24 Hour Building Access: How The Deal Was Done Crunch time had come for full-time students — four weeks to go until the end of the school year. Sensing the mood of students becoming more intense and less willing to submit to conventional building hours,Acting President Brad Campbell sent out a trial balloon: could the Students’ Union please get a couple of students to talk with him about extra building access. Nicolas Coté from Intermedia and Fernando Ignacio from Film/Video took up the invitation. This was back on March 21st. The discussion contained the usual Administration line of argument: we love students but why can’t they get their work done more quickly; we get all of our work done during normal office hours so why cain’t students do the same; we haven’t budgeted for extra building hours, so this is what we've worked out for you. And what the Admini- stration worked out was three weeks of 24-hour access from March 25th to April 12th, and then a reversion to “regular” hours for the final week of classes. No one was bothering to cut a deal for additional building access for part-time students, whose courses end a week earlier than full-time courses. Part- timers face exclusionary building access rules for the entire term. With the “negotiations” completed between Brad and the Students’ Union liaisons, the Acting President made a pre-emptive move. Without Students’ Union endorsement, a memo was posted on bulletin boards and other locations throughout the Institute informing students of the “deal” relayed to Nick and Fern. A proviso at the end of the memo indicated that more building access would be possible only with a a financial contribution from the Students’ Union. So far the score was Administration — 1, Students’ Union — zero. Brad had appearances working in his favor: he had “consulted” with students and now he was duly notifying them of the result. What was the Students’ Union to do? Had they been out-manoeuvered once again by the Acting President’s accounting acumen and his recently honed public relations/consultation skills? Should the Students’ Union put up the cash for more building access when its finances are shaky at the best of times and it has the horror of two years’ worth of back audits to pay for? Things took their normal course. The Students’ Union ignored the issue for the time being and Brad left for another one of his Australian job-hunting safaris. Much was to happen in the time between Brad’s departure and his return two weeks later besides his growth of a goatee. The “dea!” on building hours came unstuck. Grumbling in the hallways at the beginning of April was the first indication that trouble was brewing. Then came the petitions which started circulating in the Design and Media Divisions. “What kind of art school doesn’t have 24 hour access in the last week of class?” was an oft-heard remark. “Brad’s ECIAD,” was an oft-heard reply. Growing student discontent finally caught the notice of the Students’ Union. With less than 36 hours to go before around-the-clock access was to run out, the Students’ Union scrambled to respond to the crisis. Much of its April 11th meeting was spent trying out different slogans. The stronger statements cannot be repeated here for the sake of maintaining the decorum of a happy little community of student artists and the faculty and administrators whose jobs they sustain. “Unreasonable,” “intolerable” and “unacceptable” were the tamer adjectives used. When the smoke cleared, the Students’ Union had come up with the position it was going to take to the Administration and, if neces- sary, to the the Board of Governors: “It is the Institute and Administration’s responsibility to ensure adequate facilities and access to the Institute to allow for its students to complete their assigned work.” The Students’ Union also worked out two plans of action. Plan A was to stage a “work-in.” This would be like a “sit-in” only students would continue working on their projects in the desperate May-June 1996 / Planet of the Arts 17 PON GeET RRR EMINENT A BRINE few days before the end of term. Action of this kind at ECIAD was last taken in 1993 to good effect. Plan B was to try to work through the regular channels at the Institute, by writing a letter to the Administration and following up with face-to-face conversations that would air people’s feelings and weigh up the options. This would require the kind of direct wheeling and dealing that few Students’ Union Executives seem to have the inclination for. Despite the odds against following the moderate nature of Plan B Jennifer Eby (Design Representative), Nicolas Cote (Intermedia), and PoA’s own Jonathan Lander (doubling here as Photography Co-representa- tive) waded in to promote the path of reason over seif-right- eousness. Besides, how effec- tive would confrontation be without a President to heckle and shout down? Word came to the Students’ Union from Gary Coward (tech- nical sage of the the First Year Division) via Bryan Langlands (Gay Students liaison) to try to do a deal with Michael Clifford, Acting Vice President and — in Brad's absence — substitute Acting President. With the clock ticking down to the wire Jen, Nick, Jonathan Jen Eby raises a point and Bryan cobbled together a letter stating the urgency to meet and resolve the looming crisis. Within moments of receiving the letter, Mike sought a meeting with the Students’ Union representatives. The path of reason was showing promise. Finding neutral ground on which to meet was now the problem: both the Administration offices and the Students’ Union dive/office seemed out of the question for obvious reasons (messiness in the case of the latter.) I've got sO Many possibilities, re if idunno, | FObably walk arOund my NOUSE in MY under- wear for about a week, after that, try to find a job...1 DF Oba- bly have to go back to Ass sOUna. 'm probably going to end up waitressJ|Ng. Vi es: after gf aCuation? PORTICS BING x0: .s00: WITH POA FILES Hallway Bargaining Fortunately, Jonathan was able to offer the area just outside the Planet of the Arts office, a place where sincere inquiry and truth flourish. Showing all the signs of an honest broker, Mike listened attentively to the stu- dents and corroborated their statements with his own observa- tions about how much time stu- dents were putting in to complete their projects. In a stroke of magnanimity and with a bold vision of ECIAD’s place in Canada’s rapidly global- izing cultural sector, Mike con- ceded that the students had a convincing case but that he would have to reflect a little on his own before making the final decision, i.e. try to call Brad in Australia. At that very moment, the sun appeared from behind a cloud and cast a beam of light on the very spot where the meeting was taking place. Was this a sign of approval from above, or from Brad down under? The next day, moments before the calamity of ending around-the-clock access was due to transpire, notices were posted extending 24-hour access to the very end of the term. Reason and moderation had won the day. And sleep took a back seat for nine more days. “@ I'm gOiNg to play a JOt of FOCK ‘n’ roll. Next Year 1’Il be lifegUala- while. 24 Hour Building Access: How The Deal Was Done Crunch time had come for full-time students ~ four weeks to go until the end of the school year. Sensing the mood of students becoming more intense and less willing to submit to conventional building hours,Acting President Brad Campbell sent out atrial balloon: could the Students’ Union please get a couple of students to talk with him about extra ‘building access. Nicolas Coté from Intermedia and Feando Ignacio from Film/Video took up the invitation. This was back on March 21st. The discussion contained the usual ‘Administration line of argument: we love students but why can't they get their work done more quickly; we get al of our work done during ‘normal office hours so why can't students do the same; we haven't budgeted for extra building hours, so this is what ‘we've worked out for you. ‘And what the Admini stration worked out was three ‘weeks of 24-hour access from March 25th to April 12th, and then a reversion to “regular” hours forthe final week of classes. No one was bothering to cut a deal for additional building access for parttime students, whose courses end a week earlier than full-time courses. Pa timers face exclusionary building access rules for the entire term. With the “negotiations” completed between Brad and the Students’ Union liaisons, the Acting President made a pre-emptive move. Without Students’ Union endorsement, a memo was posted ‘on bulletin boards and other locations throughout the Institute informing students of the “deal” relayed to Nick and Fem. A proviso at the end of the memo indicated that more building access would bbe possible only with a a financial contribution from the Students! Union. ‘So far the score was Adminstration - 1, Students! Union ~ zero. Brad had appearances working in his favor: he had “consulted” with students and now he was duly notifying them of the result. What was the Students’ Union to do? Had they been out-manoeuvered once again by the Acting President's accounting acumen and his recently hhoned public relations/consultation skills? Should the Students’ Union put up the cash for more building access when its finances are shaky at the best of times and it has the horror of two years’ worth of back audits to pay for? Things took their normal course, The Students’ Union ignored the issue for the time being and Brad left for another one of his Australian job-hunting safaris. Much was to happen in the time between Brad's departure and his return two weeks later besides his growth of a goatee. The “deal” on building hours came unstuck rumbling in the hallways at the beginning of April was the first indication that trouble was brewing. Then came the petitions which started circulating in the Design and Media Divisions. “What kind of ‘art school doesn’t have 24 hour access in the last week of class?" was an oft-heard remark. “Brad's ECIAD," was an oft-heard reply. Growing) student discontent finaly caught the notice of the Students’ Union. With less than 36 hours to go before around-the-clock access was to ‘un out, the Students’ Union scrambled to respond to the crisis. ‘Much of its April 11th meeting was spent trying out different slogans. ‘The stronger statements cannot be repeated here forthe sake of maintaining the decorum of a happy litle community of student artists and the faculty and administrators whose jobs they sustain, “Unreasonable,” “intolerable” and “unacceptable” were the tamer adjectives used, ‘When the smoke cleared, the Students’ Union had come up with, the position it was going to take to the Administration and, if neces- sary, to the the Board of Governors: “It isthe institute and, ‘Administration’ responsibility to ensure adequate facilities and access to the Institute to allow for its students to complete their assigned work.” The Students’ Union also worked out two plans of action. Pan A was to stage a “Workin.” This would be like a “sit-in” only students would continue working on their projects in the desperate Maysjune 1996 / Planet of the Arts 17 = : —— as OMTICS QING x: 1:09 Hallway Bargaining few days before the end of term. Action of this kind at ECIAD was last taken in 1993 to good effect. Plan B was to try to work through the regular channels at the Institute, by writing a letter to the Administration and following up with face-to-face conversations that would air people's feelings and weigh up the options. This would require the kind of direct wheeling and dealing that few Students’ _listened attentively to the stu Union Executives seem to have the inclination dents and corroborated their for. statements with his own observa Despite the odds against folowing tions about how much time stu- the moderate nature of Plan B dents were putting in to Jennifer Eby (Design complete thei project. Representative), Nicolas Cote Ina stroke of magnanimity (Intermedia), and Pos’s own and with a bold vision of ECIAD's Jonathan Lander (doubling here place in Canada’s rapidly global- ‘as Photography Co-representa- izing cultural sector, Mike con- tive) waded in to promote the ceded that the students had a path of reason over selfright- convincing case but that he eousness. Besides, how effec- would have to reflect a litle on tive would confrontation be his own before making the final without a President to heckle decision, ie. try to call Brad in and shout down? Australia ‘Word came to the Students’ At that very moment, the sun. Union from Gary Coward (tech- appeared from behind a cloud nical sage of the the First Year and cast a beam of light on the Division) via Bryan Langlands very spot where the meeting was (Gay Students liaison) to try to taking place. Was this a sign of do a deat with Michael Clifford, approval from above, or from Acting Vice President and - in Brad down under? Brad's absence - substitute The next day, moments ‘Acting President. before the calamity of ending With the clock ticking down around-the-clock access was due to the wire Jen, Nick, Jonathan to transpire, notices were posted extending 24-hour access to the very end of the term. Reason and ‘moderation had won the day. {And sleep took a back seat for tine more days. “® Fortunately, Jonathan was able to offer the area just outside the Planet of the Arts office, a place where sincere inquiry and truth flourish. Showing all the signs of an honest broker, Mike don Eby raises « point and Bryan cobbled together a letter stating the urgency to meet and resolve the looming crisis ‘Within moments of receiving the letter, Mike sought a meeting with the Students’ Union representatives. The path of reason was showing promise. Finding neutral ground on which to meet was nowy the problem: both the Administration offices and the Students’ Union dive/office seemed out of the question for obvious reasons (messiness in the case ofthe latter) What are YOU going to dO after e¥aduation? ¥m going to sya OCK Next Your beilegQUAé. ing. proba- by be doing that fore vee recount possibittes sap unno, Wl provaey, walk arOund my Ouse eM under a veashettee try to find a job..1t! PTOba- iy backs Ase sOUnda. Ym probably going to Spungen