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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
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A required meeting for SPD students and faculty will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in Room 232 of the Shaffer Art Building. Ann Clarke, dean of VPA, Lucinda Havenhand, department of design chair and Arthur Jensen, associate dean of VPA will attend, according to students who received an e-mail about the meeting.
Dorfer said the school will continue to offer SPD courses as electives. The curriculum will be taught for the next two years, allowing current juniors and seniors to receive their bachelor's of fine arts degree in surface pattern design.
Clarke and Havenhand did not return calls and e-mails for comment Tuesday.
SU's surface pattern design program is more than 70 years old. Students in the major design any sort of product that has repeated patterns, including printed and woven fabrics, dinnerware, linens, tile and wallpaper.
Miranda Shilati, a senior in the program, said she heard over the weekend that the major was being cut. VPA's Web site no longer lists SPD as a program. The two professors in the program were moved to different departments.
Dorfer was moved to fashion design and Eileen Gosson, assistant professor in VPA, was moved to interior design.
Shilati said SPD students received an e-mail requiring them to attend today's meeting. They weren't told what the meeting was about, she said.
"Girls were joking around in our class saying, 'What? Are we not a major anymore?' And our professor's reaction to that, you could just tell they weren't expecting her to say that. And we knew that was what was about to happen," she said. "We could tell it was something they were trying to keep quiet."
Shilati said that in 2007, the program had three studio spaces. Last year, VPA cut design space to one studio in Shaffer. Shilati said about 40 girls were "cramped into one small studio space."
Students in the program have fought for space for a while now. Students had tried contacting the administration frequently about space issues, only to get no response, according to an October 2007 article in The Daily Orange.
Shilati is an SPD peer advisor and said one of her freshman students was interested in the program.
"It just kind of sucks that the university is taking 40 something thousand dollars of her money, to take away a program she was hoping to be a part of and now doesn't have the option to anymore," she said.
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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