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The Daily OrangeArts and Sciences | First dean candidate visits SU
By Caitlin Dewey
Posted: 4/28/08, 10:34 PM EST Section: News
In February, dozens of students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts rallied against Vice Chancellor Eric Spina's announcement that the college would not conduct a nationwide search for its new dean. In The College of Arts and Sciences, interest in the dean search is decidedly less pronounced.
Donald Hall, a candidate to replace outgoing Dean Cathryn Newton, was in Schine Student Center Monday for a meet-and-greet with Arts and Sciences students. Only three showed up.
"I was really surprised," said Andrea Wangsanata, a freshman international relations major. "I wish there were more students there, but there's a lot of apathy on campus. A lot of students aren't concerned about the new hires. They don't understand the impact that these people will have."
Despite the small crowd, Hall answered student questions for the full one-hour period, focusing on issues like diversity, service-based learning, advising, administration accessibility and the proposed Transnational Asian Studies Program (TASP). Hall's first priority appeared to be his commitment to students, which he discussed at length during the session.
"I have a deep commitment to student-centeredness, and I've partnered with students in the past," he said. "The changes I would make (to The College of Arts and Sciences) are all things that would be done in response to student concerns."
Hall is currently the chair of the English Department at West Virginia University, a post he's held since 2007. Previously, he was the foreign languages department chair at WVU and the English department chair at the California State University at Northridge.
In 1995, Hall founded Northridge's Institute for Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Studies, where he served as director for nine years. He holds degrees in English, German, comparative literature and political science.
Wangsanata and Jonathan Chan, sophomore marketing major, had an opportunity to voice their concerns during the meeting. Wangsanata and Chan were both representing the TASP Committee, which is lobbying for the creation of an Asian/Asian-American studies program on campus.
Donald Hall, a candidate to replace outgoing Dean Cathryn Newton, was in Schine Student Center Monday for a meet-and-greet with Arts and Sciences students. Only three showed up.
"I was really surprised," said Andrea Wangsanata, a freshman international relations major. "I wish there were more students there, but there's a lot of apathy on campus. A lot of students aren't concerned about the new hires. They don't understand the impact that these people will have."
Despite the small crowd, Hall answered student questions for the full one-hour period, focusing on issues like diversity, service-based learning, advising, administration accessibility and the proposed Transnational Asian Studies Program (TASP). Hall's first priority appeared to be his commitment to students, which he discussed at length during the session.
"I have a deep commitment to student-centeredness, and I've partnered with students in the past," he said. "The changes I would make (to The College of Arts and Sciences) are all things that would be done in response to student concerns."
Hall is currently the chair of the English Department at West Virginia University, a post he's held since 2007. Previously, he was the foreign languages department chair at WVU and the English department chair at the California State University at Northridge.
In 1995, Hall founded Northridge's Institute for Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Studies, where he served as director for nine years. He holds degrees in English, German, comparative literature and political science.
Wangsanata and Jonathan Chan, sophomore marketing major, had an opportunity to voice their concerns during the meeting. Wangsanata and Chan were both representing the TASP Committee, which is lobbying for the creation of an Asian/Asian-American studies program on campus.
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