On episode 5 of Archinect Sessions last week, co-host/NJIT grad Ken Koense took issue with NJIT's statement against Kean University's upcoming Michael Graves School of Architecture. Koense called NJIT's arguments against Kean "categorically ridiculous" and "smoke and mirrors, distracting people from the real issues at NJIT". Koense points to Urs Gauchat, NJIT's architecture dean, as the cause of the school's struggle to make enrollment: "If there's any problems at NJIT and schools of architecture in the state of New Jersey, it has to do with the current dean, and the current administration there," and that "NJIT's school of architecture has no one to blame but itself."
Listen to Koense's take on NJIT's statement below, or download the whole episode here. You can subscribe to the podcast here.
6 Comments
Uhoh. Michael Speaks disagrees with Ken...
Two of my favorite people on opposite sides of an issue. This could be painful.
Or enlightening beyond your wildest dreams.
I'm not quite sure what NJIT is "right about" according to Dean Speaks, but consider this; in a five to ten mile radius of Newark, NJ there are no less than 5 MFA programs, all state schools, and Kean is one of them, yet I know of no one complaining that this is a problem. Again, there are several factors as to why NJIT SOA rates have fallen, and the economy can't be the sole reason. When I was in school at NJIT, in 1991, the economy while not quite 2009-2010 level shit, was pretty fucked, and the school was quite populated. The school expanded programs, offered more degrees, put idiots in charge of programs outside their KSA's and has a Dean that has held onto his job throughout all of this turmoil, and if I may; kept his job while student debts have climbed, job prospects have chilled, and has what to show for his tenure?
That said, whether or not Kean should have a program, that remains to be seen, but my main point, is that NJIT, in the spirit of the type of capitalism that Dean Gauchat champions, should prove it's a competitive asset to the profession, and if it can't, well, there's always Syracuse or NYIT.
I had a client once for a pet day care facility - a pet spa. Only two remonstrators showed up at the zoning board variance hearing, both of whom - surprise! - operated pet boarding facilities within two square miles, and their only argument was that the market for those services was already full. My client argued that they were distinguished by offering a much higher end service, which was true, but the zoning board's response was that no matter what they were offering the market wasn't their concern, only the zoning issues. My client won.
Including NJIT there are already 7 NCARB accredited architecture schools in a 25 mile radius of NJIT, and there here have been less students signing up for architecture in NJ all together. How is adding another program economically feasible? Are you comfortable wasting tax payer money on this gamble, especially considering that Kean is not privately funded? I cant listen to Koense go on about his view on this topic, very embarrassing...
7 or 8 Schools of Architecture, and only 2 are public universities, and one in NJ, and all this whining. As I've stated before, 5 MFAs in the Newark, New Brunswick area alone, yet no whining and doing well. This program is not a BArch, and while I'm not convinced that a nonprofessional degree is useful, or cost effective for the student, but students in state should have more than one option to attend architecture school.
What's interesting is that Sebastian has a problem with my criticism of the Dean. Put this in perspective, the Dean has been the Dean longer than the current students have been alive. How is university supposed to be on the leading edge, when the people leading the school are on the backside of their careers? How forward thinking is that? Does Urs know what Rhino or Grasshopper are, other than creatures in Africa? Has he read Manuel Delanda? Have you? What about Roger Caillois? I find that any student your age would not think critically enough, and find fault with his leadership, but you might gain that perspective later. I and many of my classmates had it then, and voiced our concerns then.
As for faculty, I had many wonderful professors; Claire Weisz, Ricky Ristic, Tim Wood, Laurel Wilson, Peter Pelsinski, John Nastasi, and the unforgettable, Don Wall. All of these people made my existence at NJIT unbelievable, without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today. My classmates were major sources of inspiration and remain my friends today. Urs. Nothing but jaw dropping amazement at how someone with so little to offer, could survive 23 years at one institution.
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