Povall resigns during restructuring

Professor Richard Povall, director of the Contemporary Music Division in the Conservatory and chair of the Technology In Music And Related Arts department, has announced his resignation. His departure comes in the middle of important restructuring within this department and leaves many TIMARA majors unsure of their immediate prospects.

Povall is currently on leave in Britain and, according to Conservatory Dean Robert Dodson, "[He had] arranged a reduction to half-time responsibility [for the coming semester]." He was going to return in the fall of 2000 to a job-share position with another faculty member.

Many students feel that Povall was important in the TIMARA department's rise in profile and that his recombination of various art forms, media and activities within the Department provided excitement and interest that helped attract students to the field. "People were excited about things," said senior TIMARA major Cory Arcangel.

In his resignation letter, Povall said he had been agonizing over this decision. He later said, "[My reasons] are complex and largely personal."

According to Dodson, Povall was temporarily replaced over the course of this year by Visiting Instructor of Computer Music and New Media Tom Lopez. Professor of Electronic and Computer Music Gary Nelson, who was acting chair in Povall's absence, has now been reappointed chair of the TIMARA department. A search for Povall's replacement will begin next year.

Some senior students were counting on Povall's presence to complete important measures of their degree progress and worry about their prospects for graduation in the spring. Arcangel, along with Conservatory seniors Joe Bonn and Paul Davis, recently met with Associate Dean Ellen Sayles to discuss how to meet certain requirements in Povall's absence. "He was supposed to be here for certain things," said Davis.

Povall was also the sponsor of some controversial changes within the department that were popular with students.

In February of this year, in collaboration with other administrators, Povall produced a statement of prospective changes to be made to the the Contemporary Music division called "Next Steps" which are listed on the TIMARA web-site. These included the introduction of a core curriculum which would allow more students access to the same courses.

Povall also advanced the production of all-division concerts in which Jazz, TIMARA and Composition majors would be able to present their works at the same time, and some felt he fostered better relations between other departments in the Division's New Music Collaboration course.

According to Conservatory senior Christopher Goodman, Povall was the only faculty member who supported the new divisional concerts. The Division has reverted back to departmental concerts in his absence. This change sparked protest among some students who recently threatened a boycott of performances.

Now that Povall has resigned, other students feel that Povall's other plans for the Contemporary Music division are also in danger of being rescinded. "The 'Next Steps' curricular proposal is a 'work-in-progress' and is the result of extensive...discussion among the faculty among the division," said Dodson. "These conversations are ongoing, preceded Professor Povall and will continue in his absence."

Sayles supported Dodson's statement. "The curricula of the Conservatory...are not personality-centric," she said.

Some students are worried nevertheless. "The Con says that [the curricular changes are] definitely not 'dead' and still 'in progress.' Many of us have our doubts," said Davis. "I'm also very glad I'm a senior."

Another current of opinion is that Povall's personality and point of view with regard to the administration represented students well and for that he'll be missed. "He was an advocate for the students and worked on an individual basis that was really nice to have," said senior Rob Reich. "A lot of changes he made were supported."

"He's the reason I'm a TIMARA major," said double-degree fourth-year Kendra Juul.

Some students feel that Povall's influence on the department constituted a refreshing change in atmosphere and that it will no longer hold the same interest. "The 'Related Arts' [in the Technology In Music And Related Arts acronym] are now temporarily missing," said Arcangel. "Without the Related Arts, people are afraid that it will get a little dry."

Several students expressed confusion at Povall's high place within the Conservatory administration when his time at Oberlin was so brief, his career was in full-swing and he had many clear present commitments outside of Oberlin. "I found it inconceivable that someone could be chair of a department at Oberlin and not be here full-time," said Davis. "I think that it was a mistake to make him chair after his first year, given that he had obvious professional aspirations...that were going to carry him away from Oberlin."