SCAD in general

Colleges and Universities A-Z Savannah College of Art and Design
81

<p>//Seventh, I was shot at (but not hit) one night while riding my bike down the street...Downtown Savannah is occupied by the well-to-do but surrounded on 3 sides by ghettos. Not everybody plays nice if you get my meaning..//</p>

<p>You might get shot at in NYC. No one denies the fact that Savannah has a problem with crime, but it does tend to get exaggerated. Also, during the time you attended, there was an extremely notorious street gang which was responsible for a great deal of problems. Still, the city has issues, I am sorry that SCAD cannot fix them.</p>

<hr>

<p>So all of a sudden RainingAgain is well versed on the crime in Savannah in the early 1990s? There was a notorious street gang? Really? And how did you happen to come by this information Oh Great One Who Knows And Sees All? Perhaps maybe you're a long-time staff member of SCAD working under Paula's thumb whose sole position is to debunk any and all negative statements made about SCAD on internet message boards? To me, you really come across as a hired gun to make sure negative things about SCAD are countered on this board, which wouldn't surprise me knowing how SCAD works.</p>

<p>So again, I am not trying to place the blame on SCAD for the crime in Savannah and I never said I expected SCAD to fix them. In your over-reactive zeal to defend the school, you have completely mis-read what I wrote and incorrectly responded. </p>

<p>I think that some people might be interested in knowing that Savannah has an unusual layout that facilitates crime maybe more so than other cities. No I don't have the facts about the current crime rate, but that kind of stuff can be investigated by those concerned about it in 2007. And incoming students should be.</p>

<p>A few years after I graduated I read a story in the paper about an incoming freshman who got shot in the face when she answered her door. She died and didn't even get to go to SCAD. Sure it's only one person but still, it happened in Savannah. I am bringing these kinds of things up to be sure people interested in the school and the city address these things in their decision making process. Yes, I realize it's 2007 and not 1992, but crime and pollution are two things that are very hard to control. </p>

<p>Incidentally, I've spent a lot of time in NYC at very late hours and was never shot at or felt like I was in danger. That was not always the case in Savannah. Yes, they're two completely different cities blah, blah, blah, but homicide is homicide. Once yer dead, yer dead, be it Savannah or NYC.</p>

82

<p>//I just got back from my cousin's wedding with my other cousin who will be a soph at SCAD. He likes it--doesnt love it. He's considering dropping out of college altogether because he doesnt see much benefit paying that much for a film degree, nor does he think he'll miss out on anything he cannot learn himself.//</p>

<p>If he is GOING to be a sophomore, then he hasn't even taken any film classes yet. So how would he really know? </p>

<p>//My couz had to drop out of his art history class because he wasnt doing well. I dont think anyone was there to keep him going. //</p>

<p>Maybe he should have studied harder and partied less? College is a time for students to start taking responsibility for their education. If I had a college-age child, no way would he/she go to an expensive private college as a freshman. He/she would attend a community college first to be certain to develop good study habits.</p>

<p>//He said for the most part, Savannah is entirely ghetto. I think he got held up or something. He told me that his friend down the hall--someone walked right through SCAD (lack of) security and held up this guy and robbed him. Then he went to another dorm to get his drug money. Also, two kids were kidnapped off campus.//</p>

<p>Savannah has a few areas that are ghetto. Yes they are in proximity to the historic district and the city-wide campus. But you can live in many apartment complexes on the islands (7-9 miles away), and southside, and the college does a great deal to educate students on safety, like, don't walk home at 2 am by yourself, etc.</p>

<p>Here is a link to the college's security pages"
<a href="http://www.scad.edu/about/security/index.cfm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.scad.edu/about/security/index.cfm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Hey if you are out looking to buy drugs, trouble will find you. </p>

<p>I only heard of one "kidnapping" case - maybe there was another, but to clarify, the student was off campus, and she was rescued by SPD within 20 to 30 minutes. Not a good thing regardless.</p>

83

<p>//Unfortunately, I just find it hard to believe that the current president of SCAD has changed and is no longer the paranoid shifty dictator she was 15 years ago.//</p>

<p>Things got very much out of hand in your time and involved many parties with their own agendas, some good and some not so good. What started out as reasonable concerns by the students got caught up in a tangled web of multiple agendas. Unfortunately when small bombs are detonated I can excuse the Rowans for becoming a little paranoid. prior to these events students could practically walk into Paula Rowan's or May Poetter's (Paula's mother) offices and shoot the breeze. I saw enough of Richard to recognize he was highly ego-driven and obstinate. He's gone now.</p>

<p>As I have stated many times, the college was a little too successful too quickly and experienced growing pains. I see significant evidence of a change in philosophy. The college appears to be devoted to enhancing the quality of the student environment.</p>

<p>Also, I am very much aware of the issues on both sides for a number of reasons:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>As a one-time employee at the Savannah Morning News I found a huge box of court records relating to these events, and I read through a great deal of the testimony.</p></li>
<li><p>I know Stanley Karsman and we have had some discussions. You ought to know who he is as well.</p></li>
</ol>

84

<p>//So all of a sudden RainingAgain is well versed on the crime in Savannah in the early 1990s? There was a notorious street gang? Really? And how did you happen to come by this information Oh Great One Who Knows And Sees All?//</p>

<p>Three reasons:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Conversations with a long-time Savannah resident who attended SCAD during those years. She remembered the gang leader's name very well, but I forget what it was.</p></li>
<li><p>I saw one of those crime story programs a number of years ago that was specifically about this gang.</p></li>
<li><p>I recall local media coverage when the gang leader was up for parole or something a few years ago.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>//Perhaps maybe you're a long-time staff member of SCAD working under Paula's thumb whose sole position is to debunk any and all negative statements made about SCAD on internet message boards?//</p>

<p>Sheesh. Listen, someone has to counter all the BS.</p>

<p>//To me, you really come across as a hired gun to make sure negative things about SCAD are countered on this board, which wouldn't surprise me knowing how SCAD works.//</p>

<p>Geez you're paranoid. No. I do not work for SCAD. In fact, when I left my position I was actually fired for reasons I contend were inappropriate or unjust. But Georgia is an "at-will" state and unless you have a contract you can quit or be fired at will. Am I mad? No. I moved on and appreciated the push out the door as well. I also appreciated the manner in which I was otherwise always treated with respect as student and staff member.</p>

<p>I have some bones to pick, but I choose to debate and debunk opinions that are bogus or no longer relevant.</p>

85

<p>//So all of a sudden RainingAgain is well versed on the crime in Savannah in the early 1990s? There was a notorious street gang? Really? And how did you happen to come by this information Oh Great One Who Knows And Sees All?//</p>

<p>Googled around and found a recent reference to the gang leader.
<a href="http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4886906%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4886906&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

86

<p>He's taken film classes already...</p>

87

<p>//Geez you're paranoid.//</p>

<p>Nope, not paranoid, I'm just very familiar with the numerous unscrupulous and Gestapo-like actions the Rowans took towards various parties and individuals during my seven year stay in Savannah. So much so, that I do not believe they are completely honest or trustworthy. I also do not believe that Richard Rowan was the lone gunman behind of all the problems associated with that period of the school's history. Paula was right there with him as Vice-President actively participating. Therefore, with Paula now in the top position at that school, it would not surprise me if there were some of the old guard left in the ranks to make sure the legacy continues, just being more careful this time around to keep it a little more quiet. If everything had been on the level at that school, I wouldn't feel this way.</p>

<hr>

<p>//Unfortunately when small bombs are detonated I can excuse the Rowans for becoming a little paranoid.//</p>

<p>Just so other readers know, the first "bomb" was a harmless noise device. It did no damage and injured nobody. It was a prank that occured at a highly volatile time and the irrational administration freaked out about it.</p>

<p>The second "bomb" was put inside a trashcan at the Savannah Civic Center and went off a good five or six days before graduation. Again, big noise, no one hurt. Graduation was to take place at the Civic Center but the administration cancelled it because they were sure it was a "warning". The culprits were found and they admitted they were just goofing around to see what kind of reaction it got.</p>

<p>So the problem is the Rowans automatically assumed it was the student govt/revolt organizers and chose to ignore the facts. When the true bomb-makers were caught and it was found out they had no connection with the revolt organizers, that still didn't change anything. In their minds, all the students were against them. It's too bad that wasn't actually the case cause maybe the Rowans would've been successfully ousted.</p>

<p>The Rowans always seemed more concerned with themselves than the students. When the revolt happened, they acted bewildered, like there was no reason for it and couldn't believe their own students were turning on them. Their solution was to bury it, shut it down, kill it by any means neccessary. Not to step up to the plate and try to fix the problem. They were approached before things really got heated and they chose to ignore the students. When they did actually speak to students, they were very much like slimy politicians that always recited some pointless rhetoric that went nowhere and addressed nothing. They never seriously addressed any problems or concerns the students had. I had my own run in with them and instead of actually speaking to me about it rationally, they merely threatened me with expulsion. So, if the school actually has changed, I would be more inclined to believe it's because Paula is trying to protect herself from another situation like what occurred in 1992, as opposed to a genuine concern for the students and their college environment.</p>

<p>RainingAgain keeps talking about SCAD's 'growing pains'. I think what happened at SCAD was a little more significant than 'growing pains'. Students wanted the Rowans out because of their actions. Students wanting the President and Vice-President of their college removed from power is a sign of severe problems. And like Jim Jones or Saddam Hussein (in attitude obviously), the Rowans were intent on not being removed from their thrones come hell or highwater. They viewed the students as their enemies and the solution was to take their enemies down no matter how many it turned out to be - whether it was a handful of troublemakers or the entire student body. Personally, I just can't get past that, especially someone who is the head of a prominent school in a very small town. So even though this is 2007, I do not believe the Vice-President who felt that was the best approach 15 years ago could really have changed her mind all that much now that she's President. I really believe she's just learned to hide it better.</p>

<p>Discounting the past as 'no longer relevant' is a dumb concept. If we all discounted the past, we'd be in a lot of trouble. Some serious things went on at SCAD that should not be overlooked (especially considering the cover-up is still going on - disappearing anti-SCAD websites anyone?). While it may have cleaned up it's act in the past few years, with it's checkered past and part of the reason for that checkered past still being in control of the institution, I'm inclined to tell folks- there are plenty of art schools in this country to chose from, try anywhere but the Savannah College of Art and Design.</p>

<p>I'm not saying I know all about the school and it's current operation. I'm just offering up some info and some thoughts about the place that are relevant to this particular institution.</p>

88

<p>Personally, I think you just threw yourself under the proverbial bus.</p>

89

<p>//First, you gotta friggin' relax.//</p>

<p>Me? Sounds like you're about to crack!</p>

90

<p>I'm about to crack? Again, like your other responses, I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion. The more you post, the more strange your responses get. After reading and re-reading all your posts, in addition to your overzealous defense of the school, you also berate complete strangers about their approach to college: their irresponsible partying, their poor study habits, etc. RainingAgain really has no basis to make judgements about former or current SCAD students who post on this board.</p>

<p>I can understand feeling the need to address statements and questions about the school related to it's current day operations but if you also insult students and tell them they are not applying themselves and they should go to community college first to learn good study habits, well, your self appointed position of SCAD cheerleader doesn't carry much weight. You come across more like a condescending know-it-all. Nobody likes that. If you really wanna help convince people the school is worth their time, you might wanna think twice before jumping down someone's throat who says they had a hard time with 'Survey of Western Art I' or 'Drawing I'.</p>

<hr>

<p>///It being such a small school, I expected and looked forward to having many of the same professors throughout my time there. This was not the case and from what I've been able to gather, it does not appear to have changed.///</p>

<p>I have a friend who went to SCAD at the same time as me and he's now a teacher in Athens, GA. He confirms the high turnover of professors at UGA too, and says it's a GA thing so it's not unusual that it's happening at SCAD too.</p>

<p>//1. It is no longer a small school.//</p>

<p>Well, compared to a state college, yes, SCAD is a small school. Even the projected maximum of 10,000 students is really not a lot. One of the things that drew me there was small class size. It was of great benefit and one characteristic they have been consistent with.</p>

<hr>

<p>///And by that I mean people that have no business being in an art school at all.///</p>

<p>//SCAD is not just a fine arts college; it is also a college of design arts. Many successful photographers can't draw worth a lick. Architecture requires one skill set, graphic design another, etc. What is the college's mission statement? To prepare students for professional careers. Sorry if that bothers you, but if you are someone gifted in painting or one of the fine art disciplines, sure - I can understand some of your frustrations, but they are misplaced.//</p>

<p>No, my frustrations are not misplaced. I'm not talking about photographers who can't draw. I'm talking about illustration majors who can't draw, painting majors who can't paint, video majors who can't shoot or edit to save their lives. The college's mission statement has nothing to do with the people they admit. And to allow individuals in who aren't up to snuff wastes other students' time who are there to learn. I have no problem with someone who wants to 'prepare for a professional career' but the second it starts interfering with everybody else due to their extreme inability to demonstrate the most basic skills, I do have a problem. I hope in 2007 they are actively trying to get truly good artists enrolled and turning away lonely housewives thinking art school might be 'fun'.</p>

<p>I still get all the alumni related publications and I am impressed with the work I see in them. I do believe there are good things about the school, but I feel it could stand to age a little more because based on things I've read, and no matter what RainingAgain says, it seems there are still some questionable aspects related to the way the administration operates.</p>

91

<p>//I still get all the alumni related publications and I am impressed with the work I see in them.//</p>

<p>So despite all your accusations, the student work does impress you.</p>

<p>//The more you post, the more strange your responses get.//</p>

<p>Mine?</p>

<p>//in addition to your overzealous defense of the school//</p>

<p>Me thinks overzealous describes you quite well.</p>

<p>Dude, I am well-entrenched in the Savannah community and socialize with a broad spectrum of people in Savannah including many at the college at various levels. I have seen and heard of the worst and the best. I am also a successful design consultant now, and remain a student of education and design - attending conferences on both topics because I often develop educational resources for designers. True enough, I do consider myself to be a subject matter expert in many areas, and I will share my opinions. You and anyone else may judge for yourself their worth.</p>

92

<p>//So despite all your accusations, the student work does impress you.//</p>

<p>Yes, but the school of course is going to choose the best work they can find to publish so that's not an accurate basis for saying the school is a well run institution. I did pretty good work I think (I myself even had one piece which was published in a school catalog) and I attended at the worst point of it's history. The fact that a current student does good work is not to be debated, the issue here is the school is run by a bunch of characters with questionable histories and long list of documented illicit activities.</p>

93

<p>I just spoke with a fellow classmate of mine who works at big cable network (no thanks to SCAD mind you) and they just accepted some SCAD students as interns on the show he works for. He spoke to one of them about the current environment at SCAD and she had nothing but negative things to say about the administration. Apparently the student gov't is a merely an organization in name only; they actually have no say in school policy and have no power. And the administration didn't lift a finger to help this student get the internship at this particualr network, she had to do it all herself even though the school does have an affiliation with the network.</p>

<p>In my experience the higher ups will come down on a student like a ton of bricks if they feel the student has "betrayed" the school in some way. Therefore, I have tried to word this in a way to protect this student so I'm not going to reveal the network or any other details that could help someone narrow it down to who this student actually is.</p>

<p>Bottom line is, doesn't sound to me like much has changed at the school.</p>

94

<p>Found a web archive of messages posted on former professor Philippe Houeix's website <a href="http://www.scad-and-us.info%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.scad-and-us.info&lt;/a>. They span 2001 to 2005.</p>

<p><a href="http://landscrape.us/files/ph/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://landscrape.us/files/ph/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>After a little more digging, in an attempt to stop Mr. Houeix, I found that SCAD sued him in 2004 on the grounds that he could not use the trademarked acronym 'SCAD' as part of his website. For once, the cretins at SCAD didn't win their lawsuit, but the actual site no longer seems to exist, so something else obviously happened.</p>

<p>Anyway, I know this will be debunked by the 'Supreme Challenger To All Negative Comments About SCAD' because an archived site could theoretically be altered after the fact. There is so much there I really don't think anybody would take the time to skew it to their agenda. But there is still quite a bit of interesting reading there, whether you believe it's true or not. A lot of it seem to counter the things RainingAgain has said and it's all much more current than 1992.</p>

95

<p>Congratulations on your discovery. It has been discussed at length here a few times already.</p>

<p>I know of Mr. Houeix, and have communicated with him. The acronym SCAD wasn't trademarked and this is why Mr. Houeix could use it. However, when an entity commonly refers to itself by a particular "name" there is some basis that it could be considered protected under copyright or trademark law. Sort of like a common-law marriage. Mr. Houeix's site was intentionally malicious, and he posted anything he cared to post without regard to accuracy. BTW, if you dug a little further you would have discovered that his wife was first fired for some egregious behavior, but he never reveals or publicizes this directly does he?</p>

<p>The site no longer exists because he sold the domain to SCAD. The fact that the content has been posted elsewhere may be a violation of his agreement.</p>

<p>Automatically characterizing them as "cretins" demonstrates that your perspective is fixed and unyielding to the possibility that the college has made significant and relevant progress.</p>

<p>As to the "negative nellie" </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Why would any entity give power to students to make policy? Students do have a voice however, and SCAD has and does respond to the needs of the students. CAre for an example? A long time ago I wrote to President Wallace and indicated the need for a student counseling service; 6 months later, it was established.</p></li>
<li><p>Apparently the interns were accepted. Good! It means that they must have been prepared well enough by their education.</p></li>
<li><p>She had to do it by herself? You mean there was no one to hold her hand, and she had to get the position based upon her own merit? Sounds terrible! Sounds like she may be developing skills to compete in the real world.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I think I will call your generation, "The Age of Entitlement." </p>

<p>I am so tired of people like you, and you have worn me down because your obstinacy is tiresome and unyielding. There is simply no reason to speak further with anyone so blinded by hate.</p>

96

<p>//03. She had to do it by herself? You mean there was no one to hold her hand, and she had to get the position based upon her own merit? Sounds terrible! Sounds like she may be developing skills to compete in the real world.//</p>

<p>Again, you're making negative assumptions about a student you don't even know. A school should help it's students, not hinder them.</p>

97

<p>AntiSCADGrad, I just thoroughly read over the site that you noted:<a href="http://landscrape.us/files/ph/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://landscrape.us/files/ph/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I am speechless.
I haven't visited SCAD so I won't comment on the school. However,If any of that is remotely true, SCAD is one scary place.</p>

98

<p>Leaving the other stuff aside, if an internship is paying you, then you should be expected to get it for yourself. In my view it is only appropriate for a school to set up unpayed internships for course credit. If a firm is paying money, they should have the right to interview and accept whomever they wish for the job, not just take the person a school doles out to them. My undergrad school enjoys a great reputation for its connections and career services, despite the fact that it certainly does not set up jobs for students. Learning how to go out and find work is definitely a skill that needs to be learned at some point, and what better time than college?</p>

99

<p>//Again, you're making negative assumptions about a student you don't even know. A school should help it's students, not hinder them.// ASG</p>

<p>And it hindered her in what manner?</p>

<p>// I am speechless. // Taxguy</p>

<p>Why? It is the same site you posted a link to once, but via a link from a site that archives websites.</p>

<p>//Learning how to go out and find work is definitely a skill that needs to be learned at some point, and what better time than college?// larationalist</p>

<p>Agreed. What better time?</p>

100

<p>//Leaving the other stuff aside, if an internship is paying you, then you should be expected to get it for yourself. In my view it is only appropriate for a school to set up unpayed internships for course credit.//</p>

<p>That's my point exactly. The internships are not paid and are for course credit only.</p>

<p>Learning job seeking skills is not part of this debate. The focus here is how poorly the school provides assistance to their students seeking opportunities to learn new skills sets by being exposed to workplaces in their chosen field of study.</p>