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The Daily OrangeSurface pattern design major in VPA to be cut
By Bethany Bump
Posted: 3/4/09, 3:51 AM EST Section: News
"I know a lot of people are saying it won't really affect the seniors," she said. "But for us we feel like we're getting screwed over and ignored - once again."
In an e-mail obtained Tuesday night by The Daily Orange, April Knotek, an SPD alumna, expressed her concern over the program termination to Dean Clarke.
Clarke forwarded the e-mail to Havenhand, asking her to respond. Havenhand responded saying the current economic downturn compelled the university to take a hard look at its facilities and finances.
"Small programs like SPD that will only have 12-15 students total after this current senior class graduates, are being heavily scrutinized and are in danger of being cancelled all together because of low enrollments," Havenhand said in the e-mail. She added that before VPA could cancel these programs, they attempted to "save" surface pattern - an important and viable design discipline - by integrating it with other larger disciplines.
Havenhand said students will be able to take SPD electives, as well as a concentration in SPD as part of the fashion, interiors and new B.S. degree in design.
Amanda Williams, a 2008 SPD alumna, sent an e-mail of concerns to Chancellor Nancy Cantor, Dean Clarke and the two SPD professors, Dorfer and Gosson.
"The College of VPA often and easily overlooked the small program that no one understood," Williams said. "Despite our unwavering confidence in the importance of our major and what we did, the school found it easy to dismiss us as insignificant."
Gosson and Dorfer wrote e-mails, made appointments and talked to other professors, Williams said, asking the administration to visit classrooms so they could understand that it was not possible for SPD students to work in one studio space. No one seemed concerned, she said.
An inadequate computer lab, small studio, broken light tables and erratic copy machines contributed to students' frustration, Williams said.
"Mostly, we were ignored or blown off," she said. "Maybe no one had the time for us, but unfortunately, it was much more simple and obvious than that. No one cared. We paid $40,000 a year to attend this school and we could not find one person outside of our own professors, who cared about what we did or was willing to help us."
The students took the matter into their own hands, Williams said, attempting to start a club to raise money and awareness for the program, with professors' support. When they approached the school to recognize the club as a campus group, they were told to join the fashion club because "the programs were pretty much the same thing anyway," Williams said.
She said SPD students had similar reactions to the program cut. "Furiously angry, slightly sickened, yet unsurprised," Williams said.
"We are color forecasters, we are art directors, we oversee production in China we are presidents of our own companies," Williams said. "We are the ones behind the design of your shower curtain, your carpet, your dishes, your dress shirts, your wrapping paper and the blankets that you sleep under every night. We are a strong representation of Syracuse, we are everywhere, and we are damn good at what we do."
blbump@syr.edu
In an e-mail obtained Tuesday night by The Daily Orange, April Knotek, an SPD alumna, expressed her concern over the program termination to Dean Clarke.
Clarke forwarded the e-mail to Havenhand, asking her to respond. Havenhand responded saying the current economic downturn compelled the university to take a hard look at its facilities and finances.
"Small programs like SPD that will only have 12-15 students total after this current senior class graduates, are being heavily scrutinized and are in danger of being cancelled all together because of low enrollments," Havenhand said in the e-mail. She added that before VPA could cancel these programs, they attempted to "save" surface pattern - an important and viable design discipline - by integrating it with other larger disciplines.
Havenhand said students will be able to take SPD electives, as well as a concentration in SPD as part of the fashion, interiors and new B.S. degree in design.
Amanda Williams, a 2008 SPD alumna, sent an e-mail of concerns to Chancellor Nancy Cantor, Dean Clarke and the two SPD professors, Dorfer and Gosson.
"The College of VPA often and easily overlooked the small program that no one understood," Williams said. "Despite our unwavering confidence in the importance of our major and what we did, the school found it easy to dismiss us as insignificant."
Gosson and Dorfer wrote e-mails, made appointments and talked to other professors, Williams said, asking the administration to visit classrooms so they could understand that it was not possible for SPD students to work in one studio space. No one seemed concerned, she said.
An inadequate computer lab, small studio, broken light tables and erratic copy machines contributed to students' frustration, Williams said.
"Mostly, we were ignored or blown off," she said. "Maybe no one had the time for us, but unfortunately, it was much more simple and obvious than that. No one cared. We paid $40,000 a year to attend this school and we could not find one person outside of our own professors, who cared about what we did or was willing to help us."
The students took the matter into their own hands, Williams said, attempting to start a club to raise money and awareness for the program, with professors' support. When they approached the school to recognize the club as a campus group, they were told to join the fashion club because "the programs were pretty much the same thing anyway," Williams said.
She said SPD students had similar reactions to the program cut. "Furiously angry, slightly sickened, yet unsurprised," Williams said.
"We are color forecasters, we are art directors, we oversee production in China we are presidents of our own companies," Williams said. "We are the ones behind the design of your shower curtain, your carpet, your dishes, your dress shirts, your wrapping paper and the blankets that you sleep under every night. We are a strong representation of Syracuse, we are everywhere, and we are damn good at what we do."
blbump@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
VPA alum
posted 3/04/09 @ 11:45 AM EST
I find it curious that VPA is identifying SPD (with 30-40 majors) as a small program, and justifying this is the reason for its dissolution. Especially considering that programs like Sculpture also have only two full time faculty members and ONLY 10-12 undergaduate majors TOTAL (including 3 graduating seniors). (Continued…)
Working VPA Alum
posted 3/04/09 @ 2:15 PM EST
Not only is this frustrating and sad, but it is a direct result of very poor planning and the VPA administration's neglect. The SPD students are being punished and penalized because their professors can't get along and work together. (Continued…)
Art Director, SPD Alum
posted 3/04/09 @ 3:48 PM EST
What the VPA administration does not realize it the importance of these graduates in the Fashion, Home Fashion and many other industries. This major does not merely breed artists who can paint flowers well - but rather creates individuals who serve as the link, bridging the gap between fine art and the corporate world. (Continued…)
VPA Alum
posted 3/04/09 @ 5:21 PM EST
Unbelievable! One of the few programs in VPA Art & Design that has graduating students with jobs in their chosen field. I think that this was a way to end the feuding of the SPD faculty. (Continued…)
susan williams
posted 3/05/09 @ 6:22 AM EST
As a parent of an SVA graduate who majored in surface pattern design, I heard stories from my daughter about the lack of facilities and the outdated computers the students had to work with. (Continued…)
CVagliardo
Courtney Vagliardo
posted 3/05/09 @ 3:20 PM EST
This is so unacceptable. My entire career is built from what I learned in SPD. So many industries will suffer from this.
Class of 99' alumni
Senior Designer, SPD Alum
posted 3/09/09 @ 10:53 PM EST
I find it really disheartening that a program that is over 70 years old and is so well known in the home furnishings and textile industry for producing such skilled and talented designers is being cut. (Continued…)
Deborah Benson
posted 3/11/09 @ 11:31 AM EST
SHAME ON ANYONE wanting to eliminate this as a major. I would not be where I am today had it not been for my major in SPD. This is a travesty. And a VERY foolish decision. (Continued…)
jacobina3
jacobina3
posted 5/17/09 @ 9:31 PM EST
as a vpa grad- class of 89- i have to say that i am disgusted by this turn of events.
since i can remember- at least since 1984, the powers that be have been threatening to cut the spd program. (Continued…)
eric
posted 5/18/09 @ 8:49 AM EST
Is it just me or does it look like that girl is doing lines off the table? Yay optical illusions!
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