SPECIAL REPORT
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, February 28, 1996 - 5
'Students,
dean clash in School of Art
Armbands symbolize recent
Conflicts over faculty, piorities
Culminating weeks of students' frus-
trations over the hiring of new faculty
within the School of Art, students will
be wearing armbands to protest the re-
cent decisions of the school's dean.
Last night, 10 students met with the Art
Students' League to discuss a potential
protest against the dean ofthe Art School.
The result is 400 armbands, scheduled to
be distributed to Art students today.
Last September, the School of Art
began a search for seven new faculty
members based on recent retirements.
Originally, the plan included four posi-
tions in design, and one position each in
ceramics, painting and new genre.
New genre is art that revolves around
computer technology and crosses the
boundaries of traditional forms.
The new positions are tenure-track, so
the professors would be hired on three-
year contracts. Temporary faculty, such
as adjunct professors, and outside candi-
dates were encouraged to apply.
Six hundred candidates applied for
the seven positions. The field has been
narrowed to 25 candidates.
However, on Feb. 16, Allen Samuels,
Art School dean, announced that the
search for faculty in the areas of ceram-
ics and painting had been cancelled.
These two positions will now be filled
with new-genre candidates.
"The recent concern (among students)
is that the dean decided to cancel two of
the searches," said Gene Pijanowski, as-
sociate dean for undergraduate studies.
The official cancellation announcement
was given to the school's executive com-
mittee at a Feb. 16 meeting and again at
the school's general faculty meeting. An
explanation was not offered at the meet-
ing because Samuels said he did not have
time to give one.
By Feb. 19, most students had heard
about the cancellation through word of
mouth. Two days later, Samuels sent
memos to graduate students' mailboxes.
In the memo, Samuels stated his rea-
sons for the cancellation.
Later that day, copies of the dean's
memo were taped to windows along the
second floor of the building. The words
"Fuck You," which had been added in
reverse on the back ofthe copies, showed
through prominently on each page.
Samuels made his first official an-
nouncement about the cancellation to
the entire school at a Feb. 21 meeting.
About 250 students and faculty attended.
Samuels said he wanted to use the meet-
ing as a chance to explain his position
and to clear up the anger many students
had expressed.
"I put my money in design because I
have to," Samuels said. "I don't have
enough resources to do this and more."
Samuels said the areas of design and
new genre are more effective in bring-
ing financial resources into the Univer-
sity. He said he believes the potential to
bring in resources will help the school
as a whole.
"(The new faculty) will enrich all of
us," Samuels said.
Samuels also said the distribution of
fine arts and design faculty is unbal-
anced. He said that while there are cur-
rently 15 fine arts professors, there is
only one professor in design. Samuels
said this is a problem because he be-
lieves halfofthe students consider them-
selves designers.
During the Feb. 21 meeting, students
freely expressed their anger and frus-
tration with the recent decision, and
explained their concerns.
However, both the dean and the stu-
dents agreed that the meeting did not
have an overall
positive effect.m
"I don't think it y
accomplished too al
m uch," said A rt s in tei g
senior Vincent
Demarti. E57
Holly Visani,l
an Art graduate
student instructor, studems
echoed Demarti's
opinion. "That
meeting was President C
never held to
solve any of these
problems," she
said. "It was an awful atmosphere."
Josh Hong, president of the Art Stu-
dents' League, said that during the meet-
ing, Samuels did not take the students'
comments into consideration and only
made the situation worse.
"In my opinion, during the meeting,
he didn't listen to students," Hong said.
Samuels said the meeting was only
successful as a forum, rather than as a
meeting to convince students of his
position.
"Many of them didn't come to be
convinced," he said. "I had hoped to
explain.clearly and justify."
Many students said they believe
Samuels' recent search cancellation sig-
nals a lack of concern for the fine arts
departments.
"The school relies on certain founda-
tions and when those programs are ne-
glected, I'm not really sure about that,"
Artgraduate student Roberto Visani said.
U
4
I
I
F
Art senior Pam Zuccker had a similar
opinion.
"The whole concern is losing fine
arts," she said. "The whole problem is
the low priority of fine arts."
During the meeting, Samuels said
that there are some faculty within the
department who he feels are not good
teachers. Hong said he believes Samuels
was commenting on the fine arts fac-
ulty directly.
"He was completely belittling the
fine arts department," Hong said.
However, Samuels said he does care
about fine arts.
"This is not a personal matter," he said.
He said his decision is not a matter of
what he "loves" and "doesn't love." He
said fine artists simply have a more
difficult time receiving grants.
In response to the dean's opinions about
the faculty, some professors and students
said current faculty who are applying for
the job do not have as good a chance as
outside candidates.
Adjunct Prof.
Amr Hawas said
DI3IflOf he did not apply
for the position.
"Iknow the out-
e din come in advance,"
e did t he said. "He wants
to hire well-
known names in
!! the field."
He said that in
- Josh Hong the dean's opin-
Art Students' ion, the current
League faculty do not fit
this image.
In addition to
faculty problems, many students feel
the mission of the school is shifting too
far toward one of design and technol-
ogy, overshadowing fine arts.
"It's showing anew direction,"Zuccker
said. "(Samuels) isn't a big fan of (fine
arts) - he's not going to nurture that."
But Adjunct Prof. Kevin Brady said
Samuels has to reflect a society that is
moving toward technology. He said in
the 21st century, it will be important for
students to know computer imaging
and industrial design.
"It's an understandable decision,"
Brady said. "The dean did what he had
to do."
The dean emphasized that the school
consists of more than just fine arts.
"It's a school of art and design. Not
or. We have to work together," he said.
This integration and expansion of the
arts from the traditional roles is also
exemplified in the administration's de-
cision to change the name of the school
from the School of Art to the School of
Art and Design. The name change will
be submitted to the University Board of
Regents for approval in March.
Besides concerns about the role fine
arts will play in the school's future,
students said they have not had a voice
in the search process.
Three meetings on the search process
were held before the Feb. 21 meeting.
But Samuels said that at the first meet-
ing, only one student arrived.
"It's not that the administration hasn't
been communicating with the students,"
Pijanowski said. "They haven't been
going to what's being offered."
Demarti said these meetings weren't
well-attended because no one believed
the dean would do "these insane things."
"That was when concerns didn't seem
so immediate," he said.
Some students also said the adminis-
tration hasn't communicated well with
the students about the search.
"No one will give us straight an-
swers," said Art junior Nathan Higley.
"It's hard to complain when you don't
know what's going on."
Some students have been allowed to
participate in the search directly by serv-
ing on search committees. But Samuels
said the names of the candidates were
not released to students on the commit-
tee in order to maintain confidentiality.
The students did have the opportunity to
view the candidates' unsigned work.
Art graduate student Augusto Arbizo
was on the search committee for the
painting faculty, but said he is unsure
how important his voice was.
"My status was questionable," he
said. "At certain points I wasn't sure
they wanted me on it."
Samuels said students will have the
opportunity to become involved with
the search process after spring break,
when the 25 candidates will visit the
University to speak in open forums
with students and faculty. They will
also display their artwork.
In addition to the open forums, the
candidates will be meeting with students
without any administrators present.
The selected candidates are expected
to begin teaching next fall.
Many faculty members repeatedly re-
fused to comment on the issues concern-
ing the hiring. One professor declined
because he said that based on his opinions
on the issue, he was afraid of repercus-
sions from the dean if he spoke publicly.
The League decided to create 400
armbands with the dean's e-mail ad-
dress written on them. They will also
number the bands to represent the num-
ber of students in the school.
"As a fine arts program, we're being
ignored," said Art sophomore Shana
Victor. "People don't think their voice
counts so we're taking action so'that
they see that they do."
The week after spring break, mem-
bers of the League have an appointment
with Samuels to discuss their concerns.
"If nothing goes well, I can't say
what's going to happen afterward,"
Hong said.
KRISTEN SCHAEFER/gaily
Art students Shana Victor, a sophomore, and first-year student Jaclyn Hamilton listen to concerns and
protest ideas yesterday on North Campus.
I unfair to us.
Thy 'ye taken
0wa a lot of
thig."
4
letely
Growth creates space, construction problems
- Julie Davidson
School ofArt senior
S "We're ready
to utupsome-
thing more per-
manent. It will
Aopefully serve
*-students
better"
-Gene Pijanowski
Associate dean of
Undergradute Studies
Beyond the cranes hovering over Central Campus build-
ings, campus construction is taking its toll on another less-
visible space -the School of Art. The construction, coupled
with a steadily growing Art community, has left undergradu-
ates clamoring for more space.
"There certainly is a lack of storage space and work
space," said Art senior Vincent Demarti.
Josh Hong, an Art sophomore and president of the Art
Students' League, echoed Demarti's opinion and said the
departments have been growing in recent years.
"Enrollment is at a high," said Art School Dean Allen
Samuels, referring to the 600 Art students currently enrolled.
Hong said he believes the increased enrollment is one of
the reasons for the current lack of space.
"There isn't enough space," he said. "As (the departments)
are growing, they need more space."
Samuels said the administration is aware that increased
enrollment can bring on these problems.
"There are pressures because there are more students than
ever before," he said.
Samuels said he attempted remedies, including holding more
night classes and holding classes in areas outside the Art School.
"We're aware of it. We're trying to do something about it,"
he said.
Drawing and painting studios are areas that students say
are particular problems. There are now two painting studios
and three drawing studios, which are used to teach upper-
level as well as foundation courses. Certain classes that are
taught in these studios, such as basic drawing, are required
for all Art students. Courses for non-Art students are also
taught in these studios.
Hong said the fact that there are only five studios in which to
teach numerous courses creates a problem for students. He said
that because the rooms are used so frequently, it is difficult for
students to have an opportunity to work in the studios on their
own time. For example, Hong said, classes are taught in the
studios until 10 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Demarti said classes taught in these studios also tend to be
very large, particularly with basic courses. He said that at times
there can be as many as 40 students in a class.
Also, two weeks ago construction began to transfer two
undergraduate studios - one watercolor studio and one mixed
media studio - into a graduate center.
The graduate center. which is tentatively scheduled to open
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
Art School Dean Allen Samuels speaks to students last week about their concerns and discusses additions to the faculty.
"I know the
outcome in ad-
vance. He
~- - i7 _-
Art senior Julie Davidson said that as a photography under-
graduate, she is losing important studio space.
"It's completely unfair to us," she said. "They've taken
away a lot of things."
However, West said the school is attempting to balance the
needs of students in all programs.
"We're always balancing our resources," he said. "This is
a graduate university."
Art graduate Jenny Schmid said she is glad the graduate
center has been created.
"I'm pretty excited - mainly because we'll have a gallery
space there." she said. "Grad students have never really had a
space is because of the construction.
Also, because the Art and Architecture Libraries are sched-
uled to be relocated to the Media Union this summer,
Pijanowski said this may help to alleviate the problem of a
lack of space, since one proposal is to use the current library
area for more classrooms.
"Hopefully, this (lack of classroom space) will all work out
this summer," he said.
The fact that the studios are separated by dividers rather than
full walls also presents a concern for some students. Schmid
teaches a drawing course in one of the second-floor studios and
said that due to the dividers, sounds travel freely between
C