COMMENTARY

E D I T O R I A L S:

Wolff leaves Conservatory fuming
Changing the first-year experience

Wolff leaves Conservatory fuming

Imagine what a lovely sound it would be, returning from a hard day of classes, to be greeted by the sweet melodies of chamber music as we enter the various dorms on campus. According to many students, this is what President Dye wants from the Conservatory. If the thought of expert musicians as trained seals for the amusement of College students sounds condescending, it reveals only the tip of the iceberg of animosity many Connies feel toward Dye. Statements such as these have gained strength in the wake of Conservatory Dean Karen Wolff's resignation.

An outpouring of anger over Wolff's resignation follows an alleged power struggle concerning the direction and funding for the Conservatory. Dye and Wolff have allegedly locked horns on many occasions, apparently too many times for Wolff to feel comfortable at Oberlin any longer. Wolff's departure is certain to disrupt the Con, possibly having serious repercussions for years to come. Many faculty members and students have strong ties with Wolff and may choose to follow suit and leave Oberlin. The climate of the Con is insecure and uncertain.

However, the most serious outcome of this resignation is the increased tension between the Conservatory and College. The loss of their dean to a president thought to be unresponsive to their concerns has many faculty and students fuming. If the allegations and rumors are true, those outraged have a legitimate cause for anger. Many Conservatory students feel Dye does not appreciate, nor support, the momentous difficulty of becoming a professional musician.

Neglecting the Con outright, pushing out a skillful administrator, and favoring the College leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many a Conservatory student. This bad feeling is sure to linger until there is open communication followed by clear action on the part of Dye and Acting Dean David Boe. While support within the Con is not unanimous for Dean Wolff, many students feel they have lost one of the best musical administrators in the country. Wolff had made many contributions to the Conservatory, most notably by bringing in talented faculty and respecting the unique gifts of individuals pursuing a career in music. Through her resignation many students feel they have lost a valuable resource and a caring administrator.

In defense of Dye, she is left the unenviable task of having to navigate the precarious course of two world class institutions with sometimes incongruous goals. However, the loss of Wolff means the loss of a very capable administrator, who many feel has done an excellent job of guiding one of the most prestigious musical institutions in the world. And this loss, combined with the speculation, allegations and rumors surrounding her departure hurt the entire Oberlin community.


Changing the first-year experience

When built, the new Science Center will be a place where we deconstruct the ideas of "habitat" and "niche" in Bio 120. While it's going up, however, the "first-year experience" might have to migrate elsewhere.

Residential Life is soliciting our opinions about where to move the New Student Program. Potential residence halls include Dascomb, Burton and Noah. There's also the option of leaving the frosh in Barrows and making the program a little smaller.

We're the people that these changes will affect the most. Like your upper-class haven in Noah? Well, if it's the first-year dorm next year, don't plan on reserving your room. If you have an opinion, it's important that you let the residential powers-that-be know. At an RC meeting with the housing director, one staff member brought up the fact that Noah's quiet beauty might be marred by first-years finding their independence within its walls. Agree? Disagree? Let Res. Life know.

Much like the flex-dollar/ Dascomb renovation project that was up for discussion last year, we're responsible for speaking loudly enough, and in the right direction, to impact these decisions. If we don't, and find that we can't shack up in Burton because the class of 2003 is being housed there, we won't have too much room to complain.

Of course, no matter what the final decision is regarding the first-year housing situation, the admissions coordinators, residential computer coordinators and graduate assistants that previously enjoyed the luxury of living solo in double rooms won't be happy. The 40-plus beds that need to be replaced are coming out of their quota, and they'll be reassigned to lowly singles. While this won't necessarily impact the decision of where to place the first- year dorm, it does raise new issues about how departments might have to "sweeten the pot" a bit to try to recruit students to fill these positions.

But, this is the price we pay for education, right?

Speak out. Check out the Residential Life web page and read the pros and cons about using each hall for the "New Student Experience." Even if you don't really care about the class of 2003, realize that your dorm might be chosen to house them. Let that thought spur you into letting Res. Life know your opinion.


Editorials in this box are the responsibility of the editor-in-chief, managing editor and commentary editor, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the Review.

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Copyright © 1999, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 13, February 12, 1999

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