The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 62, Issue 19 - April 1, 1985

Volume 62 Issue 20 April 1 , 1985 Inside: Special Games Photo Layout —see pages 12-13 Loyola Mary mount University Uncertainty Surrounds Dean Clothier's Resignation By UNA WELSH Loyolan Editor-in-Chief Whenever a dean resigns from his or her position, a period of uncer¬ tainty inevitably ensues. Questions — none of which are immediately answerable — circulate among those who will be effected by the dean’s departure: what is the future of our college? Will it maintain its current course or will a new direction be developed? And perhaps — most importantly — who will be the next dean? Currently, such feelings of incertitude surround the resignation of Dr. Peter Clothier, dean of fine and communication arts. But according to Academic Vice President Rev. Albert Koppes, such uncertainty is a natural consequence. Ap¬ parently, the same unanswered questions suddenly surfaced several years back when Dr. Mel Davidson (dean of fine and communication arts since 1973) resigned in 1980. There was an interim period, dur¬ ing which CA professor Warren Sherlock became acting dean. “Sure, there was uncertainty,” Koppes said in an interview last Friday. “Whenever the head of a department or a college resigns, that sort of thing is unavoidable.” Dr. Bob Ackley, theatre coordinator for the theatre arts program, recalled similar experiences in retrospect. “When Mel (Davidson) resigned in 1980, a lot of rumors circulated. A lot of questions were being asked, such as ‘should fine arts blend back into the liberal arts department?’ ” Ackley added that the same stories have been generated by Clothier’s exit. “Rumors run rampant at a time like this,” he admitted. “It makes our people in the college very uncomfortable because we don’t knowif these stories are substan¬ tiated.” Ackley remembered what he called a “good spirit” of unity in 1980. “We (members of fine and communication arts) really grouped together when Mel resigned, ” he stated. This solidity and commitment to the arts was manifest oub side the college, as well. “Many people from other disciplines genuinely sup¬ ported us,” Ackley continued; “They felt it would be ridiculous to abolish fine and communication arts.” Ackley said that support is stronger than ever. “1 think there’s a good feeling toward the arts, both within and outside the college,” he added. Ackley termed the current phase a period of ‘‘speculation clouded with uncertainty.” “I initiated a discussion among the university chair(person)s last week,” Koppes said. “And we’re following this up with another meeting this Tuesday (April 2). I want to continue to listen to their ideas on the future of the college — not just those within, but those from other colleges as well . This is import ant because the entire university is involved in the pledge to fine and communication arts.” Although consultation and discussion with all concerned parties will be ongoing for the next month or two — “it makes sense that we have a lot of dialogue and in¬ put,” Koppes said — the academic vice president emphasized the fact that no decisions have been made. “Peter (Clothier) officially resigned on “We would look rather foolish putting up a seven million dollar building, only to turn around and cancel the fine arts programs. We want to uphold our commitment to that facet of the university.” “Right now, we’re unsure of the presi¬ dent’s (Loughran’s) position, at least in regards to the performing arts,” he said. “This makes everyone uneasy. We w§nt£ to know exactly where we stand. ” Although this uneasiness currently per¬ vades the fine and communication arts college, Ackley does not see it in strictly negative terms. “It would be advantageous to have a period of evaluation,” he stated. “The truly exciting part is how this can be turn¬ ed into a time of exploration.” Koppes, too, recognizes this opportuni¬ ty for examination and assessment. But he stresses how important it is to receive feed¬ back. March 15,” Koppes stated. “1 was out of town from March 17th through the 24th. And, at this point, Fr. Loughran has had! no time to devote to this issue. His atten¬ tion has been focused on the recent changes in the athletic department. So it would be impossible fox any kind of deci¬ sion to have been made by now.” According to Koppes this includes the question of Clothier’s replacement. Kop¬ pes stated that at this point in time, no na¬ tional search for a new dean has been in¬ stigated. One rumor in particular that Koppes wishes to quell is the widespread story that fine and communication arts will be ab¬ sorbed back into the liberal arts depart¬ ment, as a result of Clothier’s resignation. “There is no substantiation to this rumor,” Koppes stated adamantly. “There has been no discussion about this particular issue.” He added: “We would look rather foolish putting up a seven million dollar building, only to turn around and cancel the fine arts programs. We want to uphold our commitment to that facet of the university.” Regarding Clothier’s decision to leave, Koppes said, “It’s his choice: He thinks it is time to move on, and I understand and accept that decision. He has done a lot of good things for the college, though, and I’ll be sorry to see him go.” Some of Clothier’s key ac¬ complishments during his four years (’81 -’85) as dean have been the formation of two new college councils, and the ac¬ tualization of the Burns Fine Arts Center. “The communication arts council and the fine arts council consist of people who are supporting us with public relations, fundraising, and contacts in the business world of arts and entertainment,” Clothier stated in an interview last week. Recently, the fine arts council raised $25,000 for the college as patronage of the Murphy Recital Hall. About his decision to resign, Clothier stated — in a letter to University President Fr. Loughran — that he wanted to pursue his “life’s goals.” More specifically, Clothier is considering a return to a “free¬ standing art school where art exists for the single purpose of training young artists.” Clothier was dean and director of such a school — Otis Art Institute — from l976-’79. And while he would like to return to a similar artistic environment, Clothier stressed the fact that he has made no set decisions; he is only mulling it over as an option. _ Clothier admitted that his primary goal (continued on page 7) Davitt Named President in ASLMU Elections ASLMU President * Michael Davitt Steve Sweeney Chris Fleissner ASLMU V.P. of Student Affairs ♦Michael Hermosillo Elizabeth Delgado 56 percent 33 percent 9 percent 50 percent 37 percent ASLMU V.P. of Student Activities Programming Commission ♦Arnold Castaneda Kimberly Hoffman ASLMU V.P. and Senate Chair ♦Illeen Keenan Jack Snedaker 46 percent 41 percent 55 percent 30 percent ♦James Markel ♦Ralph Mejia ♦John Montemayor ♦Paul Puccinelli ♦Kathleen Ruddy ♦Mark Sorrentino Martin Virga Joe Winter APC ♦Susan DeRuyter ♦Tim Riley ♦Don Russell Collete Lewis Loretta Priola Jack Snedaker '85- ’ 86 ASLMU President Michael Davitt This year, 983 ballots were cast for the ASLMU elections. According to statistics from the Registrar, this is 25 percent of the student body. This total is up three percent from last year, when 22 percent of LMU undergraduates voted.