On Tuesday, July 16, 2002 9:40 PM, Brian wrote, in part, wrote the following:
". . .students are paying
for these escapist and non-responsible and despicable
theorizations of escaping democracy at lightspeed, and
are willing to defend the defenseless to keep degrees,
to keep in line, at the feeding trough, elitists 1 & all.
i offer exhibits A & B to question how Columbia University
(world's greatest architectural school, world's greatest
dean, world's greatest faculty, world's greatest students,
world's greatest city) can produce 'nothing' so magnificently
as to hear a whisper in the media from all this world-class
loss of purpose, loss of ethics, loss of dignity, and loss
of an ability to teach, to educate, how to design, how to
shape, how to engage, not to run away like a bunch of better-
than-thou cowards, assembly-mind made: how can the following
vile promotionalism beget a non-response to the events of 911:
. . ."Fifteen years is an architectural generation," said Tschumi, who
became dean in spring of 1988. "It is time for a new person to take
over, and for the school to enter a new phase in its evolution."
REPSONSE:
1. One of the problems with academia is the focus theory rather than practice. Well, it is not really a problem, if students have the intellectual capacity to apply the theory to practice. But, it is obvious that PRACTICE is not taught in academia.
2. The "star system" in the academy is misleading. The focus in on how that particular individual personally solves problems. The real focus should be on solving RESEARCH problems through collaborations within the university and with the cooperation of the outside world. The INDIVIDUAL should learn how to do this IN THEIR OWN WAY within a university context. This process helps the individual to find their own way, and develop their own powers in design process and eventual applications.
3. My recollection is that Richard PLUNTZ was acting head of the architecture department at Columbia University prior to the appointment of Bernard Tschumi. Richard was one of my colleagues at PSU for several years. Prior to Richard, Kenneth Frampton was head of architecture.
4.
http://www.arch.columbia.edu/
5.
http://www.arch.columbia.edu/gsap/1/9/0/0/
6.
http://ci.columbia.edu/ci/subjects/architecture.html
The integration of digital technology into Columbia's architecture program has revolutionized architectural education and added a virtual dimension to the practice of architecture. Architecture studios often resemble special effects workshops, and cyberspace has become a site for design.
7.
http://ci.columbia.edu/ci/frame.html
Faculty roster, with particular emphasis on former heads of department. . .
Kenneth Frampton
Ware Professor of Architecture
Dipl. Arch., Dipl. Trop., Architectural Association (London), 1956; A.R.I.B.A., 1957; Honorary Doctorate of Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 1991; Honorary Doctorate in Environmental Studies, University of Waterloo, 1995; Honorary Doctorate in Environmental Studies, California College of the Arts and Crafts, 1999. Medaille d'Or, Academie d'Architecture Paris; ACSA Topaz Medal for excellence in architectural education, 1990. Associate of the A.I.A., 1993; fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1993; member, Russian Academy of the Constructional Science, 1995.
Richard A. Plunz
Professor of Architecture; Director, Urban Design Program
B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1965; B.Arch., 1966; M.Arch., 1967.
Bernard Tschumi
Professor of Architecture; Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
Dipl. Arch. E.T.H., Zürich, 1969. Arts Council of Great Britain, 1975. National Endowment for the Arts, 1979. Member, College International de Philosophie, Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, and Legion of Honor, France. Registered architect.
