Con dean resigns during financial aid issues

Amidst the infamous Cox protest and frenzied student interest in the dean of students, Karen Wolff slipped out of sight. The former dean of the Conservatory resigned in January, leaving the Conservatory to cope with new financial aid policies.

While official documents labeled Wolff's departure a resignation, Wolff called it a retirement. "I just had decided that the time was right for me to go on to some other things," Wolff said. Wolff denied that her departure was caused by a conflict with her staff or College President Nancy Dye. "As a faculty we coalesced toward making this school the best place for music education in the country," she said.

Wolff joined the Oberlin administration in August of 1991, after a two year search to replace David Boe, who is acting as Dean in Wolff's absence. Wolff was the first woman dean of the Conservatory. During her tenure, the faculty and student body grew, and Wolff succeeded in increasing the fundraising for the Conservatory. She also concentrated her efforts on bringing big name instructors to the faculty, like Professors of Violin Almita and Roland Vamos. Boe said, "It's always disappointing to see a successful dean leave."

Boe, professor of organ and former dean of the Conservatory for 15 years, acted as interim dean while the College conducts a national search for the position.

Wolff made Oberlin one of the top ranked music institutions in the country. Among other things she relied upon an increase in merit-based aid to attract top-rated musicians to Oberlin. According to multiple sources, the amount of spending on Conservatory merit-based aid grew faster than the College could support. This dispute allegedly contributed to Wolff's departure.

President Nancy Dye announced plans to enforce the College's need-sensitive admission's policy in December, before Wolff resigned. The enforcement of the need-based policy would limit the amount of financial aid the Conservatory could extend to students. Two months later, Vice President of Finance Andy Evans told the Conservatory faculty in their February meeting that their financial aid budget would have to be cut by $100,000. (see related story page 10).

Wolff's resignation left some students with a feeling of insecurity, many of whom viewed her as a supporter of merit-based aid. "I have certain scholarships and financial aid and I'm afraid that they're cutting so much that they'll cut the packages of people already here," said first-year Shinnerrie Jackson.

Some Conservatory professors supported Wolff's active use of merit-based aid. "They have always based [admissions] on money. One of the things Karen has been working towards in response to our desires and wishes is to increase talent merit-based scholarships so we could better compete with other [conservatories]."

Wolff's departure also left a void in viola instruction. Professor of Viola Jeffrey Irvine resigned at the end of the spring semester, partly in response to Wolff's departure.

"The Cleveland Institute of Music offered me a position in January for next fall. I took this position for several reasons. First, it will enable me to spend more time with my family. My wife, Lynne Ramsey, is in the Cleveland Orchestra with our two children, ages five and eight. Second, CIM has a graduate program, and I am interested in having a few graduate students. Third, Karen Wolff's decision to resign did affect my decision to resign. Karen was the best music school administrator in the country and it was a joy to work for her. If the administration cannot provide an environment where someone of this quality wants to work, then I have less reason to stay at Oberlin," said Irvine.

Conservatory sophomore, and Irvine student, Wendy Richman said, "He is just a fantastic teacher. He has done a lot for me as a musician and as a player." She will in all likelihood transfer to CIM in order to continue her studies with Irvine. She also noted that five to eight of her fellow viola students plan on following Irvine to CIM.

Richman said, "I love this place so much, and I really don't want to leave, but I have to consider my career."

Rumors of a tense relationship between Dye and Wolff fueled the controversy in the Conservatory. "I don't think anyone really understands the whole story," said Professor of Music Theory Paul Mast. It is hard to decipher what is fact and what is fiction in the flurry of rumors and speculation around the Conservatory about the resignation.

The Conservatory is currently in the process of searching for a replacement for Wolff.