... In one sense we got a bit of a reprieve because it’s an election year. And we're still going to have a tough year in’96 —’97 and will have to make some hard descisions. Those decisions are going to get tougher and tougher, because this is probably the first of many provincial funding cut-backs that we'll be facing in the next three to five years. So just managing the budgets and at the same time making more effecive use of resources while providing the same range. of progams and services to the students, and in fact expanding those if possible, will be the challenge of the next three to five years. How have your feelings about accounting changed since serving as acting president? ...Accounting is really just a means to an end, as far as making sure that you’re doing the things that you do in accordance with the resources that you have. What I’ve always strived to do, no matter what position I’ve been in, is to deal with issues fairly and equitably. My perceptions of accounting haven't really changed since being in this position. Can you describe how the creative environment at ECIAD has affected the development of your personality? When | first came to the college, | hadn’t really been exposed to an environment like that of Emily Carr, and as such, it really opened my eyes to trying to understand the way that our student population in general looks at things... It’s made me appreciate and try to under- stand looking whatever problem or task you’re dealing with in a dif- ferent way. It’s made me broaden the perspectives | bring to any ana- lytical problem solving. So would you say that now you're more of a lateral thinker? | hope so... When I first came here | generally had the view that | had the solution to a particular problem without really considering a number of the other alternatives or possibilities; | was too quick to jump to the solution or the conclusion. May-June 1996 / Planet of the Arts 7 Brad's Final Inning Are you any closer to practicing art since heading up an art school? On that one | would have to say no. [laughs] What are a couple of your best and worst memories of adminis- tration/student relations during your dozen years at ECIAD? My best memories are every year at graduation. | really enjoy the cer- emony and celebration, and the number of students that I’ve seen going through the Institution throughout the years. As to some of the toughest times... Ill never forget back in 1993 when we made a decision over the summer to close the school at midnight, which caused students to occupy the buildings on a 24 hour basis [when school began]. That sent us a clear message that the Administration must consult the students as much as possible before making decisions that significantly impact students’ lives here. That was a very important message that | took, and | think that’s a very important message that Dr. Burnett should be aware of, in terms of dealing with the community here. What are your suggestions to students in regard to making them more effective in representing their views about the Institute to the Administration? One of the things that I’ve tried to do was to allow students an opportunity for a more direct dialogue with the Administration, through discussions in all-Institute meetings — although | haven’t held as many meetings as I’d hoped to. It’s very very difficult for us to read minds. We have to collectively talk about some of the options that need to be pursued on different issues. Alan Barkley is remembered as “the invisible president” among other things. How do you want your term as President to be remembered by the people at ECIAD? | still don’t think I’m the most visible of people. | hear a lot of people wondering who | am and what I’ve been doing. But | have been try- ing to listen to all sides and all constituencies in my planning, and my door has been open to people who have had input to give. | also think the year has gone reasonably well, and that where there have been difficulties, that | have dealt with them — and | keep using these words — fairly and equitably. So you want to be remembered as the fair and equitable acting president? Firm but Fair. [laughs] Do you love art? [long pause] | guess like everybody, | like what | like. And | do love all forms of art but | have very specific tastes. What | also have come to appreciate, though, are the processes and the type of thinking and the type of work that goes into the making of art. ® Students Jacqueline Davey, Shawn Nygren, and Dave Byun shooting the breeze with Brad photo: Jonathan Lander May-June 1996 / Planet of the Arts 7 Brad's Final Inning Brad Campbell became acting president on August 1, 1995, withthe departure of Alan Barkley tothe Ontario College of Art (where he Brought along the idea of putting classrooms on top of a parade) ‘Campbell stepped into the breach at a crucial time inthe Insitute’ history. Budget cutbacks were looming, the future of Intermedia was murky, and the front doors threatened dismember. ment on a daly basis. ‘As Brad enteres the twilight of his days a cie-executiv, POA requested an interview to sum up his experiences during the year. love you found the power of chet cxective at ECIAD fo be corrupt Paperairiean voce you a Kinder, getlr person? (cry wouldve loin ‘comtuptng, but don’ know if is rade pe de or celia I've always tried to deal with people tty ap equa What are you doing to make sure that the initiative to build a decent lounge at ECIAD isn't lost because ‘of your departure? 11 be crossing over with [new ECIAD president] Dr. Ron Burnett during the month of August, and we'll be talk ing about a number of ongoing pro- jects thatthe Institute is involved in. ‘And certainly the lounge willbe one fof them. I'm sure Dr. Burnett will be keeping in touch with the Lounge taskforce group as the recommenda tions go forward on that. ‘What other unfinished business will you be passing on to your succes- sor to deal with, and which of these items will probably cause the biggest headaches? ‘This isthe frst year of any roll-backs in provincial funding since I've been. here. In one sense we got abit of a reprieve because it’s an election year. And we're still going to have a tough year in'96 ~'97 and will have to make some hard descsions. Those decisions are going to get tougher and tougher, because ths is probably the fist of many provincial funding cut-backs that we'll be facing in the next three to five years. So just managing the budgets and at the same time making more effecive use of resources while providing the same range of progams and services to the students, and in fact expanding those if possible, will be the challenge of the next three to five years. How have your feelings about accounting changed since serving as acting president? ‘Accounting is really just a means to an end, as far as making sure that you're doing the things that you do in accordance with the resources that you have. What I've always strived to do, no matter ‘what position I've been in, isto deal with issues fairly and equitably. My perceptions of accounting haven't really changed since being in this position Can you describe how the creative environment at ECIAD has affected the development of your personality? When I first came to the college, I hadn't really been exposed to an environment like that of Emily Care, and as such, it really opened my eyes to trying to understand the way that our student population in {general looks at things. Its made me appreciate and try to under- stand looking whatever problem or task you're dealing with in a dif ferent way. Its made me broaden the perspectives | bring to any ana- Iytical problem solving So would you say that now you're more of a lateral thinker? | hope so... When I first came here | generally had the view that | had the solution to a particular problem without really considering ‘number ofthe other alternatives or possibilities; I was too quick to jump to the solution or the conclusion. ‘Are you any closer to practicing art since heading up an. art school? (On that one | would have to say no. laughs} ‘What are a couple of your best and worst memories of adminis- tration/student relations during your dozen years at ECIAD? My best memories are every yeat at graduation. | really enjoy the cer- emony and celebration, and the number of students that I've seen ‘going through the Institution throughout the years. {sto some of the toughest times... never forget back in 1993 ‘when we made a decision over the summer to close the school at midnight, which caused students to occupy the buildings on a 24 enters eget Day ‘shooting th breze with Brod hhour bass [when school began]. That sent us a clear message that the Administration must consult the students as much as possible before making decisions that significantly impact students’ ives her. That was a very important message that | took, and I think that’s a ‘very important message that Dr. Burnett should be aware of, in terms of dealing with the community here, What are your suggestions to students in regard to making them ‘more effective in representing their views about the Institute to the Administration? (One of the things that I've tied to do was to allow students an ‘opportunity for a more direct dialogue with the Administration, through discussions in all- Institute meetings — although I haven't held as many meetings as 'd hoped to. Is very very difficult for us to read ‘minds. We have to collectively tak about some of the options that need to be pursued on different issues. Alan Barkley is remembered as “the invisible president” among ‘other things. How do you want your term as President to be remembered by the people at ECIAD? | stil don’t think I'm the most visible of people. | hear a lot of people wondering who I am and what I've been doing. But | have been try- ing to listen to all sides and all constituencies in my planning, and my door has been open to people who have had input to give. | also think the year has gone reasonably well, and that where there have ‘been difficulties, that | have dealt with them — and I keep using these words — fairly and equitably. So you want to be remembered as the fair and equitable acting president? Firm but Fair. laughs} Do you love art? {long pause] ! guess like everybody, I ike what I like. And I do love all forms of art but | have very specific tastes: What also have come to appreciate, though, are the processes and the type of thinking and, the type of work that goes into the making of art.