George Adams Gallery
Exhibition June 4 – July 2, 2009
Opening reception Saturday June 6th, 4-6pm
Thursday, June 4, 2009
PARSONS PINK SLIPS @ George Adams Gallery_525 West 26th Street
Hired, fired, non-rehired and otherwise gainfully employed will be treated equally in a show that features installation, photography, painting, sculpture and new media as a community of artists and educators we choose this moment to stand together in a moment of guarded optimism.
George Adams Gallery
Exhibition June 4 – July 2, 2009
Opening reception Saturday June 6th, 4-6pm
George Adams Gallery
Exhibition June 4 – July 2, 2009
Opening reception Saturday June 6th, 4-6pm
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
George Adams Gallery: Parsons Pink Slips
Exhibition June 4 – July 2, 2009
Opening reception Saturday June 6th, 4-6pm
During June the George Adams Gallery will present an exhibition of recent work by members of the adjunct faculty of the Fine Arts Department at Parsons. The exhibition is being presented as a show of support for those members of the adjunct faculty who recently received email notices that their positions had been terminated or their hours reduced. One such email read as follows:
“This letter is to notify you that you will not be reappointed to teach in the Fine Arts Department at Parsons the New School for Design for the 2009-2010 academic year. Please note that appointment decisions are based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, curricular changes, student enrollments, an instructor’s performance history, the need for departmental flexibility in hiring, and work load agreements with full-time and senior part-time faculty.”
The exhibition features works by Jackie Brookner, Miggy Buck, Tom Butter, William Carroll, Julianna Dail, Stuart Diamond, Peter Drake, Dale Emmart, Heide Fasnacht, Matt Freedman, Glenn Goldberg, Regina Granne, Susan Hambleton, Laurence Hegarty, Sharon Louden, Lenore Malen, David Mann, Jean-Pierre Roy, David Schafer, Mira Schor, Ward Shelly, Elke Solomon, Brian Tolle, and Susan Weller.
The “Parsons Pink Slips” exhibition showcases the work of these members of the Parsons Fine Art Department, all practicing artists who work and exhibit in New York. They work in all media and from a wide range of approaches, from environmental collaborations and installations (Brookner, Buck, Solomon), to video and performance (Louden and Malen). Others address political issues such as the war in Iraq (Drake, Dail, Granne, Tolle), contemporary life (Diamond, Hegarty, Fasnacht, Schafer, Schor), or aspects of science and nature (Butter, Mann, Roy). While several of the artists in the exhibition are at the beginning of their exhibiting careers, others have been showing their work in New York galleries since the 1970s and 1980s, and are represented in the collections of major museums through out the US, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the MCA, Chicago, the MFA, Houston, MoMA the Walker in Minneapolis, and the Whitney. Collectively they have been awarded 8 NYFA grants, 7 NEA grants, 4 Guggenheim fellowships, 4 Pollock-Krasner and 2 Rockefeller grants, among other distinctions.
The George Adams Gallery would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following galleries who represent artists in the exhibition: CRG, Kent, McKenzie Fine Art, Momenta Art, Pierogi, Rare, Luise Ross, Linda Warren, and Zone.
The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm and on Mondays by appointment.
George Adams Gallery
525 West 26th Street
First Floor
New York, New York 10001
tel 212.564.8480
info@georgeadamsgallery.com
Images of all works in the exhibition and additional information on the artists are posted on the gallery’s website: www.georgeadamsgallery.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
New School Whistleblower Policy
May 4, 2009
Re: The New School Whistleblower Policy
A Note to the New School Community,
Every member of the university community is encouraged to report suspected misconduct to his or her immediate supervisor, or in the case of students, to the office of student rights and responsibilities. However, we understand that this procedure is not always a feasible option and have heard concerns regarding the need for a neutral forum to report wrongdoing. For these reasons, we have implemented a whistleblower policy.
This new policy creates a University Compliance Committee to receive and investigate complaints from students, faculty, and staff. If a committee member is the subject of a report, the chair of the board of trustees’ Audit and Risk Committee will conduct the investigation. The members of the committee are:
● Vice Provost Elizabeth Ross, who will hear complaints regarding academic misconduct;
● Senior Vice President for Human Resources Carol Cantrell, who will deal with matters related to the university’s personnel practices;
● Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Frank Barletta, who will deal with fiscal misconduct;
● Vice President and General Counsel Roy Moskowitz and/or Bevis Longstreth, chair of the board of trustees’ Audit and Risk Committee, who will handle all other concerns.
We have also retained EthicsPoint, a third-party provider of confidential reporting services, to create a phone and online system to allow for anonymous reports. This system will be in place by the end of May.
Following an investigation of a complaint, the University Compliance Committee will propose corrective actions to the president, provost, and executive vice president for approval and implementation.
We have done a great deal of work and made much progress in the last few months creating systems to enable members of our community to communicate openly and freely. By offering a channel for reporting suspected misconduct while ensuring protection from retaliation, this policy provides another avenue for constructive criticism to improve the functioning of the university.
The full policy is attached for your review or you can read it online as part of the Institutional Policies & Procedures Manual at www.newschool.edu/hr/manual.aspx. The Whistleblower Policy appears on page 49.
Bob Kerrey
Re: The New School Whistleblower Policy
A Note to the New School Community,
Every member of the university community is encouraged to report suspected misconduct to his or her immediate supervisor, or in the case of students, to the office of student rights and responsibilities. However, we understand that this procedure is not always a feasible option and have heard concerns regarding the need for a neutral forum to report wrongdoing. For these reasons, we have implemented a whistleblower policy.
This new policy creates a University Compliance Committee to receive and investigate complaints from students, faculty, and staff. If a committee member is the subject of a report, the chair of the board of trustees’ Audit and Risk Committee will conduct the investigation. The members of the committee are:
● Vice Provost Elizabeth Ross, who will hear complaints regarding academic misconduct;
● Senior Vice President for Human Resources Carol Cantrell, who will deal with matters related to the university’s personnel practices;
● Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Frank Barletta, who will deal with fiscal misconduct;
● Vice President and General Counsel Roy Moskowitz and/or Bevis Longstreth, chair of the board of trustees’ Audit and Risk Committee, who will handle all other concerns.
We have also retained EthicsPoint, a third-party provider of confidential reporting services, to create a phone and online system to allow for anonymous reports. This system will be in place by the end of May.
Following an investigation of a complaint, the University Compliance Committee will propose corrective actions to the president, provost, and executive vice president for approval and implementation.
We have done a great deal of work and made much progress in the last few months creating systems to enable members of our community to communicate openly and freely. By offering a channel for reporting suspected misconduct while ensuring protection from retaliation, this policy provides another avenue for constructive criticism to improve the functioning of the university.
The full policy is attached for your review or you can read it online as part of the Institutional Policies & Procedures Manual at www.newschool.edu/hr/manual.aspx. The Whistleblower Policy appears on page 49.
Bob Kerrey
Parsons Fine Arts "Reconfiguration"
Message to the AMT Community (sent via email 4/27/09)
From Sven Travis, Dean, School of Art, Media, and Technology
As we move more fully into the five school structure across Parsons, I
want to keep you updated on plans for administrative structure within
the School of Art, Media, and Technology. AMT is the biggest school of
Parsons’ five and this will clearly be a work in progress over the next
couple of years. Throughout this process I am committed to open and
regular communication; it is important that all faculty have a clear
understanding of the academic environment they are a part of.
Let me start by describing several structural changes being implemented
across Parsons as part of the shift to the five schools. First,
“departments” are being replaced by degree “programs” as the primary
academic unit. This will occur at different times for different
departments. Administrative roles held by faculty are also undergoing
change; since departments are being phased out, so is the position of
department chair. This shift is commensurate with successful models that
have been fostered within several other Parsons schools. Program
directors will have primary administrative oversight; they will report
to the school dean. A related shift involves all full-time faculty
including those not holding administrative charges: they will no longer
reside within a given department or program; their appointment will be
to the School of Art, Media, and Technology.
Today I want to describe how these changes will affect two areas: CDT
(Communication Design and Technology) and Fine Arts.
First, the CDT “department” will be reconfigured as four programs: AAS
in Graphic Design—Katarzyna Gruda, Director; BFA in Communication
Design-- Jane Pirone, Director; BFA in Design and Technology-- Jess
Irish, Director, and MFA in Design and Technology-- Anezka Sebek,
Director. These programs will continue to operate academically exactly
as they have. The directors will report to me, as dean of the school.
The directors who are currently serving have all agreed to continue in
these roles for the 2009-2010 academic year.
A similar structural shift will occur in Fine Arts. The Fine Arts “department” will be reconfigured as two programs: BFA in Fine Arts--Mary Judge, Director and MFA in Fine Arts, Anthony Aziz, Director. These programs will continue to operate academically exactly as they have. The directors will report to me, as dean of the school. Many of you are aware that Anthony Aziz has been awarded a sabbatical for Fall 09 (congratulations are due-- he will be participating in an international residency at the C-Collection’s Berlin-based studio preparing for an upcoming museum exhibition and publication). I am pleased to announce that Simone Douglas, senior full-time faculty in AMT, has agreed to serve as MFA Fine Arts Director for the 2009-2010 academic year, in Anthony’s stead. In the BFA program, Mary Judge has ably served as interim director this spring and we are grateful to her for willingness to step into this role at the last minute. Discussions are ongoing with Mary about the possibility of her continuing in the role. I will inform the AMT community as soon as we finalize the BFA Directorship.
Coco Fusco will shift her role next year to become Director of AMT’s Intermedia Initiatives. Coco will maintain her appointment as AMT faculty, and will continue to teach in Fine Arts. Building on her considerable research skills, global perspective and strong vision, she will work directly with me to evaluate, develop and propose new curricular models for us to consider implementing within the AMT School in the years ahead. As part of this new role, Coco will expand the existing Fine Arts lecture series into a cross-disciplinary series for all of AMT in 2009-2010 and will continue her efforts to create interdisciplinary opportunities for students in AMT. I have also charged her with investigating best practices in “cross-disciplinary” programs across the United States aI will provide further details when I have them.
Good faith efforts will be made to keep all those effected by changes informed and involved in the process before formal public announcements are issued. I understand that any planned shifts in roles, focus or work require effective engagement and communication. What I can tell you now is that the structural changes I am describing here are real, and will happen.
You know where to find me if you want to discuss any of this.
Sincerely, Sven
Sven Travis
Dean, School of Art, Media, and Technology
Parsons The New School for Design
----------------------------------
fa_ptf@parsons.edu
----------------------------------
School of Art, Media and Technology
Parsons The New School For Design
From Sven Travis, Dean, School of Art, Media, and Technology
As we move more fully into the five school structure across Parsons, I
want to keep you updated on plans for administrative structure within
the School of Art, Media, and Technology. AMT is the biggest school of
Parsons’ five and this will clearly be a work in progress over the next
couple of years. Throughout this process I am committed to open and
regular communication; it is important that all faculty have a clear
understanding of the academic environment they are a part of.
Let me start by describing several structural changes being implemented
across Parsons as part of the shift to the five schools. First,
“departments” are being replaced by degree “programs” as the primary
academic unit. This will occur at different times for different
departments. Administrative roles held by faculty are also undergoing
change; since departments are being phased out, so is the position of
department chair. This shift is commensurate with successful models that
have been fostered within several other Parsons schools. Program
directors will have primary administrative oversight; they will report
to the school dean. A related shift involves all full-time faculty
including those not holding administrative charges: they will no longer
reside within a given department or program; their appointment will be
to the School of Art, Media, and Technology.
Today I want to describe how these changes will affect two areas: CDT
(Communication Design and Technology) and Fine Arts.
First, the CDT “department” will be reconfigured as four programs: AAS
in Graphic Design—Katarzyna Gruda, Director; BFA in Communication
Design-- Jane Pirone, Director; BFA in Design and Technology-- Jess
Irish, Director, and MFA in Design and Technology-- Anezka Sebek,
Director. These programs will continue to operate academically exactly
as they have. The directors will report to me, as dean of the school.
The directors who are currently serving have all agreed to continue in
these roles for the 2009-2010 academic year.
A similar structural shift will occur in Fine Arts. The Fine Arts “department” will be reconfigured as two programs: BFA in Fine Arts--Mary Judge, Director and MFA in Fine Arts, Anthony Aziz, Director. These programs will continue to operate academically exactly as they have. The directors will report to me, as dean of the school. Many of you are aware that Anthony Aziz has been awarded a sabbatical for Fall 09 (congratulations are due-- he will be participating in an international residency at the C-Collection’s Berlin-based studio preparing for an upcoming museum exhibition and publication). I am pleased to announce that Simone Douglas, senior full-time faculty in AMT, has agreed to serve as MFA Fine Arts Director for the 2009-2010 academic year, in Anthony’s stead. In the BFA program, Mary Judge has ably served as interim director this spring and we are grateful to her for willingness to step into this role at the last minute. Discussions are ongoing with Mary about the possibility of her continuing in the role. I will inform the AMT community as soon as we finalize the BFA Directorship.
Coco Fusco will shift her role next year to become Director of AMT’s Intermedia Initiatives. Coco will maintain her appointment as AMT faculty, and will continue to teach in Fine Arts. Building on her considerable research skills, global perspective and strong vision, she will work directly with me to evaluate, develop and propose new curricular models for us to consider implementing within the AMT School in the years ahead. As part of this new role, Coco will expand the existing Fine Arts lecture series into a cross-disciplinary series for all of AMT in 2009-2010 and will continue her efforts to create interdisciplinary opportunities for students in AMT. I have also charged her with investigating best practices in “cross-disciplinary” programs across the United States aI will provide further details when I have them.
Good faith efforts will be made to keep all those effected by changes informed and involved in the process before formal public announcements are issued. I understand that any planned shifts in roles, focus or work require effective engagement and communication. What I can tell you now is that the structural changes I am describing here are real, and will happen.
You know where to find me if you want to discuss any of this.
Sincerely, Sven
Sven Travis
Dean, School of Art, Media, and Technology
Parsons The New School for Design
----------------------------------
fa_ptf@parsons.edu
----------------------------------
School of Art, Media and Technology
Parsons The New School For Design
Monday, May 4, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Parsons Pink Slips Responds to Provost Marshall message of April 22, 2009
Message from the Provost on Parsons Fine Arts Faculty
Peter and Laurence boldly respond – i.e. our response is in bold face
NEW YORK, April 22, 2009 -- The following is a message from Tim Marshall, the Provost of The New School regarding recent events in the Fine Arts program at Parsons:
I am writing to you with an update on the situation in the Parsons Fine Arts program. Since our letter of April 8, 2009, we have heard from many people on the changes that are being enacted in the program. While there is considerable enthusiasm for the general direction we are moving in, there has also been concern voiced by some valued members of our faculty community. Our failure to consult and communicate adequately as we strive to broaden our Fine Arts program is simply that: a lack of communication and participation. I am committed to improving the former and working to create the conditions to enable the latter.
Except it was not quite that "simple". Under cover of a failure to consult and communicate adequately the administration managed to deprive 12 faculty members of their jobs and without consultation to turn the curriculum on its head. Thus it is hard to believe that the failure to communicate wasn’t by design.
All annual faculty who were not assigned teaching in the Fine Arts program due to the curricular changes will be offered alternate teaching assignments appropriate their expertise. In addition, we will make every effort to offer appropriate teaching assignments to non-annual faculty. This intention was not made clear in the original memo that was sent out, which followed a more standardized protocol. We should have personally engaged the faculty about these pending changes. I want to offer my sincere apologies for these shortcomings and the discord it has caused. I will be working with Human Resources and all the New School divisions to improve this communication process so that all faculty members are properly acknowledged for the positive contributions they make to our academic community. Out-of-context quotes implying that we see these kinds of changes as "business as usual" are inaccurate.
The apologies of the Provost are most welcome but appropriate teaching assignments for Annual Faculty should be found in their own departments first as per the union contract. Less senior faculty should not be offered teaching assignments over equally or more experienced faculty. Additionally, the removal of three senior faculty from teaching assignments that are still being offered may ring of ageism. We welcome a serious effort to replace course loads for all of our colleagues however difficult it is to believe that this was the intention of the administration all along. No hint of such intention existed prior to the press coverage and valued support offered by academics, students and artists all across the country. Could there be, we wonder, a connection between press coverage and the administrations clarification of intentions? We believe that our valued colleagues should not have lost their jobs in the first place. The "business as usual" quote can be found in The New York Times article from April 3rd and judged on its own merit.
In order to transparently remedy the situation in a timely manner, we have established a faculty taskforce (including full-time and part-time members) led by Sven Travis, Dean of the School of Art, Media and Technology (AMT). This taskforce will engage in a fuller conversation about all curricular changes within the Fine Arts program that were approved by the Parsons Curriculum Committee earlier this year. They will review both the content and implementation of these changes.
As of this moment there isn’t a task force in place. There are reservations on the part of the faculty and the union because of the suggested presence of both Print Department faculty (a transparent attempt to boost the number of faculty in the Fine Arts Department and thus minimize the significance of the numbers fired) and the embattled Chair, Coco Fusco. It is also unclear whether the task force will be empowered to reverse the firings and make curricular changes or will simply be a PR stunt to give the appearance of engagement.
I am convinced that the Fine Arts community at Parsons is poised to become stronger than ever. We are deeply committed to enrolling the most talented and diverse incoming class possible, and have made great strides toward that end in this past year. In a delicate economic climate like the one we currently face, it is imperative that we all do everything possible to succeed on this front. The good news is that the MFA has seen an upswing of interest, with applications at historically high levels and with more accepted students depositing earlier than in the past.
The " upswing in interest" and "the historically high levels" of applications should be the final argument for the success and superiority of the existing program. What excuse could there be for displacing the very teaching assets who made this success possible especially given the "delicate economic climate" we all face? The "good news" also applies to the BFA program whose extraordinary students continue to succeed and represent Parsons admirably in graduate programs, residencies and the larger art world.
As Fine Arts expands its influence across Parsons, we envision many possibilities for new cross-disciplinary, curricular, and extra-curricular models. To support these ambitions, we will be creating a new Inter-Media Initiative within the School of Art, Media, and Technology to assist in the development of these projects in the years ahead. In order to enable AMT to undertake this work, we will soon be announcing a new administrative structure for the Fine Arts program moving forward.
The existing faculty of The Fine Arts Department have embraced change and look forward to the expanding role of fine arts at The New School. We hope that new initiatives are not a Trojan horse to create a design-centric curriculum which is both at odds with the unique qualities of the Fine Arts department and a limited view of the larger art world. In keeping with your commitment to open communication and participation any new initiatives should include the full involvement of the faculty. The absence of any specifics in your announcement of a new Inter-Media Initiative and a new administrative structure makes these proposals seem less than transparent – indeed hollow.
In sum, we can and will learn from our mistakes, and we appreciate the time and energy many faculty have invested in working to better the situation. I ask that you join us in building the best possible program to welcome a great incoming class in Fall 2009.
No argument there.
Tim Marshall
Provost, The New School
Peter Drake and Laurence Hegarty
Peter and Laurence boldly respond – i.e. our response is in bold face
NEW YORK, April 22, 2009 -- The following is a message from Tim Marshall, the Provost of The New School regarding recent events in the Fine Arts program at Parsons:
I am writing to you with an update on the situation in the Parsons Fine Arts program. Since our letter of April 8, 2009, we have heard from many people on the changes that are being enacted in the program. While there is considerable enthusiasm for the general direction we are moving in, there has also been concern voiced by some valued members of our faculty community. Our failure to consult and communicate adequately as we strive to broaden our Fine Arts program is simply that: a lack of communication and participation. I am committed to improving the former and working to create the conditions to enable the latter.
Except it was not quite that "simple". Under cover of a failure to consult and communicate adequately the administration managed to deprive 12 faculty members of their jobs and without consultation to turn the curriculum on its head. Thus it is hard to believe that the failure to communicate wasn’t by design.
All annual faculty who were not assigned teaching in the Fine Arts program due to the curricular changes will be offered alternate teaching assignments appropriate their expertise. In addition, we will make every effort to offer appropriate teaching assignments to non-annual faculty. This intention was not made clear in the original memo that was sent out, which followed a more standardized protocol. We should have personally engaged the faculty about these pending changes. I want to offer my sincere apologies for these shortcomings and the discord it has caused. I will be working with Human Resources and all the New School divisions to improve this communication process so that all faculty members are properly acknowledged for the positive contributions they make to our academic community. Out-of-context quotes implying that we see these kinds of changes as "business as usual" are inaccurate.
The apologies of the Provost are most welcome but appropriate teaching assignments for Annual Faculty should be found in their own departments first as per the union contract. Less senior faculty should not be offered teaching assignments over equally or more experienced faculty. Additionally, the removal of three senior faculty from teaching assignments that are still being offered may ring of ageism. We welcome a serious effort to replace course loads for all of our colleagues however difficult it is to believe that this was the intention of the administration all along. No hint of such intention existed prior to the press coverage and valued support offered by academics, students and artists all across the country. Could there be, we wonder, a connection between press coverage and the administrations clarification of intentions? We believe that our valued colleagues should not have lost their jobs in the first place. The "business as usual" quote can be found in The New York Times article from April 3rd and judged on its own merit.
In order to transparently remedy the situation in a timely manner, we have established a faculty taskforce (including full-time and part-time members) led by Sven Travis, Dean of the School of Art, Media and Technology (AMT). This taskforce will engage in a fuller conversation about all curricular changes within the Fine Arts program that were approved by the Parsons Curriculum Committee earlier this year. They will review both the content and implementation of these changes.
As of this moment there isn’t a task force in place. There are reservations on the part of the faculty and the union because of the suggested presence of both Print Department faculty (a transparent attempt to boost the number of faculty in the Fine Arts Department and thus minimize the significance of the numbers fired) and the embattled Chair, Coco Fusco. It is also unclear whether the task force will be empowered to reverse the firings and make curricular changes or will simply be a PR stunt to give the appearance of engagement.
I am convinced that the Fine Arts community at Parsons is poised to become stronger than ever. We are deeply committed to enrolling the most talented and diverse incoming class possible, and have made great strides toward that end in this past year. In a delicate economic climate like the one we currently face, it is imperative that we all do everything possible to succeed on this front. The good news is that the MFA has seen an upswing of interest, with applications at historically high levels and with more accepted students depositing earlier than in the past.
The " upswing in interest" and "the historically high levels" of applications should be the final argument for the success and superiority of the existing program. What excuse could there be for displacing the very teaching assets who made this success possible especially given the "delicate economic climate" we all face? The "good news" also applies to the BFA program whose extraordinary students continue to succeed and represent Parsons admirably in graduate programs, residencies and the larger art world.
As Fine Arts expands its influence across Parsons, we envision many possibilities for new cross-disciplinary, curricular, and extra-curricular models. To support these ambitions, we will be creating a new Inter-Media Initiative within the School of Art, Media, and Technology to assist in the development of these projects in the years ahead. In order to enable AMT to undertake this work, we will soon be announcing a new administrative structure for the Fine Arts program moving forward.
The existing faculty of The Fine Arts Department have embraced change and look forward to the expanding role of fine arts at The New School. We hope that new initiatives are not a Trojan horse to create a design-centric curriculum which is both at odds with the unique qualities of the Fine Arts department and a limited view of the larger art world. In keeping with your commitment to open communication and participation any new initiatives should include the full involvement of the faculty. The absence of any specifics in your announcement of a new Inter-Media Initiative and a new administrative structure makes these proposals seem less than transparent – indeed hollow.
In sum, we can and will learn from our mistakes, and we appreciate the time and energy many faculty have invested in working to better the situation. I ask that you join us in building the best possible program to welcome a great incoming class in Fall 2009.
No argument there.
Tim Marshall
Provost, The New School
Peter Drake and Laurence Hegarty
GO TEAM
Rebecca Curry, Parsons MFA 2009 Graduate
“I'm interested in power and institutional structures, and for me I often like to direct attention to them in different ways. This project was a light way of emphasizing the competitive spirit to artschool, along with the division and Parsons' specific structure of different educators and their students. This is for my wonderful educators and also, teachers in general, who deserve to have a bit of cheerleading and support, just like us.” - Rebecca Curry
GO TEAM was presented on April 24, 09, the final class day of CORE at Parsons Fine Arts MFA.
All the teachers/coaches currently are Core Faculty this semester.
For additional information: rcurry3@gmail.com
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
School Wide Rally to Save Parsons Fine Arts Dept.
NEW SCHOOL WIDE RALLY
Support Our Union!
Support Parsons Fine Art Faculty!
When: Thursday, April 23, 12-1 pm
Where: Directly in front of the New School administration building at 66 West 12th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues, New York City)
What: ACT-UAW Local 7902, the union of part-time faculty at NYU and the New School, will sponsor a rally protesting mass dismissals of arts faculty at Parsons the New School for Design.
http://www.actuaw.org
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Upcoming Parsons Fine Art Student Shows
Come out and see the great work of all these
"soon to graduate" artists.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Pre Rally Prep (before Thurs. April 23)
Your chance to help, your chance to show support.
Along with coming out this Thursday at noon for the rally you can pitch in and help in other ways.
SIGN MAKING
Tuesday 4/21
11am to 8pm
113 University Place, 6th floor
Conference room
PHONE BANKING and MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH
Wednesday 4/22
10am to 12pm (calling press -- Very Important!!!!!!!!)
12pm to 5pm (membership outreach)
113 University Place, 6th floor
PRESS PHONE BANKING
Thursday 4/23
8am to 10am
113 University Place, 6th floor
See you there!
Along with coming out this Thursday at noon for the rally you can pitch in and help in other ways.
SIGN MAKING
Tuesday 4/21
11am to 8pm
113 University Place, 6th floor
Conference room
PHONE BANKING and MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH
Wednesday 4/22
10am to 12pm (calling press -- Very Important!!!!!!!!)
12pm to 5pm (membership outreach)
113 University Place, 6th floor
PRESS PHONE BANKING
Thursday 4/23
8am to 10am
113 University Place, 6th floor
See you there!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
New School Free Speech
The protests of April 10th at the New School are part of an ongoing pattern of opposition by both students and faculty to the policies and practices of the administration of Bob Kerrey.
The over-reaction of the Kerrey administration to the occupation of 65 Fifth Avenue is symptomatic of a top-down policy of intimidation and unilateral thinking that is reflected in the recent mass firings of Parsons Fine Arts faculty.
In this regard it is of note that multiple attempts by Parsons Fine Arts students to engage with the administration to initiate dialogue and solicit information about the firings have been met with obfuscation, double-speak and finally blatant attempts at intimidation.
In a recent meeting of undergraduates it was reported that an administrator threatened to “spit in the face” of any student who “leaked news to the press”.
More than inappropriate, statements like these have a chilling effect on academic discourse and set an intolerably low standard for free speech.
The over-reaction of the Kerrey administration to the occupation of 65 Fifth Avenue is symptomatic of a top-down policy of intimidation and unilateral thinking that is reflected in the recent mass firings of Parsons Fine Arts faculty.
In this regard it is of note that multiple attempts by Parsons Fine Arts students to engage with the administration to initiate dialogue and solicit information about the firings have been met with obfuscation, double-speak and finally blatant attempts at intimidation.
In a recent meeting of undergraduates it was reported that an administrator threatened to “spit in the face” of any student who “leaked news to the press”.
More than inappropriate, statements like these have a chilling effect on academic discourse and set an intolerably low standard for free speech.
Letter from a Concerned Parsons Parent... We wonder what response they received?
I am writing to express my dismay over the article in yesterday’s New York Times, which details a one-third cut in your Fine Arts faculty. The timing of this article is remarkable. It was published the day after my daughter told me and my wife that she has declared Fine Arts as her major. She is completing her freshman year in the BAFA program, but her true passion is art, and she has been excited about studying art in the Parsons milieu, even though, as she said, she thought the kids in the Fine Arts major were treated as sort of black sheep.
She loves Parsons and what she sees that it stands for (or has stood for up to now). But I would not be surprised if, before long, she comes to realize that her pursuits will not really be honored at Parsons, and that she had better think about transferring to SVA or Pratt, even though she’d not be able to pursue a BA there.
I realize we are in tough economic times but I am, I have to say, amazed that you have allowed Fine Arts to take such a hit, rather than spreading the pain around to all the departments and programs.
So I must ask you, please, to tell me the truth: Are you abandoning Fine Arts and a Parsons tradition?
Should I be advising my daughter to switch to another art school, or perhaps pursue a double major at Hunter?
Yours truly,
She loves Parsons and what she sees that it stands for (or has stood for up to now). But I would not be surprised if, before long, she comes to realize that her pursuits will not really be honored at Parsons, and that she had better think about transferring to SVA or Pratt, even though she’d not be able to pursue a BA there.
I realize we are in tough economic times but I am, I have to say, amazed that you have allowed Fine Arts to take such a hit, rather than spreading the pain around to all the departments and programs.
So I must ask you, please, to tell me the truth: Are you abandoning Fine Arts and a Parsons tradition?
Should I be advising my daughter to switch to another art school, or perhaps pursue a double major at Hunter?
Yours truly,
Friday, April 10, 2009
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