This post is dedicated to the awesome members of Unit II of the Faculty Union of NSCAD.
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This week has been insanely exciting and stressful. Words cannot fully describe what I've experienced and felt, but I'll do my best.
Monday: I applied to graduate! Class of '13, here I come!
We spent much of Reconfigured Image dissecting a reading that Bob had given us on Thursday.
Tuesday: I spent most of the day doing homework and then in the evening went to NSCAD and helped make signs for Wednesday's march to Province House.
Wednesday: Manifesto Delivery Day. By the time I got to NSCAD, I was beyond ready to march. I chose a sign, waited for a bit, and then the Canadian Federation of Students' Maritimes Organizer, Rebecca Rose, led us in our first chant in the student lounge ("we're fired up, can't take it no more"). After that, we headed out and over to Province House, chanting the whole time. I'd brought my point 'n' shoot and I took a few photos. As I chanted, I wondered if I was going to go hoarse from it all.
The first few protesters had some issues getting into the Province House parking lot, but the rest of us were okay (the authorities had figured out what was going on by that point). We presented the manifesto not to Premier Derrel Dexter, but to Leonard Preyra, the MLA who represents Halifax Citadel-Sable Island, which is the riding that NSCAD's in. He made a small speech, but while it sounded okay, it was basically lip service. As we chanted, "Derrel Dexter shame on you! Shame on you for turning blue!" (Blue is the colour of the Conservative Party, and the NS NDP is more Conservative than it is NDP.) And yes, we booed and jeered at a couple of his statements. We then headed back to NSCAD, chanting the whole way. And who was watching us from an upper window but Premier Dexter... We finished in the Granville Campus courtyard and chanted "we support you Unit II!" You can see photos from the march here and here. I found out later that there'd been about two hundred people at the protest. In addition to NSCADians, some folks from King's and Dalhousie universities showed up in solidarity. Although it was a cold day, I didn't feel cold and I ended up not putting on my gloves. I think it was because a. we were in a fairly sheltered area the whole time, and b. I was so focused on the march that I completely forgot about the subzero temperature.
After all that, I spent the afternoon getting work done--and basking in the high that the protest had induced.
In the evening, we had yet another GA--but I had to leave before it had really started because I had Graphics in the Port Campus (apparently the Port computer lab was the only one available).
Class was spent working out the kinks in our projects.
I was so nervous about FUNSCAD II, whether they'd end up with a good deal and whether there'd be a strike that I barely slept that night.
Thursday: As soon as I got up, I checked my school email. SUNSCAD had sent out the minutes from the GA, so I read them--and then I kept refreshing the inbox, hoping for news about FUNSCAD II's strike situation. Nothing. Check again two minutes later: still nothing.
When I got to school, I immediately headed to the Photo Dept.'s computer lab because I wanted to print one of my photos from the march and give it to the Photo studio techs because they're awesome. I was in a major rush because the strike would be legal as of 12:42 PM/11:42 AM EST. When I gave it to Chris (one of the four techs) after trimming it, he said that the union and administration had reached a tentative agreement--and that there wouldn't be a strike. I was so relieved and happy that I could barely speak for a few seconds. I then grabbed lunch and went to class, brimming with excitement. I found out later that the deal had been struck at four in the morning. All but one of the Photo techs went home to get some much-needed and -deserved sleep. Alex was the one left in charge, so he was a bit hard to track down sometimes because he was doing the work of four techs. Go Alex! Click here to see FUNSCAD's update/thank-you note that they posted on Facebook. The last paragraph: "Finally, a huge thank you to SUNSCAD and our incredible and active NSCAD students! You came out in impressive numbers to express your support for Unit II, and we couldn't do this without you. Your letters to the NSCAD President and Administration makes clear the importance of Unit II staff, and the indispensable role that Unit II fulfills at this school. We extend our sincere gratitude to each individual student who supported FUNSCAD with their words of encouragement and expressions of solidarity." Aww... You're welcome!
One of the students hadn't presented her last project, so she presented it. We also discussed our current projects and watched a movie that was made completely out of still images.
Several times throughout the day, I wanted to cry. When I got home, I couldn't hold it in anymore and I let loose and sobbed out of overwhelming joy and relief.
Just so you know, the battle isn't over yet: FUNSCAD I (the teachers' union) is currently in conciliation, and the earliest that they could strike is just when the students are coming back after the break.
Friday: Back to earth with a bump. I'd regained some of the sleep that I missed on Wednesday night, but I wasn't back up to 100% yet.
Obsolescence was pretty much the same as usual, though we got to watch a movie, and Bob handed back our first essays (I didn't do too badly). We have to write another one this week as well as a brief proposal for the final essay.
Writing ended up being almost completely devoted to this week's presentation, which was a long (but fascinating) one.
Saturday: NSCAD, like all the other post-secondary schools in Halifax, closed due to winter storm Nemo. I spent the day trying to get myself to tackle that mountain of homework (I managed to get a little of it done) and celebrating FUNSCAD II. Mom called early that afternoon, which was the first time that I'd heard her voice since Christmas Break.
Sunday: Yesterday's celebration was fun and all, but I really needed to get back to work today. And I did: that mountain of homework is looking a little less like Everest and a little more like Katahdin at this point.
Next week I'll be home for the break. I admit that it snuck up on me, probably because I'm so used to NB's first-week-in-March break. This week's non-homework priority: buying my bus ticket.
Here are videos of the protest:
The last video was at the Granville Campus.
The Ode to Joy from Beethoven's ninth pretty much sums up what I felt that day:
*Another of our chants.
Showing posts with label student movement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label student movement. Show all posts
Monday, February 11, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
never a dull momement at NSCAD
Well, hello there, almost-free weekend! Long time, no see! I thought you were going to be MIA for the semester.
Also, as of last Sunday, I'm sick again. But this cold is one of those "why-can't-every-cold-be-like-this" colds: it's an extremely mild one. Mild sore throat, I only started sniffling a few days into it and said sniffles are all but gone now, a handful of coughs every now and then... Even the sneezes are mild.
Monday: A working class. I got most of my project done for Reconfigured Image.
That evening, I watched the NY Times' video of Obama's inauguration. If you haven't read/heard his speech, please do! Sounds like the Obama I (and many people) got excited about in '08, and I'm glad to hear that sort of tone from him again.
Tuesday: I spent the day reading and writing for Writing for the Arts and Obsolescence.
SUNSCAD had called an emergency, extremely important GA for that evening, which I went to. The manifesto had been edited for the final time, and we needed to pass it. FUNSCAD had already stated their approval of the manifesto. And... It passed--to the sound of applause. I then headed off to the movie theatre to see Les Misérables. As I watched the students' fight on the big screen, I couldn't help but think about our own (nonviolent) struggles at NSCAD. You can read my review here--and you can read SUNSCAD's manifesto here.
Wednesday: I spent the day doing homework.
Class was devoted to discussing our ideas for our projects.
Thursday: I went to school early so that I could proofread and print my focus paper for Obsolescence, and the gallery review and the rest of the citations for Writing for the Arts.
The latter half of class was a working class, and I ended up finishing my project and printing it out.
That day, the NSCAD Board of Governors met. When the manifesto came up in the meeting, the students were there to read parts of it aloud and to put some major pressure on the BoG (which is decidedly not in solidarity with the struggles of SUNSCAD or FUNSCAD, and is extremely out-of-touch with our needs and desires) to vote in favour of it. As expected, they didn't, and "half the BoG left almost immediately (including chair and NSCAD interim president) and remaining BoG tried to guilt students for taking direct action" according to Alani Caruso-Fitterer (SUNSCAD's VP Cultural). Because of my class that afternoon, I didn't attend the action--but I supported it. The next day SUNSCAD put out a press release, which you can read here. You can also see photos from the action here and here.
Friday: When writing my blog posts, Obsolescence is always a difficult course to write about. We discuss the week's readings, five of the students present stuff that they've found that's related to the readings and I try to wake up (a 7:30 AM/6:30 EST wake-up call is a bit too early for me, especially on days when the windchill dips to -25˚C/-13˚F). This week was no different, except for the fact that we handed in our focus essays and this week was my turn to present. In one of the readings the author talked about the fact that back in the early days of digital cameras, the cameras didn't look like their SLR cousins--and I couldn't help but think about the fact that my first digital camera was one of them. I pulled up the DPReview page for that camera (a Nikon CoolPix 995) and also showed a couple of photos that I took with the camera within a few months of getting it. I also talked about the QuickTake, which was a digital camera by Apple (as in computers). That camera was, in some ways, similar to a film camera in that you couldn't see the photos until you downloaded them. The camera was mentioned in one of the readings and me being me, I stopped what I was doing and googled it.
Rebecca Young visited and gave us another rundown of the university's resources, and Anna did a workshop on semiotics.
Saturday: Because I had very little homework (nothing for Reconfigured Image, work on the cover for Graphics, nothing but the usual readings for Obsolescence and the weekly journal entry and starting research for a presentation that I have to do in about a month for Writing), I spent much of the day being lazy, though I did get some stuff done. After two weekends of working my butt off to the point that I'm surprised that it's still there, I have to admit that I'm used to the stress, and my brain couldn't quite process the lack of stuff to do. Which meant that I felt a bit guilty about taking most of a day off.
Sunday: A mix of work and fun. And more work.
This weekend the BSO took on Mahler's fourth symphony (as well as Bach's Brandenberg Concerto No. 3 and Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate). I came across an article about the concert yesterday on the orchestra's Facebook page, and it got me really excited for the BSO, and made me fall in love with the orchestra all over again. This is why I'm a fan, and have been for eight years (nine in May). Well, that and the fact that the musicians are so awesome--especially the violinists.
Also, as of last Sunday, I'm sick again. But this cold is one of those "why-can't-every-cold-be-like-this" colds: it's an extremely mild one. Mild sore throat, I only started sniffling a few days into it and said sniffles are all but gone now, a handful of coughs every now and then... Even the sneezes are mild.
Monday: A working class. I got most of my project done for Reconfigured Image.
That evening, I watched the NY Times' video of Obama's inauguration. If you haven't read/heard his speech, please do! Sounds like the Obama I (and many people) got excited about in '08, and I'm glad to hear that sort of tone from him again.
Tuesday: I spent the day reading and writing for Writing for the Arts and Obsolescence.
SUNSCAD had called an emergency, extremely important GA for that evening, which I went to. The manifesto had been edited for the final time, and we needed to pass it. FUNSCAD had already stated their approval of the manifesto. And... It passed--to the sound of applause. I then headed off to the movie theatre to see Les Misérables. As I watched the students' fight on the big screen, I couldn't help but think about our own (nonviolent) struggles at NSCAD. You can read my review here--and you can read SUNSCAD's manifesto here.
Wednesday: I spent the day doing homework.
Class was devoted to discussing our ideas for our projects.
Thursday: I went to school early so that I could proofread and print my focus paper for Obsolescence, and the gallery review and the rest of the citations for Writing for the Arts.
The latter half of class was a working class, and I ended up finishing my project and printing it out.
That day, the NSCAD Board of Governors met. When the manifesto came up in the meeting, the students were there to read parts of it aloud and to put some major pressure on the BoG (which is decidedly not in solidarity with the struggles of SUNSCAD or FUNSCAD, and is extremely out-of-touch with our needs and desires) to vote in favour of it. As expected, they didn't, and "half the BoG left almost immediately (including chair and NSCAD interim president) and remaining BoG tried to guilt students for taking direct action" according to Alani Caruso-Fitterer (SUNSCAD's VP Cultural). Because of my class that afternoon, I didn't attend the action--but I supported it. The next day SUNSCAD put out a press release, which you can read here. You can also see photos from the action here and here.
Friday: When writing my blog posts, Obsolescence is always a difficult course to write about. We discuss the week's readings, five of the students present stuff that they've found that's related to the readings and I try to wake up (a 7:30 AM/6:30 EST wake-up call is a bit too early for me, especially on days when the windchill dips to -25˚C/-13˚F). This week was no different, except for the fact that we handed in our focus essays and this week was my turn to present. In one of the readings the author talked about the fact that back in the early days of digital cameras, the cameras didn't look like their SLR cousins--and I couldn't help but think about the fact that my first digital camera was one of them. I pulled up the DPReview page for that camera (a Nikon CoolPix 995) and also showed a couple of photos that I took with the camera within a few months of getting it. I also talked about the QuickTake, which was a digital camera by Apple (as in computers). That camera was, in some ways, similar to a film camera in that you couldn't see the photos until you downloaded them. The camera was mentioned in one of the readings and me being me, I stopped what I was doing and googled it.
Rebecca Young visited and gave us another rundown of the university's resources, and Anna did a workshop on semiotics.
Saturday: Because I had very little homework (nothing for Reconfigured Image, work on the cover for Graphics, nothing but the usual readings for Obsolescence and the weekly journal entry and starting research for a presentation that I have to do in about a month for Writing), I spent much of the day being lazy, though I did get some stuff done. After two weekends of working my butt off to the point that I'm surprised that it's still there, I have to admit that I'm used to the stress, and my brain couldn't quite process the lack of stuff to do. Which meant that I felt a bit guilty about taking most of a day off.
Sunday: A mix of work and fun. And more work.
This weekend the BSO took on Mahler's fourth symphony (as well as Bach's Brandenberg Concerto No. 3 and Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate). I came across an article about the concert yesterday on the orchestra's Facebook page, and it got me really excited for the BSO, and made me fall in love with the orchestra all over again. This is why I'm a fan, and have been for eight years (nine in May). Well, that and the fact that the musicians are so awesome--especially the violinists.
Monday, January 21, 2013
free time? what's that?
I think I better get used to these crazy-busy weekends. It's a good thing I love my major.
I forgot to mention who won the hockey game: Graphics, as per usual. For once I'd like to see Photo win.
Monday: We talked about composite images and where the word "montage" comes from (turns out, it's strictly related to photography).
Tuesday: I got a bunch of homework done that afternoon, and then went to a general assembly at NSCAD, where we approved SUNSCAD's manifesto that will be presented to the Board of Governors (in a nutshell, the school must maintain it's position as one of the best art schools in the country, and the quality of a NSCAD education must not be compromised). We also discussed taking direct action, such as occupying the Granville Campus (classes would continue, but administration wouldn't be allowed in) or withholding our tuition, which would only work for those of us who don't have student loans, because the money for tuition is automatically taken out of the loan when it's processed and sent to the institution, and then the remainder is sent to your bank account.
Wednesday: I spent the afternoon getting most of the scavenger hunt done for Writing for the Arts, and by the end all I wanted to do was collapse.
We got an intro to Adobe InDesign that night--and then Jeff let us go early due to the storm (and just when I was getting used to the lack of white stuff on the ground **pout**)
Thursday: We discussed our projects. The theme is "private/public", and I'm doing mine on surveillance (both the visible kind--surveillance cameras--and the invisible kind--e.g., internet tracking). I'm doing composite images and using the "subtract" blend mode, which I've never used beyond clicking through the list of modes.
Friday: As usual, we discussed the week's readings and then five of the students presented things related to the readings. I'm in the group that presents next week. And on top of everything else, we have to write a thousand-word focus essay by next Friday--which is both a lot and not a lot at the same time.
We presented our findings for the scavenger hunt. I missed three items and had to go find them in the NSCAD library over the weekend.
Saturday and Sunday: I spent the weekend doing homework and almost nothing else, including finishing the scavenger hunt and working on my Graphics project (I don't have InDesign, but the Photo Dept. does)--partly because I felt like I was swamped with work and partly because I wanted to get as much as possible out of the way so that I can go see Les Misérables on Tuesday (I may review it).
I forgot to mention who won the hockey game: Graphics, as per usual. For once I'd like to see Photo win.
Monday: We talked about composite images and where the word "montage" comes from (turns out, it's strictly related to photography).
Tuesday: I got a bunch of homework done that afternoon, and then went to a general assembly at NSCAD, where we approved SUNSCAD's manifesto that will be presented to the Board of Governors (in a nutshell, the school must maintain it's position as one of the best art schools in the country, and the quality of a NSCAD education must not be compromised). We also discussed taking direct action, such as occupying the Granville Campus (classes would continue, but administration wouldn't be allowed in) or withholding our tuition, which would only work for those of us who don't have student loans, because the money for tuition is automatically taken out of the loan when it's processed and sent to the institution, and then the remainder is sent to your bank account.
Wednesday: I spent the afternoon getting most of the scavenger hunt done for Writing for the Arts, and by the end all I wanted to do was collapse.
We got an intro to Adobe InDesign that night--and then Jeff let us go early due to the storm (and just when I was getting used to the lack of white stuff on the ground **pout**)
Thursday: We discussed our projects. The theme is "private/public", and I'm doing mine on surveillance (both the visible kind--surveillance cameras--and the invisible kind--e.g., internet tracking). I'm doing composite images and using the "subtract" blend mode, which I've never used beyond clicking through the list of modes.
Friday: As usual, we discussed the week's readings and then five of the students presented things related to the readings. I'm in the group that presents next week. And on top of everything else, we have to write a thousand-word focus essay by next Friday--which is both a lot and not a lot at the same time.
We presented our findings for the scavenger hunt. I missed three items and had to go find them in the NSCAD library over the weekend.
Saturday and Sunday: I spent the weekend doing homework and almost nothing else, including finishing the scavenger hunt and working on my Graphics project (I don't have InDesign, but the Photo Dept. does)--partly because I felt like I was swamped with work and partly because I wanted to get as much as possible out of the way so that I can go see Les Misérables on Tuesday (I may review it).
Sunday, October 21, 2012
we live in a screwed-up world
I'm awake.
That's what I've felt like for the last year: like I'm waking up to what's really going on in this world. And I'm not alone: the Arab Spring, the American Fall and the Maple Spring/Printemps Érable. We are awake.
And what I've learned in this year-and-a-bit isn't pleasant, but this is like one of those times when Mom wakes up at 5:00 AM and tosses and turns: I know I'm not going to go back to sleep. But the thing is, I don't want to go back to sleep. This new knowledge is uncomfortable, but I cannot look away.
As a human being who's solidly in the ninety-nine per cent, these movements are personal ones for me:
And get this: in Canada, since 2000, when they were at par, tuition fees have increased over twenty per cent more than the rate of inflation (source: Canadian Federation of Students, which got their info from StatsCan).
I know that under our current system this is the way things are, but as a young, idealistic artist, I don't believe that that's the way they have to be. People say that we all have to play (pay) our part, especially us students, and that we can't afford to reduce fees. If that's true, than how the heck are we able to afford the Canadian mission in Afghanistan (cumulative cost: $13 billion, just $7 billion less than the national student loan debt amount) or a corporate tax cut (annual cost: $8.7 billion). And to top it all off, we have Harper saying that we can afford these two things, while cutting things like student employment centres and other things that are important to the future of Canada in the name of balancing the federal budget a year earlier than planned.
And then we have the 1%. The Occupy movement was actually what woke me up and got me interested in these issues. It was through the movement that I learned how those of us in the ninety-nine per cent have been screwed over for years. How the 1% (like the Irvings and McCains--and that's Irving as in Irving Oil and McCain as in McCain Foods) are rolling in dough, and how the five big banks (RBC, TD, CIBC, BMO and ScotiaBank) are also rolling dough--and don't pay their taxes.
That's what I've felt like for the last year: like I'm waking up to what's really going on in this world. And I'm not alone: the Arab Spring, the American Fall and the Maple Spring/Printemps Érable. We are awake.
And what I've learned in this year-and-a-bit isn't pleasant, but this is like one of those times when Mom wakes up at 5:00 AM and tosses and turns: I know I'm not going to go back to sleep. But the thing is, I don't want to go back to sleep. This new knowledge is uncomfortable, but I cannot look away.
As a human being who's solidly in the ninety-nine per cent, these movements are personal ones for me:
- I'm from a low-income family and have seen credit card debt up close (I won't name any names). As a result, I'm now extremely wary of credit cards and the damage they can do.
- I've seen the violence inflicted on peaceful protesters by the police force, especially the NYPD, though the RCMP has a long list of wrongdoings, and the Fredericton Police Force illegally raided and dismantled the Occupy F'ton camp this past winter. I will greet police officers, but I don't fully trust them.
- "Between 1986 and 2006 government grants plummeted from 80 per cent to less than 57 per cent of university operating revenue. The direct result has been the doubling of the share of university budgets that are funded by tuition fees."Today, tuition fees are increasing at a faster rate than any other cost faced by students. According to Statistics Canada’s Youth in Transition Survey, 70 per cent of high school graduates who do not go on to post-secondary education cite financial reasons as the main factor. One in four of those cite debt aversion as their principal deterrent. Moreover, research has consistently found that high up-front costs are a significant barrier to attending college or university for many students."
And get this: in Canada, since 2000, when they were at par, tuition fees have increased over twenty per cent more than the rate of inflation (source: Canadian Federation of Students, which got their info from StatsCan).
I know that under our current system this is the way things are, but as a young, idealistic artist, I don't believe that that's the way they have to be. People say that we all have to play (pay) our part, especially us students, and that we can't afford to reduce fees. If that's true, than how the heck are we able to afford the Canadian mission in Afghanistan (cumulative cost: $13 billion, just $7 billion less than the national student loan debt amount) or a corporate tax cut (annual cost: $8.7 billion). And to top it all off, we have Harper saying that we can afford these two things, while cutting things like student employment centres and other things that are important to the future of Canada in the name of balancing the federal budget a year earlier than planned.
And then we have the 1%. The Occupy movement was actually what woke me up and got me interested in these issues. It was through the movement that I learned how those of us in the ninety-nine per cent have been screwed over for years. How the 1% (like the Irvings and McCains--and that's Irving as in Irving Oil and McCain as in McCain Foods) are rolling in dough, and how the five big banks (RBC, TD, CIBC, BMO and ScotiaBank) are also rolling dough--and don't pay their taxes.
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