From: "Jeff ////////" <//////////////@hotmail.com> Save Address | Headers
To: <freedomofspeech@scad.info>
CC:
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 18:16:09 -0400
Subject: Your excellent site
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr. Houeix,

An associate directed me to your site. I was, by turns, amused and horrified. It is a wonderful thing you have done, providing people with such a forum. Your "freedom of speech" address is appropriate, I think. As Americans, the price we pay for the freedoms we enjoy is to be ever vigilant. You have encouraged that.

I was one of the lucky ones, I guess. I attended SCAD for four years and had very few problems with anything or anyone. I did, of course, cringe whenever the professor would say the words "the following people have an asterisk by their names." An asterisk on the first day of class meant that the Bursar had once again fouled up your account, resulting in your needing to visit the dreaded Bursar's office. It got to be a running joke between us students. (I did have to go a couple of times, natch.)

"Tricky Dick" Rowan still ran the show. This was back in the mid-90's, when Video (my department) was bursting at its Habersham-based seams and was transferred into the then-luxurious Hamilton Hall. Three of my four years were spent in the swank studios and private editing suites of that new building. I guess you could say that I never wondered where my tuition money was going. There was plenty of space for every student and enough equipment to go around (even though the smart students invested in their own extension cords, or "stingers"). As it was one of the newly-refurbished buildings on campus, it was host to any number of VIP events, complete with a gourmet buffet of munchies, the leftovers from which they would leave behind for us starving artists. Hey--when you're in college, free cookies and strawberries are always welcome. We never did mind that.

The crime problem was something we just sort of accepted, Savannah being like any other town. Contrary to what some say, it was much worse back then.
The city was not as fixed up as it is now, and there were not as many businesses or private residences downtown. Broughton Street was straight out of a Bruce Springsteen song. There were no evening walking tours. We were heavily discouraged by the college from walking between school buildings at night. Most of us did it anyway, since SCAD had maybe two shuttles at the time and it could take a few hours (literally) for one of them to pick you up.

All in all, I had a blast. Savannah's a great town. The degree I earned helped me gain acceptance to a film school up north, where I earned my Master's. I have worked as a freelancer for several years now, thanks in part to the experience I gained at SCAD. I feel truly bad for those who have been wronged by the school, so please understand me when I say that I am one of the lucky ones. I had many a friend who fared worse, and I believe every word written to you by the SCAD-scorned.

One minor bone to pick: the links on your website that categorize the letters by faculty/staff/alumni/student (and so on) are grammatically incorrect. No apostrophes are needed (e.g. "LETTERS" instead of "LETTER'S"). I say this not out of a desire to nitpick, but out of respect for your efforts. You'll lose credibility in some circles if your grammar is poor. I want your site to be read (and enjoyed) by as many people as possible. Those facing a decision whether or not to attend or work at SCAD should be informed. Bravo for your work, and for being a principled man.

Jeff, SCAD alumnus

From: k//////<k/////////0@yahoo.com> Save Address | Headers
To: <freedomofspeech@scad.info>
CC:
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 02:32:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Scad


First of all, I would like to thank you immensely for the publishing of your site. I know it has been difficult as I have encountered the "wrath of the Rowans" myself.

In 1987 our dorm room was broken into and an unknown man armed with a shotgun, raped and sodomized my roommate and I. Upon learning this, the Rowans called us seperately to thier office and practically demanded we sign certain "insurance documents". Obviously at this time I was very distraught and could not understand how they could be so thoughtless and cruel. After a few more attempts to get me to cooperate and be silenced I finally obtained a lawyer, determined to fight back. Upon that time I was requested by Mrs. Rowan to speak with her where she declared "you don't think I will allow you to get away with this, do you"?

The proceding three years were, nevertheless were made miserable for me and my experiences come right out of a nightmarish thriller novel. As hard as it is to believe, the treatment we received was far more devastating than the actual occurance in the dorm room. I was watched/followed and later I learned that a neighbor, was also hired to keep tabs on me. I wasnt aware of this until a faculty member whom I had never met informed me of this. I still to this day, find it hard to believe but based on said neighbors past behavior, I believe it.

To further exacerbate circumstances, the Savannah Police were of little or no help in finding the rapist, convinced we were drugged out college girls who's pusher decided to pay them an unwelcome visit. This was after my friend admitted to smoking some marijuana that night. I often visited the station to see what progress had been made, often met with, "we're working on it" or we'll have some mug shots ready soon". My friend had already pointed out a suspect but it was never followed up and when we asked to speak to the lieutenant who was assigned to us, they were always conveniently "unavailable". Soon afterward, my friend left for obvious reasons and I gave up fighting that battle alone.

All in all, it was four years that were extremely sad and painful for me. A lot of my peers thought I was very brave, but at the end I was depleted and felt lost. In hindsight, it would have been a better decision to have left all-together. I think more than not, I didn't want to disappoint my mother, as I was the first in the family to attend college and going anywhere else would have been a financial burden.

The lawsuit was lost to SCAD around 1996. the only positive thing to come from that is I am not censored to say anything I wish about my experiences with them. If you need any assistance at all, I am here to help you. Best to you and thanks again.

Sincerely,

K//////////////

To: <freedomofspeech@scad.info>
CC:
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2002 20:53:24 -0700
Subject: Recent SCAD graduate - well if 4 years ago was recent


Hey, I believe the Rowans no longer have much politcal sway at the college anymore. So do you honestly think that SCAD is scamming students still?

Anyway when I lived in Savannah I found out the apartment building (house) I was living in was owned by the Rowan family but managed by another family. The only way I found out was when someone stole the iron gates of the back of the apartment building - and my bike that it was owned by the Rowan family from the police report I signed.

Anyway I just think it's fascinating to hear all this. To bad because beyond the tarnished image there are real people that have been quietly standing for Truth Justice and the Socialist way.

Sent: Monday, June 17, 2002 4:29 AM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: Brandon's project

I have a reply to the individual who remarked about Brandon, since i knew him and marisa for over a year, while my boyfriend knew them longer (about 3 years, they were neighbors).Brandon has been taking advantage of marisa from day one. Brandon has confessed to my boyfriend that he is only in the relationship for money. he drives marisa'a car because he does not have his own and he says that it's his and that ms. rowan gave it to him. That would be an Acura MDX, while her younger brother drives a jaguar... he said he brought the idea to ms. rowan as a reason to get accrediation form her (nice resume??) as well as to get paid, and to get a masters without having to take all the classes. He asked me to participate in the project by two dimensional animating the mouth. I declined because at the time i thought that completing my degree by taking the appropritae classes would be better than bulls**tting through it and using that project as a means to complete my bachelor's. my boyfriend and i have since graduated and moved on, never speaking to them after graduation day 2001.
brandon is not as good as he claims to be. i can name six students (at least) who would have overqualified for the position that Brandon has received. The only reason the HE got it instead of them is because of who he knew. Sleep with the president's daughter and you can get anything and everything you've ever wanted.... including a mini greyhound named precious ..... :)

////////////////////////////////

Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 3:41 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: Rick and Rocky

Hi, my name is S///////// I have had the extreme unpleasant experience of
dealing with SCAD. i graduated form SCAD with an MFA in Sequential Art, last year. Over the winter i was hired on to the Rick and Rocky project.

Have you heard of this? Basically, its an animated short of the Presidents insipid book. It combines different types of animation (computer, puppet, and 2-D)

The person in charge, is Brandon Osterman. The boyfriend of the presidetns daughter. He has no experience, no talent, and no reason for the financial backing he has received. So far he has spent over $600,000.00 And there is no finished footage. Its been going on since last fall. Brandon did not do any preproduction and isn't listenening to any of the professionals involved. Every month is spent working out the problems. Always, the answer was given to him prior to the problem, but he didn't listen. He is being paid $22 and hour. He shows up very late every day and leaves early. He doesn't make any creative decisions. We come in and work, he's not there. The studio where this takes place is the green screen room in hamilton hall. So needless to say, the classes that were scheduled to use that room, now sit in the hallway for class. This could have been easily avoided if Brandon would have contacted the scheduling people at the end of every quarter. The worst part came, when the 2-d team (my team), 9 months into the project, heard rumors that were being gotten rid of. The students on the project receive scholarship money and can substitute this "class" for any of their required ones. Myself and a few other pro's, were paid. When the rumors surfaced it confronted Brandon, he assured me that wouldn't happen. Weeks went by and he was not paying attention to my team at all. Rumors surfaced again. Someone on the puppet team overheard him talking about getting rid of us and replacing us with comps. Keep in mind this is a decision that should have been made in the research and development stage, but then again there was no research and development. Also keep in mind we'd been working 40 hours a week for 9 months. And had a lot of work completed. So finally we forced him to talk to us. He said the school was cutting the funding and he couldn't pay us anymore. This was at the end of this past quarter. He was going to scrap all of the work we had done. All the work that the students have given himfor 9 months. All along this was supposed to be, first and foremost, a professional experience for the students. Now the 2-d students wont have any work in the project (if it ever gets finished, which i doubt) have no way of receiving the education they should have received on this project, overriding other classes for it. Brandon would tell anyone anything he wanted to get what he wanted out of them. For me and a few others its was the promise of a teaching job. Never happened. The student were promised everything, from a free trip to c-graph and cannes, to whatever the individually wanted to hear. Brandon screwed everybody. Every day SACD brings a new recruitment tour thought the studio to show off. Brandon got the school to purchase and $250,00.00 camera for this project. The one Lucas used for the last star wars film. The film department was going to receive this camera when the project was finished, now Brandon gets it. Paula is funding a studio for Brandon, One where he can do whatever projects he wants to. Sorry for rambling on, my team as been meeting every now and then to see what can be done about this. I would love to see this on your site, does this interest you at all? thanks for your time.
Best
S////////////

Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 3:52 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: almost forgot

Rick and Rokcy is still going on. The people who replaced us are being paid. When i called Brian Murphy and Danny Philson to inquire about the"loss of funds for the project", neither of them returned my call. What it boils down to is this. The students on my team basically waste their time and eductaion on this experience. Brandon decided to get rid of us because he changed his mind about the project. He threw away, we estimate, about$50,000.00 on our team.

Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2002 2:15 AM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: I hate SCAD

I hate SCAD! I graduated with my MFA from SCAD in 1999. I also worked for SCAD for a year.

I feel better knowing that I am not alone. I regret ever going to SCAD. I owe so much money, I am so poor now, I cant find work in my field and SCAD has
done nothing to help me with job placement. I am trying to repair the damage SCAD has done to my life.
I will write my story at a later date.

Thank you so much.

///////////////////////////////

Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002 6:24 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject:

Thank you for having this web site.

I started to go through the application process with scad and was accepted but after two days of sitting in the financial aid office with absolutely no help i started to change the way i thought of the place. Around every corner i hit the same brick walls no one would help me or return my phone calls on several occasions i was asked to put my parents on the phone. I was in general recieving the run around . Since i am the one paying for my own education and was twenty two years old at the time i told my councelor i was no longer interested in going to their school because of the way i was being treated. Unfortunately this was after i had already put down a tuition deposit and regardless of how old you are one thousand dollars is a lot of money to just lose. I know this may sound like typical situations at a lot of schools but i have heard from many friends that this was happening to them as well and it makes for bad business.

I work hard for my money as do all the young adults i know and my money is as green as my parents.

Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 1:54 AM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject:

I hope that everything works out and SCAD doesn't shut you down. I graduated from SCAD and do not think I gained any useful information. I have seen professor's that have been "let go" for voicing honest opinions,and fellow students get hired right after graduation. Over the past ten years I have seen SCAD creep over this town like a disease. I took a workshop at SVA before they were kicked out and let me tell you, they were so nice and the facilities were geared only to the students, providing an encouraging and creative environment. I am now a working artist but everything I learned about painting or the bussiness of art I learned before or after attending SCAD. My degree has never gotten me anywhere. I hope they don't shut you down because it is ALL TRUE.

Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 7:20 AM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: my scad horror story

Phillipe,

I would like to give you and your viewers a brief synopsis of my four turbulent years at SCAD. I have first-hand in depth experience as to howdirty, slimy and money hungry people can really be. As a prominent member of many campus activities, and as a work study student in the student services office, i worked in the swamp of deception among the alligators. The most traumatic experience of my life happened within the walls of SCAD and under the "care" of one of its administration members. I was hired into the Student Services department by the head of an organization to which i was a member. With my help, he organized the SFVF. After the great success of that event, he was promoted to be Mr Rowan's personal assistant. He then asked for the head of the athletics department postion and because he was such a close confidant to the pres., he got it... at this point i had worked with him for over a year, seeing him nearly everyday, and we became good friends and would sometimes hang out after work...even though ANY relationship (other than professional) between student and administration is strictly prohibited. He invited me over to his house one night to have a drink and talk about ideas for my organization. When i walked into the house, candles were lit and music was playing. I ignored it and he brought me a drink. He directed my attention to the coffee table where he had layed out $200 cash and told me he would help me pay some of my debts if i would take of my clothes to talk to him. I immediately tried to leave but he blocked my path, said he was sick of me teasing him, and he couldn't take it anymore. Then, he raped me. Afterwards, when i thought it couldn't possibly get worse, i was threatened that if i ever told anyone he would call me a liar under oath in court. He also said that he was close with the president and would have me expelled and would make it impossible to get a degree anywhere. (whether or not it was true, i didn't know)Over the rest of that school year i had to work with him side by side everyday because i needed to keep my "special salary" (i was payed $10.00 an hour instead of the usual $5.15) in order to stay in the school. He would apologize almost daily and beg me not to tell and in the same breath threaten me. It was an extremely difficult thing to go through. Before he left the college, he got me a full scholarship to the school to ensure my silence permanantly. He was head of athletics, so it was no problem! And up until this point i have remained silent. But your website prompted me to tell this story to show the kind of people they hire that the students are involved with everyday. I could write a book with all of the scandolous facts i know about SCAD.
On another occasion, i was the only female in a computer art class where i had to teach myself to use the frame capture programs because my VERY UNQUALIFIED professor John Parry was on the other side of the room telling sexist and crude jokes to the boys in my class. Not to mention most classes are 2.5 hours...i was never in that classroom over an hour at any point in the quarter. he didn't know what he was doing so he let the class out early everyday.
SCAD FACTS:

"Community Events" are nothing more than SCAD sucking up to the old rich people in savannah for their money.

The only reason athletics exists is because of Mr Rowan's obsession withsports.

The only reason the equestrian team exists is because their daughter Marissa wanted to ride horses and they didn't want to use their personal money to buy them.

The Theatre Arts department only exists because of Mr. DiVincent's ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

There is no such thing as a portfolio review at SCAD. You have the money, you automatically get in.

You play a sport, you automatically get in and a scholarship.I know all these things and more are true because i worked with the people who did these things everyday. there are thousands of horrible and illegal things going on inside those walls everyday. But so far the all powerful SCAD has been able to pay off those who could incriminate them. Well, now that i have graduated there is nothing holding me back from saying anything i want to about them.thank you for your time. i hope this will provide some insight to your postings.

Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2002 7:29 AM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: hi there

hi, i went to scad for 2 years, i transferred in from a small school in GA to pursue a career in computer art. when i came for my school visit they made it out to be the 'best' school out there and I would have no problems with any of my teachers, and how my teachers would be there for me if i needed help.
well that was so untrue, i had problems learning computer programs, it took me alot longer than others and almost all the computer art teachers didn't have the time to help me. so my grades suffered, i became stressed. I figured i am paying 20,000$ a year i should get something in return from SCAD right? well, not really. I did find one teacher that wanted to help me learn, i told this professor that if i had him the first year i was here i would probably have stayed at SCAD.
I am now going to school at AASU, where the art teachers want to show you new things and help you learn. i love it there. I wish the professors at SCAD would take some teaching classes or some classes on how to be nice to the students. If a student needs help shouldn't that be your number one priority???? thats how i feel about SCAD. I was so happy when a guy gave me this website. I hope it all works out for you. All I would like to know is where does the 20,000$ go from each student? Because at AASU in-state tution is 1,153$ less than one class at SCAD so where does the money go at SCAD????

thank you for listening to me,

Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 7:42 PM
To: freedomofspeech@SCAD.info
Subject: John Hopkins

Dear Philippe,

I am a SCAD alumnus from the fashion department and I would like to describe some typical behavior at SCAD - deception, mind games, and utter disregard for respect. The department head John Hopkins has lied to me and other students and is quite comfortable excusing his despicable and unprofessional behavior under the guise of being on the “slow” side - though he really may be mildly //////////.  The annual SCAD fashion show is the culmination of the senior’s four years of study, and naturally they want to be involved in theshow.  Unfortunately, we found out that the show really doesn’t concern the students, but is just another means of hype for SCAD.  Therefor, we had virtually no input on the design of the show.  At the very least, I and the rest of the class, wanted to attend the dress rehearsal to ensure that our garments were presented as we intended, as we would  not be dressing the models backstage.  First, John Hopkins told us we could not attend the dress rehearsal because it would be disruptive.  Then after some students refused to participate in the show if they could not attend the dress rehearsal, John Hopkins wrote down on paper that we could attend the rehearsal as long as we agreed to a few rules of conduct.  Fine.  So at the time of the dress rehearsal, all the students showed up at the theater but were told to go home and to come back the next morning because the rehearsal had fallen behind schedule.  Everyone arrived the next morning and watched a rehearsal of the choreography without the clothes on the models.  Then we were told to leave the theater and that we would not be allowed to see the dress rehearsal.  John Hopkins was no where to be found at this point, so I waited for him outside the entrance to the theater.  Finally I saw him drive up in his Oldsmobile and I made eye contact with him, and then he sped up and drove off.  A little later I went back into the theater and found him there the coward had snuck in through the back door. 

Sincerely,/////////////////////

Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 7:35 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: Alumni of SCAD

Dear Philippe,

I resent people that skate by and get the same grades I did to close enough to pass. It makes a mockery of us that lost sleep on a regular basis, that knew the building better than some of the professors b/c all they did was live for their art and try to acheive beauty in short periods of time (successful or not).

Like many, I came to this school in awe of it's beauty. By time I graduated, I was jaded in my feelings for SCAD. I noticed that though most of my professor's were well taught, industry experienced and did their best to prepare us for the the real life situations we might come across. I saw how standards beginning to decline.

It's appalling to think that anyone can be given a a degree. I only got a BFA. I knew and felt sorry for those that were working on their masters. They never saw the light of day, their kids, & family. Most of the friends they did see were working along side them at a computer.

I feel horrible for the professor's that have been treated so horribly if all these stories are true. I fear they are. From the core of me, there is nothing but rage, that degrees so many students have slaved for, is being given to others likes presents on a birthday for kids that didn't care.

I completely agree that it is the administration. I'm seeing someone who almost has a nervous break down everytime he has to deal with the administration. He's told me stories that makes me want to go with him, and cause a scene if they did to me what they do to him.

Not all of the administration is corrupt. Please make sure that viewer's know that.

I'd wouldn't to see SCAD loose their acredidation, but it's not fair to those thousands of students that are genuinely working hard to achieve their goals. I'm fortunate that I already have my degree.

Maybe somehow, SCAD can be forced under knew ownership and administration. I hope that a reasonable solution arises. Something that forces the parts of them to be charged with fraud so that they are fired and replaced. Good luck proving your cases. I hope you're successful, just be thoughtful in who gets punished.

/////////////////

Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2002 11:09 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: SCAD administration

Dear Philippe,
I am a SCAD alumnus and from personal experience, I can say with confidence that SCAD administrators are filthy, dirty, lying charlatans, especially Jeff Eley and Dean Bonnie Kubasta. During the Fall quarter of my senior year, I met with Jeff Eley, Bonnie Kubasta, and the then assistant to Paula Wallace, Marie Belisle concerning a truly disgusting and unfair situation that SCAD had created. I had been working closely with //////////// a fashion professor, and eventually developed a mentoring relationship with her. She was abruptly transferred from the fashion department one quarter, but remained a faculty member of SCAD. Even though she was no longer teaching in my department, she generously continued to give me advice and guidance on my work, mostly on an application for a fashion contest. Somehow SCAD got wind of this and Bonnie Kubasta demanded that /////////discontinue any contact with me. I immediately tried to set up a meeting with PaulaWallace, but as she refuses to have anything to do with students, I met instead with Jeff Eley, Bonnie Kubasta, and Marie Belisle. During our meeting they looked me directly in the eyes and told me bold-faced lies that they never told //////// she couldn’t work with me. They said
that they thought it was wonderful that I was trying to enter this contest and that they encourage students to have mentors. They promised me that they would contact //////// and notify her that it was not only OK for her to continue with me, but that they actually supported her effort.
Needless to say, they did no such thing, nor did they have any intention. A short time later she was terminated.

Sincerely,
/////////////////////

Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2002 9:24 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject:

to whom it may concern:

i would like to tell you my appreciation for your strong ethics and just morals. most would have taken the money and run, your strength is refreshing and hopeful.my story starts off my first day i arrived in savannah. i was a freshmen transfer student that left
ohio on his own, hoping to arrive at a school(paid entirely out of his own pocket(student loans)) that had given him a dream of a better life. once i arrived, SCAD decided to give me a taste of the brutal cut-throat world of big business. i arrived in my beat-up, old car with barely any change in my pocket ready to move into one of scad's dorms, but instead SCAD said they had filled up all there dorm rooms and left me to the streets of savannah(where i slept for almost 2 weeks). i am a tough individual and that is why i'm still here but back then i was on the verge of a breakdown. i was young, scared, knew no one, had no place to go. SCAD was supposed to be there, but they werent there and they didnt care if i was either. you would think that this one event isnt enough to judge such a vast school, but it isnt the only one. Throughout my career here i have been sad, frustrated and holding in my anger towards the school because like i said i pay for this school out of my own pocket. no parents to help, just myself. and when i graduate this 80,000 dollars i have spent would now be in vain. i'm a computer art student and in this department the teachers are horrid. they waste my time with unanswered questions, unchallenged assignments and unexperienced backgrounds. i'm not the only one and my story could go on forever. i respect you forever. thank you for helping me feel better for at least a little while.

////////////////

Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 2:58 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: GREAT SITE

I am aware of teachers that have never touched a 3D program in their life teaching Final 3D at SCAD. The students get screwed. No job placement either.

Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 7:37 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: You've only scratched the surface

Philippe,

You've only scratched the surface. It's a ying/yang existance here at 'SCAD'. For every ounce of good, there is an equal and opposite ounce of evil.

Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 9:27 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: Fake Master's

Dear Philippe,

I am a SCAD alumnus, and after learning about your story concerning the Fake Master’s degree, I can tell you that it seems to be common practice. I attended an off-campus program and a professor //////// on the trip who was then earning her Master’s at SCAD, was teaching courses while she was enrolled in another class. Not only did she not attend her classes as a student, but she was also absent from the trip for 5 days out of the total 20 days of the program for a personal visit to her home town. Another professor, ///////, was earning her Master’s at SCAD while teaching and was enrolled in courses while she was scheduled to teach courses - so of course she taught her classes and supposedly did her student coursework outside of class. I sincerely doubt that she was held to the same evaluation standards as the other legitimate students. I am concerned that SCAD may be confering fraudulent degrees and I am also disturbed that the accredation bureau has not yet investigated this issue.

Sincerely,

///////////////

Sent: Friday, April 05, 2002 7:09 AM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: More on Poetter Hall

Dear Phillip,

I'm a recent graduate from SCAD (or as I prefer to call it SCAM - Savannah College of Art and Money) who is interested in one particular topic at this time, concerning Poetter Hall, and the accusations about benzene poisoning. During the rumors last spring, SCAD posted the results of an inspection made by a company they hired and paid for themselves, but I'd like to know if OSHA has inspected the building for poisoning, and if they have, what they found. There are health code violations listed at www.osha.gov, but they are vague and do not say anything about an inspection for benzene or other chemicals. The man I spoke to on the phone at the Savannah OSHA office couldn't even find the May inspection in his database so I had to show him where it was on the OSHA web site, so I am skeptical of their ability to help me. I was told to write a letter requesting the full report, which I have done, and am awaiting the results. I'd like to hear from anyone else that has any >real< not rumored information on this matter.

my email address is lsandbank@earthlink.net for any direct correspondence, or I will check your website for responses.

The current health code violations are listed at the OSHA website at http://155.103.6.10/cgi-bin/est/est1sr?est=Savannah+College+of+Art+and+Design&sort=N&limitd=100&limitp=2500&state

=ZZ&fed=B&office=0000000&fdate=1972-07-01&tdate=2010-12-31&vio=V&str1=&str2=&xtr1=&xtr2=

Lisa Sandbank
(you may use my name)

Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 8:08 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: Heres a pic I threw together for you...

I've been at scad for 5 years and it sucks.. Im from New York so I don't care about scad and its limited range of influence but I can see why many people do... thought you might think this image is funny..

Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 1:21 PM
To: 'freedomofspeech@scad.info'
Subject: like-minded thoughts

THANK YOU for this site and for your courage and determination.

I am a recent graduate and regret daily choosing the college to obtain my M.F.A. Although I made many lasting friendships, learned a great deal about my field and myself from a small handful of professors, and loved the city, I found administrators to be inefficient, creepily neurotic, unskilled at dealing with creative, passionate students, defensive, paranoid, and some -- when confronted -- incredibly good at projecting inadequacies and shortcomings back onto students. Some, too, were no more capable of leading a classroom of impressionable students than their graduate teaching assistants...or even some undergrads. Some faculty behaved liked students themselves...and occasionally appeared to know less about their field than many students they taught.

My fledgling department, having been quite quickly and fully embraced, seemed to break rules, cut corners, and work under the table at an alarmingly high level. Education and the advancement of any real skill seemed secondary to a sort of frenzied goal to glamorize beyond realism the school and department. Huge events or decisions were often made with no announcements, no follow up explanations, no official word. Often professors found out changes or news dictated by the Chair from students, second hand -- just as surprised as anyone. Contrarily, students who questioned these types of occurrences, rocked the boat, or brought out department discrepancies (in curriculum, the catalogue, teaching approaches, professor evaluations, favoritism, etc.) were blacklisted as trouble amongst faculty, staff, and some blindly supportive students.

A spoiled, infected place indeed... and now it seems (knowing fully the shameful history of the place as reported in the link to the Lingua Franca
article) one that was doomed from the start. I wish I'd have researched the school first and would have read that article and the testimonies here. I'm glad now I know why I was met with such weirdness: the school's seen smart, questioning, provocative students like me before, and, well, we know what happened and happens.

What a lovely, seductive city..what a lovely idea for a place of higher artistic learning...but what a bad, bad, evolution under apparently bad, bad, infected and contagious folk. I guess, for the Mr. and Mrs., the idea of surrounding themselves with people like themselves backfired.

I feel much better being away now and out in the world. Infection spreads...I felt it there and began to not like who I was amidst all the madness. I smiled less and less the last few quarters. Glad I didn't go there as an undergrad. 4 years would have been far too much. Permanent damage not done, though, apparently -- I'm happy to report. I can only hope the same for others sticking it out there or future students who buy into the cheaply gilded facade.

Thanks again for sharing your story. I wish you much luck with your ongoing battle. May goodness prevail.

Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 12:26 AM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: I'm worried

I was forwarded a link to your site by a friend of mine (a fellow scad graduate) who has also experienced what he claims are unfair / unethical practices. I don't know the specifics of his situation so I have never made a judgment about his case. However I have been witness to a good deal of things that I consider questionable and I believe much more lurks beyond what I can see.

I'm glad you have put up this web site and I plan to explore it however one post I read struck a chord with me. Someone mentioned that scad should be put out of business.

If scad should suffer some giant public exposure / humiliation (which may be what is necessary, I honestly don't know) Do you know what affect that would have on the people who have degrees from scad? To be honest, I'm a recent graduate, and I haven’t tested to see if my diploma from scad means anything to anyone to begin with but if the school were to loose respect would it's students also be hurt? Has something like this scenario happened to other collages that you know about?

In the long run, the most important thing is that no one gets hurt by scad and if that means a big scandal then I'm all for one. And if THAT means that our diplomas are hurt then so be it. I don't mind if it helps out all the really good professors and students that I know at scad. I'm just wondering. Something to think about.

I applaud your building this site.

/////////////////////

Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 8:20 PM
To: freedomofspeech@scad.info
Subject: www.scad.info

Monsieur Houeix:

Thank you for your effort to collect and share honest experiences about SCAD. I have only today heard of your complaints through the e-mail system. At this time I just wish to give you my support as an MFA graduate, proud of my degree, but with uneasy feelings about the school's administration. I'm sure that myself and others I know will begin to elaborate and have something to contribute to your website when the time is right.

Regards,

Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 6:17 PM
To: houeix@gateway.net
Subject: SCAD-WEB-FEEDBACK

Mr. Houeix,
Thank you for standing up to the awful art school. It's about time people got the truth about scad.

I would like to suggest (unless you have already) that you contact SACS which is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools- the accrediting entity. Also the CAA- the College Art Association should know about this.

respectfully,

/////////////////- dingruntled scad alumnus