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Dean of Music - an ignorant man; jack of all trades, master of none (some cliches still work!).
Supports faculty policy of churning out performers, while being a musicology professor. See ‘musicology’. Has been known to fall asleep during the annual dissertation day (see ‘dissertation day’ entry). In personal correspondence to myself, claimed that depression is not an illness but very quickly retracted this statement when informed that the Disability Liaison Office on campus did not hold the same view (oh how I wish I still had the e-mail! he did a double take, and had to kiss some major arse!).
Has also been caught out lying when he ‘recommended’ (read: forced) that I discontinue my music studies (as the faculty cannot grant every single person with problems special treatment) on grounds that if it progressed to the Academic Board, I might be suspended. Gasp. When I decided fighting was no longer an option (the bastard is lucky I’m sick AND don’t trust anyone else to handle my affairs), I pulled out, marched to the Faculty of Arts and resigned myself to - only - a Bachelor of Arts.
The lady who basically constructed a degree from 3 major disciplines (music history and musicology; French language studies; literature) told me that if the Academic Board did suspend me, the Dean of the relevant faculty could scrap the suspension.
In bold, so you don’t miss it: the Dean of Music could overturn a suspension given by the Academic Board, though he told me once matters have gone as far as them, you’re fucked and it remains on your record FOREVER.
THE BASTARD LIED.
However, while not actually caring about a good proportion of the music students within his faculty, he does apparently feel passionately in regards to the destruction of ancient Iraqi musical artefacts destroyed by the Taliban regime a few years ago. Ahem, what about your own backyard, please!
2 Comments
Give it to the Con. I must admit, I don’t feel as blighted by this particular institution of disrepute, as I was a member of the dominant paradigm, namely, white male pianists, (although I’m sure the fact that I was straight counted against me.) I actually feel as though I wasted a lot of opportunities there. I’m tempted to name the initials of the two dastardly individuals named in your article, (I’m pretty sure I could make an accurate guess,) but, well, I can’t afford to be sued.
The only edit I can suggest you make to your snark is that it was known to the locals as “the appropriately named” Con.
Cheers.
Abbreviating it to the ‘Con’ pretty much gives away what institution it is! Incidentally, I had to cut out some incriminating things to also avoid possibility of being sued for slander.
Recently, I ran into another (friendlier) big-wig at said institution, and s/he asked how I was, and I explained that yes, I was better but now more active in writing while I save for a gamba. It also led to me having to admit that I didn’t so much discontinue music studies but was forced out of it.
To which the professor in question replied, “Ah, so you were given the ‘Wellington* whack’”, as if the phenomenon of being pseudo-kicked out of the Con was a common enough occurrence to warrant a nickname!
I said, “Yes, something like that.”
*of course Wellington is a pseudonym; the original phrase began with the Dean’s name followed by the word ‘boot’. Come to think of it, sounds a bit like a wrestling finishing move!
I think a lot of people could empathise with your feeling like you wasted opportunities at the Con. But keep in mind, they weren’t exactly supportive of such chances unless it was in their best interest. And woe betide you if you dared to ride against their current.
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