© ditorial

The problems of the deficit and the resultant
budget cuts affect us all here at ECCAD and asa
result, this entire edition of the Planet of the Arts is
dedicated to beginning a dialogue about these issues.
As co-editor, the task of educating myself about this
topic has been a lengthy one, tedious at times, but
ultimately well worth it. During this process the
cc mplexity and abstractness of the situation has
1 any times threatened to stymie the process of even
beginning to think and look at the issue. The
reason for the abstraction is that the college is a
community, consisting of students, faculty, adminis-
tration, and support staff, all of whom have specific
but interdependant roles in the structure of the
system. Although the problem may have had a
single starting point, it has spread to be felt in
different ways in all sectors of the school. It is
because of this that the problems seem so abstract
and insurmountable. What we here at the Planet
hope to do with this issue is to try to print as much
information as we can so that the issues can become
clearer and a dialogue can begin.

To begin thinking of the college as a commu-
nity of individuals rather than simply a building in
which all of us spend varying amounts of time and
energy is vital to understanding what exactly is
going on and why. Everyone who works here is
contributing to the makeup of the college, no matter
how inividual or how private any given person
wants to be. Every person at the college is a citizen
of the community, some being more active than
others. But, in the same way that one cannot ignore
the fact that our bodies need to be fed as a function
of being alive, the college, like an organism also has
needs that are necessary to its healthy functioning.
As a part of the organism which is the college, it is
necessary to the health of the organism that we be
sensitive and aware of the happenings, which we all
share as members of the community. While it is
true that neither students or faculty should be
expected to act as administrators, it is nevertheless
necessary that we all stay aware of the issues that are
governed by the administration in order that we
stand a better chance of having a healthy college
organism and therefore the most constructive use of
time and energy here.

At this point in time the college community is
fractured. The student voice is practically non-
existent and due to administrational pressure and
the stress caused by the threat of upcoming cut-

‘
wet, }

backs, the faculty is also paranoid (not just the
faculty, mind you...). They have been asked by the
administration to outline where they feel the cuts
should be made in their respective programs and as a
result they are nervously looking at one another and
at themselves for where the axe will fall. It is hardly
a Uumate where we can calmly look at the facts and
try to see the best course of action. The natural
reaction in times of threat is for self-preservation,
not consensus; but, a unified and confident commu-
nity is the only hope we have for a balanced solution
to the undeniable financial bind we are in. Why is
the community not working? As almost all of the
decisions regarding the practical running of the »
college come from the administration, various
questions must be raised.

It is important that we be clear in our intent
and to lay blame is counter-productive because what
generally results is an attack and then a defence and
little or no honest communication — at any rate, no
solution to any problems. As well, in any situation
both the positive and negative aspects of the situa-
tion are the responsibility of the people involved.
What és important and necessary however, is that
we question. The Administraton is the highest
decision making body in the college, at least in
terms of finance. The idea that the deficit was
unexpected is ludicrous. Therefore one must
question how the administration has dealt with the
oncoming deficit and whether or not the Adminis-
tration has allowed the deficit to come into being in
order to create a sense of panic and then push a
certain agenda. This is a common tactic of financial

- bureaucracy. It should also be questioned that the

administration has asked the faculty to take a cut in
pay, while they have taken no similar cut in pay
themselves. It seems that they ask for others to take
responsibility for the financial situation of the
school, while they, who are more directly responsi-
ble and accountable for the situation, have taken no
similar pay cut. Once again, it is important to note
that these are not accusations, but questions that we
felt should be raised.

As far as the student body goes, if the admin-
istration is seeking to promote internal discord, they
have not had far to go. Generally speaking, the
students at ECCAD are pitifully apathetic and this is
made blatantly obvious by the lack of Student
Union involvement. Returning to the metaphor of
the college as an organism or as a community, the

faculty, as an integral part of the body, are threat-
ened by the burden of coming cutbacks and the
students, as another integral part, are immobilised
by what? Self-centeredness? That wouldn’t make
sense considering that in the long run one can only
gain by being involved, as the social skills that are a
part of this involvement are a reality in the real
world , whether you are sitting on the board of an
artist-run center, organising a film production
meeting, or writing grant proposals. Involvement is
difficult at first and seemingly painful, but these
situations are opportunities to change that reality
rather than accepting and avoiding it. There is also
the fact that as a student one is investing large
amounts of time and money in this institution and
by staying out the decision making process, one is
getting less input into how that money is used. I
feel more confident speaking about this particular
perspective, because I speak about myself.

This article, naturally, comes from only one
perspective, and one of the purposes of the open and |
all encompassing call for submissions is to hear from
as many different voices as possible to begin to
create some sort of form and solution to what seems
to be a lot of confusion. It seems that a major
problem of this institution is that, for whatever
reason, the myriad components of the community
are not even communicating effectively let alone
working in productive quasi-harmony. Why do we
all come here? What is the principle that governs the
decisions of the administration, the faculty, and the
students? How do these motives inter-relate and
interdepend on one another? The integration of this
community requires a common ground in order to
be initiated and it is our aim with this issue to begin
that forum; to educate, and thereby begin the
process of reclamation and empowerment.

-- written by Kacey McDougall

front cover by Phil Dion
back cover by Kacey Mcdougall, Terry
Dawes, and Ron Turner

all contents copyright 1994 by respective
creators

the planet of the arts is a student run publi-
cation from emily carr college of art and
design, funded by the student's union. we
welcome unsolicited contributions, pro-
vided they include the contributer's real
name. articles must be typewritten and
double spaced. we reserve the right to
edit to increase clarity and eliminate rac-
ism, sexism and homophobia. photos and
draewings should be black and white.
submissions can be dropped off at our
office (room 242), or in our mailbox at the
front desk. our mailing adress is 1399
johnston street, granville island, vancouver,
b.c., v6h 319 ;

© ditorial

‘The problems of the deficit and the resultant
budget cuts affect us all here at ECCAD and as a
result, this entire edition of the Planet of the Arts is
dedicated to beginning a dialogue about these issucs.
As co-editor, the task of educating myself about this
topic has been a lengthy one, tedious at times, but
ultimately well worth it. During this process the

‘cc mplexity and abstractness of the situation has

1 any times threatened to stymie the process of even.
beginning to think and look at the isue. ‘The
reason for the abstraction is that the college is a
community, consisting of students, faculty, adminis-
tration, and support staf, all of whom have specific
but interdependant roles in the structure of the
system. Although the problem may have had a
single starting point, it has spread to be felt in
different ways in all sectors of the school. It is
because of this that the problems seem so abstract,
and insurmountable. What we here at the Planet
hope to do with this issue isto try to print as much
information as we can so that the issues can become
clearer and a dialogue can begin

To begin thinking of the college as a commu-
nity of individuals rather than simply a building in
‘which all of us spend varying amounts of time and
‘energy is vital to understanding what exactly is,
going on and why. Everyone who works here is
contributing to the makeup of the college, no matter
how inividual or how private any given person
‘wants to be, Every person at the college is a citizen
of the community, some being more active than
others. But, in the same way that one cannot ignore
the fact that our bodies need to be fed as a function
of being alive, the college, like an organism also has
needs that are necessary to its healthy functioning,
‘Asa part of the organism which is the college, itis
necessary to the health of the organism that we be
sensitive and aware of the happenings, which we all
share as members of the community. While it is
true that neither students or faculty should be
expected to act as administrators, itis nevertheless
necessary that we al stay aware of the issues that are
governed by the administration in order chat we
stand a better chance of having a healthy college
‘organism and therefore the most constructive use of
time and energy here.

{At this point in time the college community is
fractured. The student voice is practically non-
existent and due to administrational pressure and
the stress caused by the threat of upcoming eut-

backs, the faculty is also paranoid (not just the
faculty, mind you...). They have been asked by the
administration to outline where they feel the cuts
should be made in their respective programs and as a
result they are nervously looking at one another and
at themselves for where the axe will fall. Itis hardly
te where we can calmly look at the facts and
try to see the best course of action. The natural
reaction in times of threat is for self preservation,
not consensus; but, a unified and confident commu-
nity isthe only hope we have for a balanced solution
to the undeniable financial bind we are in. Why is
the community not working? As almost all of the
decisions regarding the practical running of the
college come from the administration, various
‘questions must be raised.

Icis important that we be clear in our intent
and to lay blame is counter-productive because what
‘generally results is an attack and then a defence and
litte or no honest communication — at any rate, no
solution to any problems. As wel, in any situation
both the positive and negative aspects of the situa-
tion are the responsibility of the people involved.
What és important and necessary however, is that
wwe question. The Administraton isthe highest
decision making body in the college, atleast in
terms of finance. The idea that the deficit was
unexpected is ludicrous. Therefore one must
question how the administration has dealt with the
‘oncoming deficit and whether or not the Adminis-
tration has allowed the deficit to come into being in
order to create a sense of panic and then push a
certain agenda. This is a common tactic of financial
bureaucracy. Ie should also be questioned that the
administration has asked the faculty to take a cut in
pay, while they have taken no similar cut in pay
themselves. Itseems that they ask for others to take
responsibility for the financial situation of the
school, while they, who are more directly responsi-
ble and accountable for the situation, have taken no
pay cut. Once again, itis important to note
that these are not accusations, but questions that we
felt should be raised.

‘As far as the student body gocs, ifthe admin-
istration is secking to promote internal discord, they
hhave not had far to go. Generally speaking, the
students at ECCAD are pitifully apathetic and this is

lc blatantly obvious by the lack of Student
Union involvement. Returning to the metaphor of
the college as an organism or as a community, the

faculty, as an integral part of the body, are threat-
ened by the burden of coming cutbacks and the
students, as another integral part, are immobilised
by what? Selfcenteredness? That wouldn’t make
sense considering that in the long run one can only
gain by being involved, as the social skills that are a
part of this involvement are a realty in the real
world , whether you are sitting on the board of an
artist-run center, organising a film production
‘meeting, or writing grant proposals. Involvement is
difficult at first and seemingly painful, but these
situations are opportunities to change that reality
rather than accepting and avoiding it. There is also
the fact that as a student one is investing large
amounts of time and money in this institution and
by staying out the decision making process, one is
getting less input into how that money is used. 1
feel more confident speaking about this particular
perspective, because I speak about myself

This article, naturally, comes from only one
perspective, and one of the purposes of the open and
all encompassing call for submissions is to hear from
‘as many different voices as possible to begin to
‘create some sort of form and solution to what seems
to be alot of confusion. It seems that a major
problem of this institution is that, for whatever
reason, the myriad components of the community
are not even communicating effectively let alone
‘working in productive quasi-harmony. Why do we
all come here? What is the principle that governs the
decisions of the administration, the faculty, and the
students? How do these motives inter-relate and
interdepend on one another? The integration of this
‘community requires a common ground in order to
be initiated and it is our aim with this issue to begin
that forum; to educate, and thereby begin the
process of reclamation and empowerment.

~ written by Kacey McDougall

front cover by Phil Dion
back cover by Kacey Mcdougalll, Terry
Dawes, and Ron Turner

alll contents copyright 1994 by respective
creators

the planet of the arts is a student run publi-
cation from emily carr college of art and
design, funded by the student's union. we
welcome unsolicited contributions, pro-
vided they include the contributer's real
name. articles must be typewritten and
double spaced. we reserve the right to
edit to increase clarity and eliminate rac-
ism, sexism and homophobia. photos and
draewings should be black and white.
submissions can be dropped off at our
‘office (room 242), or in our mailbox at the
front desk. our mailing adress is 1399
johnston street, granville island, vancouver,
b.c., v6h 319