VOL.4NO.6

1969

Letter to fom

ast January, when the ap-

plications for bursaries came

out, I picked one up and was
extremely annoyed to find written at
the top of the form a note saying that
students not already receiving finan-
cial assistance would not normally
be considered for a bursary. It
bugged me because I don’t have a
student loan but really need money.
I complained loudly to Sidk Ang,
(who was then the Financial Aid
Officer). Then I took her suggestion
and went to complain to Tom Kow-
all (then the Director of Student
Services). I bent Tom’s ear for a
while, thought about what we had
talked about, and ended up writing
this letter to him. He thought that
the perspective I offered was valu-
able enough that he circulated cop-
ies of the letter among the Admini-
stration. He did say that there were
a couple of small points with which
he disagreed, and which he wanted
to talk to me about. I never did get to
talk about it with him again. He was
fired that night.

Tom,

Here are some thoughts about the
question ofhelping needy students with
bursaries, which we discussed last
week.

The problem basically is that there
are many art students who would like
to get money from the College. If the
College spread it’s resources over all
claimants, no-one would get signifi-
cant help. The College wishes to use
what money ithas effectively. It wishes
to be able to assist those who are wor-
thy and have the strongest need.

The problem is very difficult, and
I believe the College’s intentions are
admirable.

I suggest that the College finds
judgement of worth difficult, and fo-
cuses on need as a primary criterion for
aid. But when examined closely, need
also becomes too complex a matter to
be judged easily. The example you
used of the Lazy Grasshopper and the

Hardworking Ant means that someone
has to judge who is lazy and who is
hardworking. If you give a means test
to determine need, how do you know
that people are reporting honestly?
More likely, most applicants compose
their answers to the means test to
demonstrate the required need. (For
example, I’d bet that most applicants
for student loans demonstrate that they
need the maximum amount given.) A
true determination of need is harder
than a determination of worth. Also,
the scrutiny required to ascertain some-
thing likeneed would be humiliating to
the student.

I think that the College therefore
creates a set of criteria that are some-
what beside the point of need or worth,
but are somewhat more “objective”.
The assumption that those on student
loans are moreneedy (in general) seems
to me to be such a criterion. The as-
sumption that unexpected need is more
worthy of help than chronic need is
another. (The arbitrariness of the se-
lection process is revealed by asking
only people who have urgent, unex-
pected expenses to apply, and then
asking them to wait a month and a half
to see if they get anything. If some-
thing is urgent - it’s urgent now!)

I don’t have all of the details to
make an airtight case about this. You
do, and I'll bet that in your heart of
hearts you agree. I suspect that your
perspective is thatyou’re trying to make
the best of a bad job.

Perhaps I can offer a different
perspective that will yield more pro-
ductive and less arbitrary answers.

The College could openly ac-
knowledge that many many art stu-
dents suffer chronic financial stress.
The current posture that studying art is
a full time thing and that students should
have adequate financial resources be-
fore beginning flies right in the face of

' reality. Most students, even those on

loans, work as well as study, and even
then face regular money crunches.

A part of that acknowledgement
could be a policy of hiring students for
College positions whenever qualified

students are available. Such students
should be paid the College’s regular
staffrates, notminimum wage or work-
study pay. All of the College’s publi-
cations could be designed and pro-
duced by a paid student staff. There
would be large educational benefits
and probably a net saving in printing
costs — even with good rates of pay.
The College could manage the cafete-
ria and cleaning operations itself, and
hire student workers. I confess that I
find the present system of contracting
out quite offensive. The College saves
asmall amount per hour in the amount
paid to the contractor, the contractor
pays maybe half of that to the workers,
and we end up being served by people
working for poverty wages. When this
is combined with a policy that refuses
to hire students, it seems pretty gross to
me.

The money that you would spend
on bursaries might do more good if
spent on the salary of someone who
could act as an artist’s agent for stu-
dents in the College. Such a person
would operate a vastly expanded serv-
ice like the job board we have, but
would be much more active in seeking
markets for student work, energy, and
talent.

It may seem pretty radical, but
maybe bursaries and scholarships
should become attached to the act of
studying. It would make more sense to
select bursary applicants based onneed
and a minimum GPA than one based
on the reception of student loans. It
might help bring our attention (stu-
dents and faculty alike) to the fact that
we are a College ... a place to study, a
place to learn, a place to be taught.

Pll admit that valuing marks goes
against the grain at this College. But
there’s alackadaisical, unspoken, done
in secret evaluation system that judges
students around here, and being casual
about marks is part of it. I think we’ve
gone too far. Art is a real value in
human experience. There is alot about
it thatis open to examination, teaching,
and practice. These things are the
things an art college should deal with.

To attach bursaries to marks in the
present College would be unjust - even
perverse. Butperhaps the Collegeneeds
to become a place where marks have a
teal relevance.

Inany event, College awards could
be used to boost scholarship, as well as
assist in need. Perhaps the greatest
flaw in the present system is that itdoes
little to encourage people to excel at
anything; whether it be art, scholar-
ship, or community service. We could
have instead of the present system,
other systems that more closely tie
money to achievement. The College
could purchase outstanding student
work, and make a learning experience
out of the whole selection process. It
could give research grants to students
who wish to pursue projects which
would benefit the entire College.

There are problems with such an
approach. In the absence of qualified
people making careful decisions, such
a system as I propose would turn into a
corrupt network of people giving
money to their friends. The present at-
titude at the College, which denies the
possibility ofcommon agreementabout
art (or anything) makes the whole
concept of “qualified person” or “‘care-
ful decision” meaningless. I suggest
that the difficulty that the College has
in deciding upon worthy bursary re-
cipients is related to a deeper irrespon-
sibility in not defining why the College
is here, whom it should serve, and what
it should teach. The conceptual vac-
uum at the core leaves no sense of
purpose and no way of telling who or
what is worthy or unworthy.

There is a perception among stu-
dents that the Administrators of the
College (and to a lesser extent the
Faculty) do not think that art-making is
a respectable occupation or that art
students are respectable people. This
perception has been reinforced in me
in many of my dealings with the Col-
lege. I’ve not perceived astrong desire
to develop art and artists. I’ve notseen
any expression of dedication to art-
making as a difficult, hard-to-support,
yet essential part of human endeavor.

Instead I’ve seen people who are dedi-
cated to running some kind of clean,
quiet institution. They’ve seemed to
beprofessional institution-runners who
don’t much care what kind of institute
they run.

I’m not religious, but I think the
model of an administrative structure
that would work in an art college would
be that of a seminary. The organizers
of an art college should be passionate
about art and making new artists, just
as seminarians are passionate about
the Church and the making of new
priests.

Itis only the personal contact I’ve
had with the Administration that I’ve
had that has caused me to modify that
view at all. In my personal dealings,
I’ve found you all to be patient, co-
operative and friendly. It leaves me
with two views of the Administration
that are so contradictory as to be para-
doxical.

The root of the paradox I think is
that the College as a whole has no
guiding principle that reaches into all
spheres of College life. Thus when
people are in committees, they deal
with students by the numbers, and do
their best to be efficient and fair by the
numbers. These same peopie, when
dealing with students individually, do
their best to respond to the individual
in front of them.

Returning to my initial concern
though, which is how to select students
for assistance, I would say that, ideally,
needy students who work hard at study-
ing art should not have to worry about
food and rent and art supplies. They
should be seen as a resource not to be
wasted. The support (principally op-
portunities to earn) should not be seen
as a gift. Rather, it should be an or-
ganic result of participation in the
College program.

I agree that this would require a
major change in the way we do busi-
ness. But] don’t think we should settle
for anything less.

MARTIN HUNT

AWWWW, BUSTER
DONT TOW we
pPPLEEASES

WELL ».1FL...
DIDNT--- THEN)

CW

OK, FAR-OUT! IMREADY
To sHooT MY FILM THIS
WEEKEND... wHats ms 7

AA

3LVDIOH-S3AVH NNVHS

Pe Se Y

GR.
J ber
| yee ¥ sit

Aiea A

Letter to Jom

ast January, when the ap

plications for bursarieseame

out, Tpleked one up and was
extremely annoyed tofind written at
the tp of theform anote saying that
students notalready recelvingfinan-
lal assistance would not normally
be considered for a bursary. It
bugged me because I don't have a
student loan but really need money.
T complained loudly to Siok Ang,
(who was then the Financial Ald
Officer). Then [took her suggestion
‘and went o complain to Tom Kow-
all (then the Director of Student
Services). I bent Tom's ear for a
‘while, thought about what we had
talked about, and ended up writing
this letter to him. He thought that
the perspective I offered was valu
able enough that he circulated cop-
Jes of the letter among the Admin
stration. He did say that there were
‘ couple of small points with which
the dsagreed, and which he wanted
totalk tomeabout. Inever did getto
‘alkabout it with him again. He was
fired that night.

Tom,

Here ae some thoughts about the
_questionofhelping needy students with
bumaries, which we discussed last
week.

‘Theproblembascalyisthatthere
are many art students who would ike
tw get money from the College. Ifthe
(College spread i's resources over all
claimants, no-one would get signif
‘cant help, The College wishes to use
‘whatmoneyitha effectively. Itwishes
to be able o assist those who are wor
thy and have the strongest need.

"The problem s very dificuly, and
believe the College's intentions are
sdmieable.

T suggest that the College finds
judgement of worth difficult, and fo
‘cusesonneedas.aprimary criterion for

Butwhen examined closely, need
0 Becomes to complex a matter 19
be judged easily. The example you
‘sed ofthe Lazy Grasshopper and the

Hardworking Antmeans that someone
hha to judge who is lazy and who is
‘hardworking. Ifyou give ameans est
to determine need, how do you know
that people are reporting honestly?
More likely, most applicants compose
their answers to the means test 10
demonstrate the required need. (For
example, I'd bet that most applicants
{orstudentloans demonsiratethathey
reed the maximum amount given.) A
true determination of need is harder
than a determination of worth. Also,
thescrutiny required toaseerainsome-
thing likenced wouldbe humiliatingto
the student.

think thatthe College therefore
creates a set of eritera that ae some-
‘whatesde the pointof need or worth,
‘but are somewhat more “objective”.
‘The assumption that those on student
Joansaremorencedy (ingeneal)seems
to me o be sucha criterion. The as-
-sumptionthatunexpectedneedis more
worthy of help than chronic need is
another. (The arbitrariness ofthe se
lection process is revealed by asking,
only people who have urgent, unex:
pected expenses to apply, and then
asking them to waitamonth and a hal
to see if they get anything. If some-
‘hing is urgent it's urgent now!)

T don’t have al of the details to
smake an aright case about this. You
do, and P'l bet that in your heart of
hearts you agree. I suspect that your
perspectivisthatyou'retryingtomake
the bes of aba jo.

Perhaps I can offer a diferent
perepoctve that will yield more pro-
(uctive and less arbitrary answers.

‘The College could openly ac-
knowledge that many many arts
ents suffer chronic financial stress.
"The current posture that studying artis,
afulltimething ndthatstodens should
have adequate financial resources be
fore begining flies right inthe face of
reality. Most students, even those on
loans, work aswell as study, and even,
then face regular money crunches.

‘A part ofthat acknowledgement
could be apolicy of hiring students for
College positions whenever qualified

stadens are available, Such students
should be paid the College's regular
staffrate,notminimum wage or work
study pay. Allof the College's publi
cations could be designed and pro
duced by a paid student staff. There
would be large educational benefits
and probably a nt saving in printing
costs — even with good rates of pay
‘The College could manage the cafe
ria and cleaning operations itself, and
hie student workers. I confess that I
find the present system of conrating
coutquiteoffensive. The Collegesaves
‘asmall amount per hour inthe amount
paid to the contractor, the contractor
paysmaybehalfof that tothe workers,
and we end up being served by people
working for poverty wages. When this
is combined with apoliey that refuses
‘ohire students, itseems prety grossto

‘Themoncy that you would spend,
fon bursaries might do more good if
spent on the salary of someone who
could act as an artists agent fr st:
ents in the College, Such a person
‘would operatea vastly expanded ser
ice like the job board we have, but
‘would be much more ative insecking
markets for student work, energy, and
talent.

1 may seem prety radical, but
maybe bursaries and. scholarships
should become attached tothe act of
studying, would make more senset0
sclet bursary applicants based onneed
and a minimum GPA than one based
‘onthe reception of student loans. It
might help bring our attention (3
‘dents and faculty like) to the fac that
weareaCollege... place to stu
place to lear, a place to be taught.

Tl admitthat valuing marks goes
against the grain at this College, But
there's alackadssical, unspoken, done
in secret evaluation system that judges
students aroundhere, and being casval
aboutmarksis partofit. think we've
‘gone too far. Art isa real value in
‘human experience. There isalotabout
itthatisopen to examination, teaching,

and practice. These things aze the
things an artcolege should deal with,

‘To auach bursaries to marks in the
resent College would be unjust-even
perverse. ButperhapstheCollegenceds
to become aplace where markshave a
real relevance,

Inany event Collegeawardscould
beusedto boost scholarship, aswell as
assist in need. Perhaps the greatest
flaw in the presentsystemisthatitdoes
Title to encourage people wo excel at
anything; whether it bear, scholar-
ship, or community service. We could
have instead of the present system,
other systems that more closely tie
‘money to achievement. The College
could purchase oustanding. student
work, and make aJearing experience
‘out of the whole selection process. It
‘could give research grants to students
Who wish to pursue projects which
‘would benefit the entire College

‘There are problems with such an
approach. In the absence of qualified
people making careful decisions, such
system as propose would tum intoa
corrupt network of people: giving
‘money to their fiends. The present at-
tine atthe College, which denies the
possbilityofeommonagrecmentabout
ar (or anything) makes the whole
‘concept of qualified person” or"care-
ful decision” meaningless. I suggest
thatthe difficulty tha the College has
in deciding upon worthy bursary re
pints seated to adeeper respon
sibility innot defining why the College
Isher, whomitshould serve, and what
it should teach. The conceptual vac
tuum at the core leaves no sense of
purpose and no way of telling who or
‘what is worthy or unworthy.

‘There is perception among stu-
ns thatthe Administrators of the
College (and to a lesser extent the
Faculty) donotthink that art-making s
1 respectable occupation or that art
students ae respectable people. This
perception has been reinforced in me
in many of my dealings with the Col-
lege. I'venotpereeivedastrong desire
todevelop art and ansts, P'venotseen
any exprestion of dedication to art
‘making as adifficul, hard-to-suppor,
yet essential part of human endeavor.

Instead!'ve seen people who are dei
cated to running some kind of clean,
quiet institution. They've seemed to
‘beprofessionalinstitution-runners who
don't much care what kindof institute
they nun

I'm not religious, but I think the
model of an administrative structure
thatwould workinanartcollege would
be that ofa seminary. The organizers
‘of an art college shouldbe passionate
about art and making new artists, just
as seminarians are passionate about
the Church and the making of new
priests

Itisonly thepersonaleontact've
had with the Administration that I've
hha that has eaused me to modify that
view at al. In my personal dealings,
T've found you all to be patient, €9-
operative and friendly. It leaves me
‘with two views ofthe Administration
tha are so contradictory a to be para-
doxieal.

‘The rootof the paradox I think is
that the College a8 4 whole ss no
‘uiding principle that reaches ito all
spheres of College life. Thus when
people are in committes, they deal
‘with students by the numbers, and do
theirbestto be efficient and fairby the
numbers. These same people, when
dealing with students individually, do
their best o respond tothe individual
in front of them,

‘Retuming to my inital concer
‘hough, whichishowtoselect students

ceylwouldsay tha, ideally,
needy stents who work hardatstudy-
ing art should not have to worry about
food and rent and art supplies. They
should be seen as a resource not to be
wasted. ‘The support (principally op
portunities to eam) should rot be seen
as agit. Rather, it should be an or
‘gic result of participation in the
College program.

Tagree that this would require a
‘major change in the way we do busi-
ness. ButIdon'tthink we shouldsetle
for anything less.

MARTIN HUNT

oases
SS
On, pePLEEASEL!,

Forres
ae
Ese

To Boot MY FLL TS
WEEKEND..whaterms ?

‘OK FAR-OUTTEMREADY | [Of f
TOWING MA’ CAR |

AAA!

Ome

CA