This month the Planets’ theme is Eroticism, but as the College at this moment is not so much concerned with Eros but Erosion (ie: erosion of spirit - see articles, p.3), we must deal with Busi- ness before Pleasure. The business, as stated in a Jan. 27 memo from Alan Barkley’s office is: “I wish to inform you that Douglas Weir and Tom Kowall have left the Col- lege. I hope you will join me in wishing both of them the very best in their future endeavors. For the time being, Brad Campell will oversee the Fa- cilities Department, and I will take responsibility for the Student Services area.” For those who are new to the College or are not directly associated with it (after all, the Planet has a city-wide distribution of 2,500*), a bit of back- ground is in order. Tom Kowall is - oops - was the Director of Student Services and the Registrar, most familiar to students as the guy in the V-neck sweater who called out numbers during registration and had his office opposite Mary Wing’s desk. Tom was also Chair of the Grad Steering Committee. He worked for the College for 12 1/2 years. Doug “the Right Stuff’ Weir was the Facilities Manager, best known to students as the tall cow- boy type who dispensed ladders and tools, man- aged wild fire alarms and handled all emergencies within the building. He was responsible for de- signing the red rail bike rack last year, and was instrumental in the annual United Way fund-rais- ing drive. Doug worked at the College for 18 1/2 years. Brad Campbell is the College Bursar and as such manages the College’s financial concerns. He is chattily referred to by those in Admin. as “2 I.C.” (or, to the layman, Second in Command). Few students know what he looks like. He has been here 6 1/2 years. Alan Barkley is the President of ECCAD. He is referred to by students as either “the guy in the suit” or “who...?” (see Doonesbury cartoon of ge- neric president type, p.4, for identification). He has been at the College for 2 1/2 years (see Planet of the Arts interview, vol. 2 #1, 1986). So much for the main cast of characters (ig- noring for the moment the supporting cast of staff and about 600 full-time “extras”). The essential problem at this college, at the heart of the erosive process, is that we have developed an Administo- cracy which has not integrated itself into the spirit of an art college but rather ingratiated itself into the larger political picture of corporate function- alism. By now it may be obvious where my sympa- thies lie, but my generally pluralistic stance is dif- ficult to maintain under the circumstances. The circumstances being that two long-time employees have, with cold surgical precision and no explana- tion whatsoever, been removed from the College, in the middle of the term. Ethics aside (part of the existing problem), the implication of this abrupt mid-year termination of two positions is that either the people, or the jobs, were not very important in the first place. Why, even Alan and Brad could do such jobs in their spare time. Spare time? Mr. Barkley is already so overburdened with his many responsibilities [he sits on 14 (ie. all) of the academic committees at the college, 12 of these in multiple roles - Presi- DITORIA dent, Acting Dean, Acting Director of Student Serv- ices], that this month he had no time to communi- cate College affairs to the College community through his usual Planet column. (He did, how- ever, submit a notice regarding operation of the shuttle bus). As for the Bursar generously offering himself over to the task of Facilities manager, one can hardly imagine Brad risking a grease-spot on his necktie in the name of menial repairs. So much for implications. As to actual conse- quences, obviously the additional workload will be dumped on the support staff attached to these two positions. Even when the “qualified individu- als” Administration assures us will be found ar- rive, the flow of College activity will already have been so disrupted as to impair such time-depen- dant issues as graduation and the impending in- crease of foreign student fees. Ironically it was Tom Kowall who sat with concerned students, for- eign and otherwise, after the latest Board meet- ing, while the Board (a.k.a. the Firing Squad) filed quietly downstairs away from their Open Session and into their Open Season, to conduct their real business behind closed doors. The loss of Tom Kowall, who was Chairman of the Grad Steering Committee, attended all meet- _ings, and therefore knew what was going on, may, prove a tremendous set back for this years grads. Even if there were sonie valid reason for the firing of Doug and Tom, was it so urgent that they removed from the College so abruptly and at such a crucial time? No matter how well qualified their replacements, it will be impossible for them to adequately acclimatize to the College atmosphere and to compensate for the loss of thirty years of combined experience represented by Doug and Tom. Planet reporters have been assured that, while no reasons are being given for either the necessity or timing of these actions, everything will in fact work out for the best. The decision to “restruc- ture” was made at “an executive level” and we should therefore be secure and not worry our pretty little heads about it. In the meantime, the Faculty Association, the V.M.R.E.U., and the grads have all held special meetings specifically because our pretty little heads are worried. We are wor- ried about the immediate consequences of these decisions, and we are worried about future deal- ings with and treatment by an autocratic Adminis- tocracy capable of such sweeping gestures. The Administocracy exhibits a clinical aware- ness of the effects of these gestures. They under- stand the various stages of emotion through which we will all reel: bewilderment, outrage, grief, de- nial, and finally, when we mature, acceptance. They are so sensitive to matters of emotion that, along with the Guillotine Gift Pack (a.k.a. the Severance Package) given to these instant-ex-em- ployees, professional counselling was provided to assist the men through this difficult transition time. Further assistance was afforded by the solicitous door-opening Mystery Escorts who accompanied each man to his desk and patiently monitored the packing up and removal of the contents thereof. A firm and guiding hand, at the end of the profes- sional arm so caringly draped about the shoulder of the ex-employee. It is rumored that the College security guards were put on alert should either Doug or Tom attempt to gain access to any locked doors within the College without their professional escorts, presumably to ensure no acts of petty van- dalism would occur during the Anger Phase. It is unfortunate that even in an art environ- ment, supposedly more enlightened and humane than in the cut-throat corporate world, we have all accepted the assuming of traditional hierarchical roles: Us vs. Them, the Unwashed Masses vs. the Suited Few. Such divisions are readily apparent at any of the open sessions of the Board meetings, where an extremely formal air presides and the Board, arrayed symmetrically around Alan Bar- kley, sits well removed, across an absurdly large no-man’s-land, from the scattered chairs of the audience. These are traditional roles, but by no means necessary. Speaking of this elaborate Board Game and our own trusting passivity, it is surprising that no one has yet questioned figures which appeared in the Board profiles printed in last month’s Planet (Who the Heck is Pat Bovey? Vol. 4, #3). As out- lined in that article, the College and Institute Act states: “The board of a college shall consist of 5 or more members.” The question to ask is, then, why do we have an 11 member board? What is the benefit of the extra 6 members? When each mem- ber receives a $2,000.00 honorarium from the Col- lege’s Operating Budget, plus travel and accom- modation expenses (6 members live out of town, thus fulfilling our “Provincial mandate”) we must consider whether or not our more than $12,000.00 yearly expense is justified. Board members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, so perhaps we (that is, the College community) have no direct say in the matter, but the issue still bears examination. When our community and morale can be so greatly affected by the decisions of these people, we must look beyond our immedi- ate reactions and investigate the source. We must ask ourselves whether the time-clock maximum- efficiency attitudes which prevail at the adminis- trative level of this college are worth the price of artistic sensibility and respect. Small gestures of concern, such as Mr. Bar- kley’s recent conciliatory walk-abouts, are less tell- ing perhaps than the New Yorker cartoon pinned to his Executive Assistant’s cork-board. In the cartoon a bewildered man stands before a curt secretary who informs him, across her desk: “I’m sorry, but Mr. Barclay is not putting up with people like you anymore”. Enough. This has evolved into quite a differ- ent level of excitement and arousal than was envi- sioned when we set the theme for this issue. Rest assured though, that the Planet has not lost sight of our original intentions and once you are through the opening pages of reports and opinions and politics, more intriguing types of excitement and arousal shall unfold. Next month we move from Eroticism and ex- amine Exoticism, especially as it relates to people and places foreign. In the meantime, I’m going to bed. . ACowwrewew *The Planet is also distributed to the other major Canadian art colleges and to a growing number of our foreign correspondents and inter- national alumnill Earlobe Editcr: Naomi Singer. Art Director: Gudmundur Oddur Magnusson Cover: photos by Claire Yargeau. Articles and Poetry: Josh Wapp, Karen Opas, Martin Hunt, Jerry Stochansky, Sandra Lock- wood, John Wertschek, Ann Marie Fleming, Lorna Boschman, Gail Noonan, Andrew Law- rence, Claire Yargeau, Madonna Hamel, Kim Blaine, Georgina Brandon, Pamela Tagle, Lesli Kelley, Martin Stein, Roberta Cantelon, Karen Church, Meena Blesing, Caron Dunn, Michelle Edmunson, Anon., Ian Verchere, Russell Bateman, Chris Catalano, Rick Ross, Jack Lee, Geoff Rees, Mike Harcourt. Photos and Graphics: Alison Bigg, Carel Moiseiwitsch, Jerry Stochansky, Connie Herman, Garret Chong, Naomi Singer, Oraf, Meena Blesing, Karen Opas, Shaun Hayes-Holgate, Gary Trudeau (without permission, oops!), George Ashcroft, Sheila Smart, Brien Clement, Chris Catalano, Dennis Burton, Tom Zuber, George Oliver, David Vaisbord, Geoffrey Curtis, Jaimie . Tainton, Richard Wong, Geoff Topham. Typesetting: Leslie Smith, Keven Fedisko, Connie Herman, Sherann Johnson, Rob Valley, Anna Maria Macaranas Solidum, Matt Pearson, Ricarda MacDonald, Patricia Baun, Alandra Karady, Martin Hunt, Siobhan O’Keefe, Adrian Boston, Mike Smart. Paste-up: Mario Gonzalez,Claire Yargeau, Gail Noonan, Lisa Grant, Rovin Hutchinson. Staff Photographer: Alison Bigg. Faculty Advisor: John Wertschek. The Planet of the Arts is a monthly student publication from the Emily Carr College of Art and Design, funded by the Student Society (and occasional advertising). We welcome unsolicited contributions provided they include the contributor’s real name and phone number. Articles must be typewritten and double-spaced. Artwork should be black and white. All submissions can be placed in the black box outside the Planet office. The Editor reserves the right to edit. ® The Planet of the Arts is printed at College Printers. We have a circulation of 2,500. Distribution outlets include: (Galleries): The Pitt, The Grunt, The Or, The Contempo- rary, Jacqueline M., Crown, and Presentation House; (Cafés): The Licks, Joe’s Café, Café Café, Montgomery Café, The Railway Club; (Bookstores): Octopus East, : McLeods; (Art Stores): Mac Ewans, Albin’s; (Theatres): Ridge, Van East, Hollywood, Pacific Cinemateque; (Cloth- ing Stores); Second Skin, Mecca, The Block, Cabbages and Kinks, Deluxe Junk. Back issues are available at the Planet office at ECCAD, 1399 Johnston St., Granville Island, Vancouver, V6H 3R9 (687-2345, local 218). - Plan of the Arts -Vol ‘This month the Planets’ theme is Eroticism, but as the College at this moment is not so much concerned with Eros but Erosion (ie: erosion of spirit - see articles, p.3), we must deal with Busi- ness before Pleasure. ‘The business, as stated in a Jan. 27 memo from Alan Barkley’s office is : “I wish to inform you that Douglas Weir and Tom Kowall have left the Col- lege. I hope you will join me in wishing both of them the very best in their future endeavors. For the time being, Brad Campell will oversee the Fa- cilities Department, and I will take responsibility for the Student Services area.” For those who are new to the College or are not directly associated with it (after all, the Planet /-wide distribution of 2,500"), a bit of back- Student Services and the Registrar, most familiar to students as the guy in the V-neck sweater who also Chair of the Grad Steering Committee. He worked for the College for 12 U2 years. Doug “the Right Stuff” Weir was the Facilities Manager, best known to students as the tall cow- boy type who dispensed ladders and tools, man- aged wild fire alarms and handled all emergencies instrumental in the annual United Way fund-rais- ing drive. Doug worked at the College for 18 12 years. Brad Campbell is the College Bursar and as such manages the College's financial concerns. He is chattily referred to by those in Admin. as“21.C” (or, to the layman, Second in Command). Few students know what he looks like. He has been here 6 V2 years. Alan Barkley is the President of ECCAD. He is referred to by students as either “the guy in the suit” or “who..?” (see Doonesbury cartoon of ge- neric president type, p-4, for identification). He the College for 2 12 years (see Planet of the Arts interview, vol. 2 #1, 1986). So much for the main cast of characters (ig- noring for the moment the supporting cast of staff and about 600 full-time “extras”). The essential problem at this college, at the heart of the erosive process, is that we have developed an Admini: ‘cracy which has not integrated itself into the spirit of an art college but rather ingratiated itself into the larger political picture of corporate function- alism. ‘By now it may be obvious where my sympa- thies lie, but my generally pluralistic stance is dif- ficult to maintain under the circumstances. The circumstances being that two long-time employees have, with cold surgical precision and no explana- tion whatsoever, been removed from the College, in the middle of the term. Ethics aside (part of the existing problem), the two positions is that either the people, or the jobs, were not very important in the first place. Why, ‘even Alan and Brad could do such jobs in their spare time. Spare time? Mr. Barkley is already so overburdened with his many responsibilities {he sits on 14 (ie. all) of the academic committees at the college, 12 of these in multiple roles - Presi- =~» EDITORIA dont, Acting Dean, Acting Director of Student Serv- ices}, that this month he had no time to commu: cate College affairs to the College community through his usual Planet column. (He did, how- ever, submit a notice regarding operation of the shuttle bus). As for the Bursar hardly imagine Brad risking a grease-spot on his necktie in the name of menial repairs. So much for implications. As to actual conse- quences, obviously the additional workload will ‘be dumped on the support staff attached to these two positions. Even when the “qualified individu- als” Administration assures us will be found ar- rive, the flow of Colloge activity will already have bboen so disrupted as to impair such time-depen- dant issues as graduation and the impending in- crease of foreign student fees. Ironically it was ‘Tom Kowall who sat with concerned students, for- cign and otherwise, after the latest Board meet. ing, while the Board (a.k.a. the Firing Squad) filed quietly downstairs away from their Open Session and into their Open Season, to conduct their real business behind closed doors. The loss of Tom Kowall, who was Chairman of the Grad Steering Commitice, attended all mect- ings, and therefore knew what was going on, may, prove a tremendous set back for this years grads. Even if there were some valid reason for the firing ‘of Doug and Tom, was it so urgent that they removed from the College so abruptly and at such a crucial time? No matter how well qualified their replacements, it will be impossible for them to adequately acclimatize to the College atmosphere and to compensate for the loss of thirty years of combined experience represented by Doug and Tom. Planet reporters have been assured that, whi no reasons are being given for either thenecessity or timing of thi a work out for the best. The decision to “restruc- ture” was made at “an executive level” and we should therefore be secure and not worry our pretty little heads about it. In the meantime, the Faculty Association, the V-MLREW, and the grads have all held special meetings specifically because our preity little heads are worried. We are wor ried about the immediate consequences of these ind we are worried about future de ings with and treatment by an autocratic Admi tocraey capable of such sweeping gestures. ‘The Administocracy exhibits a clinical aware- ness of the effects of these gestures. They under- stand the various stages of emotion through which wwe will all reel: bewilderment, outrage, grief, d nial, and finally, when we mature, acceptance. ‘They are so sonsitive to matters of emotion that, along with the Guillotine Gift Pack (a.k.a. the Severance Package) given to these instantex-em- ployees, professional counselling was provided to assist the men through this difficult transition time. Further assistance was afforded by the solicitous door-opening Mystery Escorts who accompanied each man to his desk and patiently monitored the packing up and removal of the contents thereof. A firm and guiding hand, at the end of the profes- sional arm so caringly draped about the shoulder of the ex-employee. It is rumored that the College security guards were put on alert should either Doug or Tom attempt to gain access to any locked doors within the College without their professional escorts, presumably to ensure no acts of petty van- dalism would occur during the Anger Phase. It is unfortunate that even in an art environ: ment, supposedly more enlightened and humane than in the cut-throat corporate world, we have all accepted the assuming of traditional hierarchical roles: Us vs. Them, the Unwashed Masses vs. the Suited Few. Such divisions are readily apparent at any of the open sessions of the Board meetings, where an extremely formal air presides and the Board, arrayed symmetrically around Alan Bar- ley, sits well removed, across an absurdly large no-man’sland, from the scattered chairs of the audience. These are traditional roles, but by no ‘means necessary. Speaking of this elaborate Board Game and our own trusting passivity, it is surprising that no ‘one has yet questioned figures which appeared in the Board profiles printed in last month's Planet (Who the Heck is Pat Bovey? Vol. 4, #3). As out Iined in that article, the College and Institute Act states: “The board ofa college shall consist of 5 or more members.” The question to ask is, then, why do we have an Il member board? What is the bonofit of the extra 6 members? When each mem- ber receives a $2,000.00 honorarium from the Col- loge’s Operating Budget, plus travel and accom- modation expenses (6 members live out of town, thus fulfilling our “Provincial mandate”) we must consider whether or not our more than $12,000.00 yearly expense is justified. Board members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, so perhaps we (that is, the College community) have no direct say in the matter, but the issue still bears examination. When our community and morale can be so greatly affected by the decisions of these people, we must look beyond our immedi ate reactions and investigate the source. We must Jk ourselves whether the time-clock maximum- cfficieney attitudes which prevail at the admini trative level of this college are worth the price of artistic sensibility and respect. Small gestures of concern, such as Mr. Bar- Kley’s recent conciliatory walk-abouts, are less tell- ing perhaps than the New Yorker cartoon pinned to his Executive Assistant’s cork-board. In the cartoon a bewildered man stands before a curt secretary who informs him, across her desk: “I'm sorry, but Mr. Barclay is not putting up with people ike you anymore”. Enough. This has evolved into quite a differ- ent level of excitement and arousal than was envi- sioned when we set the theme for this issue. Rest assured though, that the Planet has not lost sight of our original intentions and once you are through the opening pages of reports and opinions and politics, more intriguing types of excitement and ‘arousal shall unfold. Next month we move from Eroticism and ex- ‘amine Exoticism, especially as it relates to people and places foreign. In the meantime, I'm going to bed. pare, The Planet is also distributed to the other major Canadian art colleges and to a growing number of our foreign correspondents and inter- national alumni Earlobe Editer: Naomi Singer. Art Director: Gudmundur Oddur Magnusson Cover: photos by Claire Yargeau. Articles and Poetry: Josh Wapp, Karen Opas, Martin Hunt, Jerry Stochansky, Sandra Lock- ‘wood, John Wertschek, Ann Marie Fleming, Lorna Boschman, Gail Noonan, Andrew Law- rence, Claire Yargeau, Madonna Hamel, Kim Blaine, Georgina Brandon, Pamela Tagle, Les! Kelley, Martin Stein, Roberta Cantelon, Karen. Church, Meena Blesing, Caron Dunn, Michelle Edmunson, Anon., Ian Verchere, Russell Bateman, Chris Catalano, Rick Ross, Jack Lee, Geoff Rees, Mike Harcourt. Photos and Graphics: Alison Bigg, Carel Moiseiwitsch, Jerry Stochansky, Connie Herman, Garret Chong, Naomi Singer, Oraf, Meena Blesing, Karen Opas, Shaun Hayes-Holgate, Gary ‘Trudeau (without permission, oops!), George Asheroft, Sheila Smart, Brien Clement, Chris Catalano, Dennis Burton, Tom Zuber, George Oliver, David Vaishord, Geoffrey Curtis, Jaimie ‘Tainton, Richard Wong, Geoff Topham. ‘Typesetting: Leslie Smith, Keven Fedisko, Conni ‘Herman, Sherann Johnson, Rob Valley, Anna Maria Macaranas Solidum, Matt Pearson, Ricarda ‘MacDonald, Patricia Baun, Alandra Karady, Martin Hunt, Siobhan O'Keefe, Adrian Boston, Mike Smart. Paste-up: Mario Gonzalez,Claire Yargeau, Gail Noonan, Lisa Grant, Kovin Hutchinson. Staff Photographer: Alison Faculty Advisor: John Wertschek. ‘The Planet of the Arts is a monthly student publication from the Emlly Carr College of Artand Design, funded by the Student Society (and occasional advertising). We ‘welcome unsolicited contributions provided they include the contributor’s real name and phone number. Articles, ‘must be typewritten and double-spaced. Artwork should ‘be black and white. All submissions can be placed in the Dlackboxoutside the Planet office. The Editor reservesthe right to edit ° ‘The Planet of the Arts is printed at College Printers. We hhave a cireulation of 2,500, Distribution outlets include: (Galleries) The Pitt, The Grunt, The Or, The Contempo- rary, Jacqueline M., Crown, and Presentation House; (Cafés): The Licks, Joe's Cafe, Café Café, Montgomery Café, The Rallway Club; (Bookstores): Octopus East, “MeLeods; (Art Stores): Mac Ewans, Albin’s; (Theatres) Ridge, Van Fast, Hollywood, Pacific Cinemateque;(Cloth- Ing Stores); Second Skin, Mecca, The Block, Cabbages ‘and Kinks, Deluxe Junk. Back issues are available at the Planet office at ECCAD, 1399 Johnston St, Granilelstan, Vancouver, VGHSRD (687.2345, local 218).