Confiscated of Gallaudet Tower Clock Yearbook
11/15/01 at 4pm: Dr. Jane Fernandes, Mr. Carl Pramuk, and the DOSS went to Ely Center to change the locks to Tower Clock Offices. No one is allowed to distribute the yearbook. No explanation has been given as to why the yearbooks have been confiscated.
01/31/02 Dr. Jane Fernandes, the Provost, sent a campus-wide email explaining her reasons why she "confiscated" the yearbooks.
02/07/02 - "Committee on Student Affairs Report" given to Board of Trustee members
02/15/02 In Gallaudet's Buff and Blue, Mick Posner wrote an article, "Should the Tower Clock Yearbook be Banned?"
Closing of Television, Photography and Digital Media
8/2701: Several students attempted to declare their major in TV/Cinema, but were denied permission to do so.
8/29/01: A professor in the Television, Photography, Digital Media (TPDM) department, Facundo Montenegro was given a non-reappointment notice.
8/31/01: Associate Dean Dr. Karen Kimmel sent out a campus-wide email explaining that there would be changes in the TPDM department. While Photography and Digital Media would be merging with the Art department, TV/Cinema would no longer be offered once the majors graduated in May 2002. The reasons given: Lack of interest in the major.
9/01: A student, Julia Dameron, majoring in Cinema asked Dr. William Moses (chair of Art department, also currently the chair of TPDM) some questions in relation to the closure of the major and changes made in the department. In regards to the closure of the major, Dr. Moses explained that it was not closing, but changing to VIDEOGRAPHY (see terminology). Concerned about the lack of teachers, Dameron asked Dr. Moses why Facundo Montenegro was given a non-reappointment notice. (Facundo Montenegro was on a tenure track, by the way.) Dr. Moses referred her to Dr. Kimmel for further information. During this meeting, Dr. Moses also explained that TV/Cinema is analog; therefore too expenisve.
9/01: R. Commerson asked all TV/Cinema students to get together for a meeting. During this meeting it was uncovered that at least SEVEN students have already declared a major in TV/Cinema. (A number that does not fit with what the registrar's office has in their computer).
9/01: Dameron met with Dr. Kimmel. Dr. Kimmel explained that although Facundo Montenegro is an excellent teacher, there just wasn't a place for him at Gallaudet after the changes in TPDM. Dameron then asked who would be teaching the courses. Dr. Kimmel explained that they are holding two positions and that Dr. Norman (professor in the TV department) and Dr. Moses both gave her a list of prospective people to contact.
9/6/01: Ryan Commerson, a student majoring in Cinema asked the registrar's office for the numbers of students registered as a major in TPDM. Alan McKenzie replied with the following information: TV/Cinema (2) Photography (4) and Digital Media (8). [Note: Read the paragraphy below]
9/14/01: Students sent articles to the Buff NÕ Blue related to the changes in the department.
9/21/01: Ryan Commerson, Davin Bell, and Alison Aubrecht met with the Provost, Dr. Jane Fernandes to discuss the closing of the TV/Cinema Major. Dr. Kimmel was present at the meeting. The meeting was unproductive and left the students feeling oppressed.
9/26/01: Dameron met with Dr. Moses and Dr. Grindstaff (a teacher of Photography) at Dr. MosesÕs request. Dr. Moses asked her for her feedback in developing courses. Dameron told Moses that she would like to keep TV/Cinema in itÕs rightful name, because it isnÕt the same as Videography. Dr. Moses explained that he didnÕt know enough about TV/Cinema and appreciated her feedback. Dr. Moses also commented that she was the only one who was Òcool-headed enoughÓ to meet with him and listen to him.
10/01 A group of students decided to use their real talent- and make a videotape that could be shown to a variety of people-- one that would tell the story of the changes in TV/Cinema Departments.
10/01 Moses decided to start signing major forms again, but then stopped near the end of October when he denied Robyn Girard, a freshman interested in majoring in TV/Cinema permission to declare her major in a meeting with her mother.
10/01 Ryan and Alison met with Chris Kaftan several times to discuss concerns of the TV/Cinema students and of the Administration.
10/11/01 Chris Kaftan introduced the videotape made by students about the TV/Cinema department to the Board of Trustees (student affairs meeting) during his report, and announced that the SBG completely supports the students and the videotape.
10/19/01 Dr. Moses somehow saw the tapes that were given to BOT members. In a meeting with a student (who prefers to remain anonymous) he expressed his disappointment and anger about the videotape. 10/15/01 Appropriate administrative members were given a copy of the tape (Dr. King, Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Dillehay, Mr. Pramuk, and Dr. Moses).
10/01 More articles published in the Buff n' Blue by several people.
10/01 SBGTV Update planned to show the tape made by the students that was shown to the BOT and administration. Dr. Fernandes stopped the process when Jim Dellon contacted her to check it out. Dellon told Kaftan that the tape would not be shown. After some dispution, it was agreed that the unedited version would be shown with understanding that the other party would also be interviewed.
10/31/01 SBGTV Update planned to show the tape made by the students but the students withdrew the tape because two students wanted to be edited out. One, from the art department, found herself threatened by an Art teacher-- who told her straight out that she would not get the job as a lab assistant after her comments on the tape. The other found himself struggling to get a letter of recommendation from his department.
11/2/01 To this day, the board of trustees has not responded to the tape. Neither has the faculty-- at least, not directly, anyway.