VIII PLANET OF THE ARTS VOL 5 ISSUE 4 Emily Carr, in its attempt to maintain instructional diversity, maintains a policy by which a certain number of instructors are hired on a tempo- rary basis. This policy presumably allows both the college and the students a trial period by which they can evaluate new Staff members, as well as providing students with a diversity of ideas which is, perhaps, impossible to maintain within a staff of solely permanent instructors. Unfortunately the manifestations of this policy include the dismissal of several instructors who have been extremely innovative in the curricu- lum they have formulated and the instruction which they provide. According to the contractual agreement, these instructors cannot re-apply for their own jobs, and, in certain cases, no one will be hired to replace them. The implications are self-evident. The following are letters-from photography students regarding the impending loss of instructors Sandra Semchuk and Chris Czartoryski, the latter of whom has been at the college for nine years. Copies of these letters were sent to both Alan Barkley, and Maurice Yacowar (Dean of of Academic Affairs) . As this is an issue which ultimately affects the entire student body, | urge you, within your own faculties, to voice your objection to this method of hiring. Wendy Rogers It would be unfortunate indeed if we were to lose some of our best instructors due to problems with bureaucratic details. Chris Czartoryski, Sandra Semchuk, and Sara Diamond are all in tenuous situations regarding their contract renewals for next year. All three individuals are exceptional instructors with their particular areas of con- cern. They offer students both emotional and intellectual encouragement as well as providing constructive critical response to students’ work. I sincerely hope that other students in the fol- lowing years will be able to benefit from their excellent instruction as I have for the past three years. “Thank you!” Jin-Me Yoon A Graduating Student March 23,1990 Dear Sir: It has come to my attention that it is the administration’s intention not to reinstate two temporary instructors in the department of photog- raphy. I wish at this time to voice my concerns over the imminent loss of Sandra Semchuk and Chris Czartoryski. The presence of these two individu- als is inherent to the educational diversification within the department of photography. This diver- sity is imperative in maintaining the educational standards of this College. With the attainment of Emily Carr’s arrangement with the Open Learning University, a broadening of art education at this institution is viable. The possible accreditation of certain academic, as opposed to studio-based courses, seems pending. It is imperative that the instructors of such courses be familiar with the intellectual needs specific to those whose ultimate concern is artistic rather than academic. As Chris Czarto- ryski has already proven that he can address these concerns, it seems unfair to dismiss him merely as a result of bureaucratic guide-lines. Sandra Semchuk is an internationally recognized woman artist in a College where the relative ratio of female to male instructors is low. Her artis- tic concerns differ from other faculty members in such a way that her critique of students work offers distinctive insights; insights which, as a female student in need of diverse role-models, are extremely important to my creative development. There are many factors involved in the art of teaching art. It seems shortsighted to replace two proven individuals with instructors whose interactive ability in this environment has yet to be determined. One of the advantages of attending a small insti- tution is the tendency toward intimacy which is allowed to develop between students, faculty and administration. This intimacy enables us to make intelligent decisions which benefit individuals rather than impersonal arrangements which simply fulfil bureaucratic guide-lines. We must not at- tempt to dehumanize this decision making process. Forgetting the individual to profit the corpora- tion is a weakening of the very function of this institution which, presumably, is education. Education cannot operate without guide-lines, but its quality will suffer if it is patterned after a large corporation who profits at the expense of its employees. The little guy in this situation is the student. The very person whom this college was designed to serve. In my experience, the one consistency in the teaching of how to make aris the belief that its roots are in the soul; that art must be human. If Emily Carr is to succeed in its function of educating artists, this humanity cannot end at the Administration’s door. Sincerely, Wendy Rogers (2nd Year photo) March 28,1989 fWe are second year students in the photography department and we are concerned about the imminent termination of the positions of Chris Czartoryski and Sandra Semchuk. We understand that the roles these teachers were hired to perform were of a temporary nature, but we feel that their contribu- tions to the photography department have been invaluable. Therefore, we feel that they should be hired as permanent staff. if these instructors are let go, this school will Ibe losing two people who have given so much of their time and energy to the students of Emily Carr. Their unrelenting support and encouragement are reasons why we go to a school such as this. Their enthusiasm and ideas are uniquely their own and we feel that nobody could do as equally an outstanding job as Chris and Sandra. at we don’t understand is why cut off such xcellent instructors? How often does a school eceive innovative and active contributors? Chris as been an integral part of the system to the Why replace a teacher just for the sake of doing so? It would seem that part of the eason for offering temporary positions is to pro- ide a testing ground for new instructors. When wo such as these prove themselves so outstand- ingly they should be shown respect, not the door. e ask that this respect be manifest in Chris zartoryski and Sandra Semchuk being granted ermanent positions in the teaching faculty of mily Carr. Yours Truly, Cameron Eldred Grace Tsurumaru March 26,1990 Dear Sir: We find your decision to terminate the positions of Chris Czartoryski and Sandra Semchuk to be a very poor one. In a poll filled out by all Elec- tronic Communication Design students on their opinions of each of their courses, Chris’ photog- raphy course was, by far, considered to be the most informative, interesting and educational compared to the rest of the program: To terminate Chris would definitely deteriorate the quality of an already confusing and unorganized Electronic Communication Design program, and would be a factor on the quality of the program for all ECD students in the future. We hope you take our opinion into consideration and keep Chris and Sandra on the staff. Sincerely, Philip Tse Carmen Lee March 26, 1990 This is in response to the possible loss of photography instructors Sandra Semchuk and Chris Czartoryski, due to the termination on their contracts. I regard both of these instructors as very valu- able to the department. They are very different in both their style and approach, and their skills, in addition to those of other photography instructors, offer to students the diversity needed in an educational setting. Both Sandra and Chris put in full time effort and dedication. I was introduced to photography and ECCAD by Sandra and Chris through the part-time program. They influenced my decision to become a full-time student and I entered the program looking forward to working with them both all the way through fourth year. I am quite displeased at their possible loss, and of the courses they have created. I regard these instructors as an irreplaceable resource. I wish that the administration would take the views of students into account before making a decision in this regard. LAURA BUCCI March 26, 1989 A short note to show my deep concern after hearing about the termination of some of the long standing temporary faculty. I understand that Chris Czartoryski has been on the faculty for some nine years and has developed some of the courses which I’m taking or will take in the future. Chris has taught me so much, is easily approachable and is always there for you. He is such an asset to the school and my depart- ment and has put so much into it that it would be unjust and unfair to both him and us to loose him. I have also heard that other temporary faculty are up for termination in other areas which have put just as much effort into the development of courses that make our school so unique. I would ask you to reconsider such termination as to the irreversible damage it would do to this school and the faculty involved. Yours Truly, John Johnson March 28, 1989 It would seem that bureaucratic structures are in place to ensure smooth movement of a corporate entity comprised of numerous, sometimes disparate, parts. This body is moved in accordance with guide-lines set originally - one would hope - with the health of the organism in mind. This overall well-being is determined by the vigour of the constituent parts. The health of the whole is directly linked to the strength of its parts. When guide-lines become inflexible directives, the needs of specific areas may fall into neglect. There must exist some degree of elasticity within the system to allow for growth of individual elements such that they might better serve the larger body. Lorne Bridgman VIIL PLANET OF THE ARTS VOL 6 ISSUE 4 Emily Carr, in its attempt to maintain instructional diversity, maintains a policy by which a certain number of instructors are hired on a tempo- rary basis. This policy presumably allows both the college and the students a trial period by which they can evaluate new staff members, as. well as provi 9g students with a diversity of ideas which is, perhaps, impossible to maintain within a staff of solely permanent instructors, Unfortunately the manifestations of this policy include the dismissal of several instructors who have been extremely innovative in the curricu- lum they have formulated and the instruction which they provide. According to the contractual agreement, these instructors cannot re-apply for their own jobs, and, in certain cases, no one will be hired to replace them. The implications are self-evident. ‘The following are letters from photography students regarding the impending loss of instructors Sandra Semchuk and Chris Czartoryski, the latter of whom has been at the college for nine years. Copies of these letters were sent to both Alan Barkley, and Maurice Yacowar (Dean of of Academic Affairs) As this is an issue which ultimately affects the entire student body, | urge you, within your own faculties, to voice your objection to this method of hiring, Wendy Rogers THE (FIRING) Te would be unfortunate indeed if we were to lose sone of our best instructors due to problems with instruetore with their partioular corn. They offer students both emotional and Gneeiiectuar encouragement as well ae providing constructive critical response to students’ work. Tsincerely hope that other students in the fol~ lowing years will be able to benefit. from their fexcelient instruction as I have for the past thred yours. 2 Graduating student | March 23,1990 zt nas cone to my attention that it is the Jadninistration’s intention not to reinstate two ltesporary instructors in the departaant of photog- leaphy. wish at this Cine to voice my concerns lover the imainent loes of Sandca Senchuk and Chess lcrartoryeki. ‘The presence of these two individi- Jats is inherent to the educational diversification within the department of photography. This diver laity is imperative in maintaining the educational Jetanaarde of this College. Open Learning University, lare education at this institution lpossible accreditation of certain academic, as lopposed to studio-based courses, seems pending. Iie {s imperative chat the instructors of such ‘be familiar with the intellectsal needs lspecific to those whose ultimate concern se laretaeic rather than academic. As Chis Cearto- say Proven that he can address these] Jsoncerns, ‘unfair to dismiss him merely as Ja result of bureaucratic guide-lines. lSandra senchuk 1s an internationally recognized Jwoman artist in a College where the relative ratio lof female to male instructors is lov. Her artie leie concerns aifter from other faculty manbers io Jouch a way that hor critique of students work lofters distinctive insights; insights which, ae a female student in need of diverse role-nodels, are Jextrenely inportant to my creative development ltiere are many factors involved in the art of leeaching art. It seens shortsighted to replace lewo proven individuals with instructors whore interactive absisey in thie jbo determined rovironment hae yet to| “neinacy which te Hlowed to develop between students, Vdninistration leather that, impersonal azrangenents vbich simply fulfil bureaucratic guide-liner. We mist not at- leompt to dehumanize this decision making process. lporgetting the individual to profit the corpora leion is « weakening of the very function of this [institution which, presumably,