The Big Lie is that Emily Carr is a creative
institution of students and teachers working
toward the shared goal of enhancing and
enriching the arts scene in British Columbia.
The truth is that Emily Carr is run more like a
business for the enhancement and enrichment
of the personal and political goals of its
administrators.

In the case of student fees, this year we all
received a surprise in the mail (in the form of
a royal decree) that a further $50.00 would be
sucked from our wallets. This was politely
termed a “studio fee”. The stated rationale
was that since certain courses already had
fees associated with them, things would be
‘fairer’ if this extra expense were evened out
over the whole student body. However, there
are really very few courses that have extra
fees associated with them to begin with, the
fifty dollar lab fee in Photography and
Animation being the only ones | am aware of.
Spread out over the whole student body the
sharing of this expense would come closer to
an extra five dollars for everyone, not fifty.
Why not just tell us that tuition is going to be
raised? Why the deceit and effort to hide
behind “materials costs”?

Further, a long-standing practice by the
Interdisciplinary and 3D departments, of
reimbursing their students for unusual costs,
has been eliminated. Students were allowed
a certain amount of money per credit that
could be refunded (with proper receipts)

planet of the arts

/

the BIG lie

when they had to buy something not usually
provided. The rationale for the elimination of
this system is the sudden existence of the
school store, where we are supposed to
derive a similar benefit from buying all our
materials at cut rate. The store however is
still in its infancy and sadly lacking in many
things. The theoretical ‘cut rates’ have yet to
be proven. The end result is that the students
get screwed for a while in order that the school
can save a little cash. Could this new policy
have not been phased in over a period of
years rather than just sprung like a trap?
Could not the students and staff have been
consulted in some way before the edict was
announced?

If the people in charge had come to ask, or
bothered to look for the receipts from the
abandoned system, they would have seen
that the money in question does not go toward
the usual, general school supplies that the
school store is likely to carry; what it is spent
on is specialized hardware, rare materials
and hard-to-find items that are unusual costs,
now to be borne by the student.

Why the deceit? Why the feeble attempts
to bury what are basically dictatorial decisions
in democratic jargon? There is either a
meaningful dialogue between administration
and students or there is not.

The motivation behind many of these
situations is simply financial. The school has
been in the enviable position of having money
in the bank the past few years, and this surplus

vol 3 nol

had been used to fund such programs as
student reimbursement. Now, the money has
run out and the program has been cut, simple
as that. The $50.00 studio fee thrown at us
this semester is in reality just a quick, if
underhanded, way of getting cash for this
semester. To get a tuition increase through
the proper channels would require the
approval of the Board of Directors and
alteration of catalogues and calendars that
have already been printed.

Since as students we are not privy to much
that goes on in the administration, its anyone’s
guess as to how the financial picture got so
bad in such a short time that measures such
as the “studio fee” were deemed necessary.
You would think that someone in the
administration might have seen it. coming,
especially since the financial pressure put on
this institution by the Social Credit party has
been apparent for some time.

We can probably expect a “real” tuition
increase next year once all the proper parties
have been notified (students last), and
perhaps another the year after that. Art School
— at least in the eyes of the administrators
and politicians — is a business, and
businesses cannot be allowed to have a
deficit.

Forget about Art: This school is about the
balance sheet, and forget about fairness and
co-operation, because the administration
does not care.

Jeremy Bee

vera PROFILE traff

There was a time when V.S.A. stood for “Vera’s School of Art”. Though
the school has since changed both its initials and its location, the fact
that Vera is an integral element of the place has not. Her intimate and
long term relationship with E.C.C.A.D. make her a perfect subject for the
Planet’s monthly Profile, so here, in her own humble words, is Vera
Traff.

“Born and raised in Vancouver and started work for the art college (when it
was the Vancouver School of Art) in March 1969. Since then, of course, have
seen many students, instructors, models, staff, regular people, off-the-wall
people, walk in and out the doors of the art college. Some things have changed
over the years, some have become better, some worse and some remain the
same old thing. My role at the College is what I call a glorified go-fer which does
have its moments of ups and downs and arounds and miscellaneous. Lots of
miscellaneous. Currently, | work in the Foundation Department, but can be
found: in the front office helping out when relief is needed; in the Machine
Room where copy machines and postage machines are; in the hallways going to
or going from; in my closet office getting bodies for your instructors’ model re-
quests; doing stuff for Foundation peoples, and other related duties that com-
prise miscellaneous.

Yes, I guess I have seen a lot of art work (or work trying to be art). Yes, I have
been here a bloody long time. Yes, I enjoy the students and have proof that each
new batch of first year Foundation students are different than the previous
batch. Yes, I love cats. And this is all I will write.”

A

fredrich peter
‘The Big Lies that Emily Carris a creative
institution of students and teachers working
toward the shared goal of enhancing and
enriching the arts scene in British Columbia,
‘The truth is that Emily Carri run more like a
‘business forthe enhancement and enrichment
‘ofthe personal and politcal goals of its
administrators

Inthe case of student fees, this year we all
received a surprise in the mail (in the form of
a royal decree) that a further $50.00 would be
sucked from our wallets. This was politely
‘termed a “studio fee". The stated rationale
‘was that since certain courses already had
fees associated with them, things would be
“fairer if this extra expense were evened out
‘ver the whole student body. However, there
are really very few courses that have extra
fees associated with them to begin with, the
fly dolar lab fee in Photography and
‘Animation being the only ones | am aware of.
‘Spread out over the whole student body the
sharing ofthis expense would come closer to
‘an exra five dollars for everyone, not fy
‘Why not just tellus that tuition is going to be
raised? Why the deceit and effort to hide
‘behind "materials costs"?

Further, a long-standing practice by the
Interdiscipinary and 30 departments, of
reimbursing their students for unusual costs,
has been eliminated. Students were alowed
a certain amount of money per credit that
Could be refunded (with proper receipts)

planet of the

‘There was a time when V.S.A. stood for “Ver:

; the BIG lie
DA

‘when they had to buy something not usually.
provided. The rationale forthe elimination of
this system is the sudden existence of the
school store, where we are supposed to
derive a similar benefit rom buying all our
‘materials at cut rate. The store however is.
stints infancy and sadly lacking in many
things. The theoretical ‘cut rates’ have yet to
be proven. The end results thatthe students
get screwed fora while in order thatthe school
can save allitie cash. Could this new policy
hhave not been phased in over a period of
years rather than just sprung ikea trap?
Could not the students and staff have been
Consulted in some way before the edict was
‘announced?

the people in charge had come to ask, oF
bothered to look forthe receipts from the
‘abandoned system, they would have seen
that the money in question does not go toward
the usual, general school supplies that the
‘school store is likely to carry; whatit/s spent
‘ons specialized hardware, rare materials
and hard-to-find items that are unusual costs,
‘now to be borne by the student.

‘Why the deceit? Why the feeble attempts
to bury what are basically dictatorial decisions
Jn democratic argon? There is ether a
‘meaningful dialogue between administration
‘and students or there isnot.

‘The motivation behind many of these
situations is simply financial. The school has
'been in the enviable position of having money
in the bank the past few years, and this surplus

vera PROFILE

arts vol

3

traff

i

had been used to fund such programs as.
student reimbursement, Now, the money has
‘un out and the program has been cut, simple
1a that. The $50.00 studio fee thrown at us
this semester isin realty just a quick, if
Underhanded, way of getting cash for this
semester. To get a tuition increase through
the proper channels would require the
approval ofthe Board of Directors and
alteration of catalogues and calendars that
have already been printed.

‘Since as students we are not privy to much,
that goes on in the administration its anyone's
{ques as to how the financial picture got so
bad in such a short ime that measures such
as the “studio fee" were deemed necessary.
‘You would think that someone in the
administration might have seen it coming,
‘especially since the financial pressure put on
this institution by the Social Credit party has,
‘been apparent for sometime.

‘We can probably expect a “eal” tuition
increase next year once all the proper parties
have been notified (students last), and
Perhaps another the year after that. Art School
—at least in the eyes ofthe administrators
and polticians —is a business, and
businesses cannot be allowed to have a
otic.

Forget about At: This schools about the
balance sheet, and forget about faimess and
co-operation, because the administration
does not care,

Joremy Bee

School of Art”. Though

the school has since changed both its initials and its location, the f
that Vera is an integral element of the place has not. Her intimate and
Jong term relationship with E.C.C.A.D. make her a perfect subject for the
Planet’s monthly Profile, so here, in her own humble words, is Vera

“Born and raised in Vancouver and started work for the art college (when it
was the Vancouver School of Art) in March 1969. Since then, of course, have
seen many students, instructors, models, staff, regular people, off-the-wall
people, walk in and out the doors ofthe art college. Some things have changed
ver the years, some have become better, some worse and some remain the
same old thing. My role at the College is what I eal a glorified go-fer which does
have its moments of ups and downs and arounds and miscellaneous. Lots of
miscellaneous. Currently, I work in the Foundation Department, but can be
found: in the front office helping out when relief is needed; in the Machine
Room where copy machines and postage machines are: in the hallways going to
or going from; in my closet office getting bodies for your instructors’ model re-
quests; doing stuff for Foundation peoples, and other related duties that com-
prise miscellaneous.

Yes, I guess Ihave seen alot of art work (or work trying to be art). Yes, Ihave
been here a bloody long time. Yes, Lenjoy the students and have proof that each
new batch of first year Foundation students are different than the previous
batch. Yes, Hove eats. And this is all [will write.”

A

fredrich peter