Planet of the Arts -Vol 4-No.4-1989. ae a At a recent meeting with the Student Council Executive, President Barkley indicated that he is now reconsidering the matter of increas- ing the hours that the College is open for student use. Details have yet to be finalized, but look for an announcement soon indicat- ing that the College will be open on holidays (like Easter) and that the open hours will be extended by a couple of hours a day on Satur- day and Sunday. The next Board of Directors meeting is Wednesday, February 22, noon, in the Faculty Lounge. For eign Students: There are forty of us in this college now. If we unite as one voice maybe we can be heard and our school fees won't rise to $7,500.00 next semester. If you are a visa student or you are just plain con- cerned, please attend an important meeting Monday February 6th at 4:30 in the Cafeteria. If new Provincial Government regulations are followed no new foreign students will be able to attend the college. Student Society Elections for the positions of President, Vice- President, Treasurer and Secretary for 1989/1990. Nominations: Wed., March 8th. Elections: March 30th and 31st. Canadian Federation of Students referendum will be held same time as the elections. Watch for Posters... MEDIATION Ue Pe: oD Ae TF CE by MARTIN HUNT The dispute between the Adminstration and the Faculty Association, reported in the last issue of the Planet, went to mediation in early January. The two parties agreed on a settlement that had the following features: - charges of racism against a faculty member, the source of the dispute, have been dropped. The faculty member in question will have all references to having been suspended for racist or sexist comments deleted from his record. - the Administration and Faculty have agreed that the faculty member in question did behave in an inappropriate manner. The faculty member agreed to write a letter of apol- ogy to the student involved for not behaving in a professional manner. - the one month suspension without pay that had been imposed on the faculty member was reduced to a two week suspension with pay. The faculty member is to be paid half of the salary that was held back immediately, and the other half will be paid in a year, pending the faculty member’s continued good behav- ior. - the Administration agreed to enter into negotiations with the Faculty Association to set up a mechanism so that this kind of dis- agreement does not happen again. The Faculty seems satisfied with the out- come, both with the reinstatement of the repu- tation of one of their members and with the agreement to set up some kind of in-college group to decide such issues. Througout the proceedings the Faculty Association strongly questioned the fact that the Dean’s Commit- tee, which used to decide such matters, had never been consulted. According to sources within the Faculty (no-one in the Administration would comment on the matter), the mediation process cost the College community about $2,400, to be split between the Faculty Association, the College Administration and the provincial govern- ment.@ FROM THE DESK OF ALAN BARKLEY a DOONESBUR “al Y WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU, MR. ct gu MR. PRESIDENT, I BRING YOU AWESOME _ § NEWS! SPACED QUT by RUSSEL BATEMAN The author regrets that he could not add an erotic slant to his article because of a head- ache. Perhaps another time, dear. It is somewhat ironic that, at the mo- ment my assistance was required to cram, shove, assault, mutilate and otherwise redis- tribute various objets art in order to accom- modate yet more students into one of our crowded 3-D studios , the Board of Trustees meeting then in progress (which I had planned to attend) passed a motion which would in- crease the number of spaces for Design stu- dents by up to forty. With all due respect to these students,.who by their talent and diligence contribute to the prestige of the school, space will be made for their increased numbers by eliminating an equivalent number of non-De- sign students. This small bit of information however, has not been forthcoming from the Administration. When pressed about this mat- ter and its’ fearful implications no direct an- swer has been given - only that total enrollment of students will neither rise nor fall. This begs the hopeful question - are forty Administra- tive positions to be eliminated to make room? Those are mighty big offices. But no, its too much to ask, somehow. There are further questions. This ex- pansion will create a radical shift in the demo- graphics of the school. Forty more in the De- sign program, forty less in the Fine Arts pro- grams, makes a difference of about eighty in a total daytime population of about six hundred. This makes about a twelve to thirteen percent shift . Is this an indication that in the world “out there” there is twelve to thirteen percent less need or desire for Fine Art? Is it that paint, stone, film and video just don't cut it for today’s generation? Or has a recent surge in population created a clamour for more de- signers? If, as has been suggested, this expansion will result in more opportunities for the school as a whole, that’s all fine and good. But this will not help those 3-D students, for example, who still do not have their own work stations, even in their third year. Eliminating an entire room provided for the department will not help, either, I suspect. Or, if we wish to speak in generalities, it must be pointed out that the premise of less space is the promise of less emphasis. Less space, less importance. Out of sight, out of mind. Another question - is it true, as has been rumoured, that virtually unlimited funding is available for fob creation’ programs (as if all who graduate in design programs can get jobs in such a highly specialized field?) but there is none for the fine arts programs? If so, is the Administration so gutless as to sell out its fine arts programs for the proverbial thirty pieces of silver? Does the Administration not have a responsibility to strengthen and protect all aspects of artmaking? Does the school not represent, with its so conspicuous profile, the direction contemporary art will take in west- ern Canada? Does the school function simply as an unquestioning and unwitting tool of pro- vincial government policy, or can it make at least a pretense of academic and intellectual freedom? I do not wish or desire to speculate fur- ther on the motives and purposes behind these affairs. Perhaps I am in error. Yet Iam forced to speculate from the Administration’s reti- cence to speak. Despite their avowed openess, to my knowledge the re-alignment of the school’s focus has never been made the matter of public discussion its’ importance required. I call upon the powers that be to shed light on these matters. P.S. That fiery, silver-bearded little man with the funny accent, that, that foreigner, that son of a coal miner, Tom Hudson, our former dean, has just won a prestigious award for his educational program. P.P.S. The tuition fees for foreign students have been raised to $7500, making it virtually impossible for all but those of wealthy family or backgrounds to attend our school.g oft Ata recent meeting with the Student Council Executive, Prosident Barkley indicated that he is now reconsidering the matter of increas- ing the hours that the College is open for student use. Details have yet to be finalized, but look for an announcement soon indicat- ing that the College will be open on holidays (ike Easter) and that the open hours will be extended by a couple of hours a day on Satur- day and Sunday. The next Board of Directors meeting is Wednesday, Februar noon, in the Faculty Lounge. Foreign Students: There are forty of usin this college now. Ifwe unite as one voice maybe we can be heard and our school fees won't rise to $7,500.00 next semester. If you are a visa stadent or you are just plain con: cerned, please attend an important meeting Monday February 6th at 4:20 in the Cafeteria If new Provincial Government regulations are followed no new foreign students will be able to attend the college. Student Society Elections for the positions of President, Vice- President, Treasurer and Secretary for 1989/1990. Nominations: Wed., March 8th. Elections: March 30th and 31st. Canadian Federation of Students referendum will be held same time as the elections. Watch for Poster: MEDIATION UB: PE aD A ST 2 E by MARTIN HUNT The dispute between the Adminstration and the Faculty Association, reported in the last issue of the Planet, went to mediation in carly January. The two parties agreed on a settlement that had the following features: = charges of racism against a faculty member, the source of the dispute, have been dropped. The faculty member in question will have all references to having been suspended for racist or sexist comments deleted from his record. = the Administration and Faculty have agreed that the faculty member in question deltas en tearrrensyessary ab faculty member agreed to write a letter o ofy to the student involved for not behaving ina professional manner. “the one month suspension without pay that had been imposed on the faculty member was reduced toa two week suspension with pay. The faculty member is to be paid half of ‘he salary that was held back immediately, and the other half will be paid in a year, pending the faculty member's continued good behav- - the Administration agreed to enter into nogotiations with the Faculty Association to set up a mechanism so that this kind of dis- agreement does not happen again. ‘The Faculty seems satisfied with the out- come, both with the reinstatement of the repu- tation of one of their members and with the agreement to set up some kind of in-college group to decide such issues. Througout the proceedings the Faculty Association strongly questioned the fact that the Dean's Commit- tee, which used to decide such matters, had never been consulted. ‘According to sources within the Faculty (no-one in the Administration would comment ‘onthe matter), the mediation process cost the College community about §2,400, to be split between the Faculty Association, the College ‘Administration and the provincial govern- ment.¢ SPACED OUT by RUSSEL BATEMAN ‘The author regrets that he could not add an erotic slant to his article because of a head- ache. Perhaps another time, dear. It is somewhat ironic that, at the mo- ment my assistance was required to cram, shove, assault, mutilate and otherwise redis- tribute various objets art in order to accom- modate yet more students into one of our crowded 3-D studios , the Board of Trustees meeting then in progress (which Thad planned to attond) passed a motion which would in- crease the number of spaces for Design stu- dents by up to forty. With all due respect to these students,who by their talent and diligence contribute to the prestige of the school, space will be made for their increased numbers by ‘eliminating an equivalent number of non-De- sign students. This small bit of information however, has not been forthcoming from the Administration. When pressed about this mat- ter and its’ fearful implications no direct an- swer has been given - only that fotal enrollment of students will neither rise nor fall. This begs the hopeful question - are forty Administr: tive positions to be eliminated to make room? Those are mighty big offices. But no, its too much to ask, somehow. There are further questions. This ex- pansion will create a radical shift in the demo- graphics of the school. Forty more in the De- sign program, forty l i ‘grams, mak ighty total daytime population of about six hundred. This makes about a twelve to thirteen percent shift. Is this an indication that in the world “out there” there is twelve to thirteen percent Jess need or desire for Fine Art? Is it that paint, stone, film and video just don't. cut it for today’s generation? Or has a recent surge population created a clamour for more de- signers? If, as has been suggested, this expansion will result in more opportunities for the school as a whole, that’s all fine and good. But this will not help those 3-D students, for example, who still do not have their own work stations, even in their third year. Eliminating an entire room provided for the department will not help, either, I suspect. Or, if we wish to speak in generalities, it must be pointed out that the premise of less space is the promise of less ‘emphasis. Less space, less importance. Out of sight, out of mind. ‘Another question -is it true, as has beet rumoured, that virtually unlimited fundin available for job creation’ pro who graduate in design programs can get jobs in such a highly specialized field?) but there is none for the fine arts programs? If so, is the ‘Administration so gutless as to sell out its fine arts programs for the proverbial thirty pieces of silver? Does the Administration not have a responsibility to strengthen and protect all spects of artmaking? Doos the school not represent, with its so conspicuous profile, the direction contemporary art will take in west- ‘ern Canada? Does the school function simply san unquestioning and tinwitting tool of pro- vincial government policy, or can it make at least a pretense of academic and intellectual freedom? T do not wish or desire to speculate fur- ther on the motives and purposes behind these affairs. Perhaps Tam in error. Yet 1am forced to speculate from the Administration's reti- cence to speak. Despite their avowed openess, to my knowledge the re-alignment of the school's focus has never been made the matter of public discussion its’ importance required, Icall upon the powers that be to shed light on these matters. PS. That fiery, silver-bearded little man with the funny accent, that, that foreigner, that son of a coal miner, Tom Hudson, our former dean, has just won a prestigious award for his educational program. P.PS. The tuition fees for foreign scudents have been raised to $7500, making it virtually impossible for all but those of wealthy family or backgrounds to attend our school