Dean candidate Koppes meets with students

Attendence at the second of three Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences candidate forums was up from the first time around. The audience quintapled in size since the initial meeting with candidate Geoffrey Feiss. Five students listened to acting dean Clayton Koppes outline his vision of Oberlin.

In the question and answer session on Wednesday night, Koppes discussed creating an ongoing dialogue between the Dean's office and the student body.

Koppes said his reasons for being dean are that he is "impressed by Oberlin students" and that it is an "interesting slice of institution, and a chance to do things and have an affect on the lives of the student body".

The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences oversees the academic curriculum, student life, library, athletics, computing center and tenure for professors. Koppes said, however, that the position of Dean of the College has "very little actual power to make decisions." He said that the position enables the Dean to work behind the scenes and that the position carries great influence on the College Faculty Council.

Among Koppes' goals are to give increased attention to the sciences, ethnic studies and African American Studies. Koppes also expressed interest in hiring more people of color and women.

Koppes said he wants to understand "where students are coming from". He said "the attitudes of learning are changing" and there needs to be an "ongoing involvement with classes."

Koppes said that the dean's office should be a place for students "to turn to for advice, a place where students views are welcome and respected." He mentioned that student forums could be a way for students to voice their concerns.

One student voiced concern over the controversy that erupted over Tribe 8's performance and wondered what effect it would have on censorship in the performing arts. Koppes said it would be "absurd to ban Equus" and that "recognized forms of artistic or literary expression would not be endangered."

Koppes said that he was opposed to censorship even though he believes there are questions to be pursued by the College about taste, boundaries and approiateness of certain performances. He added, "I can't imagine that recreational forms of artistic expression would be in danger."

Another student commented that often professors teach with a biased agenda, from center to left and present material representing the center to right. In response Koppes said, "The discourse is not as diverse as it should be, these view points are not represented at Oberlin. The fact that we will have to deal with them implies that these views are an important part of education."