NEWS

Sharpley petitions for artist in resident status

108 students sign letter in support of goal

by Merredith Collins

Adenike Sharpley has held the position of Faculty in Residence at Afrikan Heritage House (AHH) since 1991 and, for the past two years, has been unsuccessfully trying to change the position to Artist in Residence.

Sharpley said two years is long enough. "If nothing is done I'll walk in '99. I haven't heard anything from them yet. My leaving is up to them," she said.

According to Sharpley, a faculty member's rehiring for a different status position is determined by Dean of the College Clayton Koppes and other administrators.

According to Koppes, "It's still under discussion."

Currently, Sharpley's voluntary assistance for the AHH community is unpaid. Along with her help at AHH, Sharpley teaches West African Diaspora, Essence Dance Class and Dance Diaspora within the African-American Studies Department.

Sophomore Matthew Hill is currently working on an Independent Major in African Diaspora with a concentration on Fine Arts and Performance. He expressed his concerns on Sharpley's potential departure.

"It would affect everyone who wants to pursue a career in the Fine Arts of African-American Studies. Adenike is the only person in the department working on Diaspora Fine Arts. She has a large influence," Hill said.

Hill drafted a letter and petition which bears 108 student signatures supporting Sharpley's potential for the Artist in Resident Position.

According to the letter, "Sharpley desires to pursue her teaching talents in choreography in West African Dance and in dance from the Diaspora. She needs this reappointment to accomplish these goals."

The letter was submitted to Koppes on April 10th.

"The letter not only supports her candidacy for the Artist in Residence position, it supports her endeavors here in general. She has been working to establish the program for the Fine Arts of the African Diaspora for nearly ten years," Hill said.

According to Hill, Sharply's courses are always popular. "Sixty students showed up for West African Diaspora but she could only take 45. Just about all her classes are like this," he said.

The letter of support further addressed the lack of funding for the Diaspora program.

Since the beginning of Diaspora program, Sharpley has brought Master Drummer Adetobi Gregory Jackson to Oberlin to teach students instrumental lessons.

According to the letter, "Inadequate funding hurts our program. Because of a lack of money, Mr. Jackson rarely frequents rehearsals and performances. This hurts the development of everyone involved in the program."

Sharpley's potential departure also raised emotions among residents of Afrikan Heritage House.

Junior Adeola Oshodi has been a resident at AHH for three years. She said, "She brings culture and tradition of the House to students. Without her we'd be lost and she doesn't get recognized for all that she's done. She's not a house mother and her duties do not include taking care of the House but she still helps."

Sharpley talked of her interest in social work as a potential career after Oberlin. "I have a degree in Sociology and I'm working on my Masters. I've done social work before Oberlin and I will probably do it after if I leave. With the experience I have I can pretty much go anywhere I want," Sharply said.

Sharpley is working with students who are interested in taking her courses next year. "I've talked with students who are concerned and are trying to plan their schedules in case I'm not here," Sharpley said.

Hill said, "She's my advisor and if she leaves it would make it so much harder to do what I want to do here. I owe a lot to Adenike, so I hope she gets the position."

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Copyright © 1998, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 126, Number 23, May 1, 1998

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