Tilghman asks for arts advice

The Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) met Monday afternoon to discuss the results of two recent taskforces that investigated University's racial diversity in hiring efforts and the future of creative and performing arts at Princeton.

Most of the meeting, which had been billed as an open forum to discuss the creative arts plan, was spent discussing the continuing efforts of a taskforce initiated by President Tilghman last spring to evaluate and improve the artistic atmosphere in both the academic and extracurricular aspects of the University.

School of Architecture Dean Stanley Allen GS '88, who chaired the task force, spoke about the potential for a large-scale change in arts programs.

"There's really a commitment here to a sort of cultural change," Allen said. "It's got to be the cumulative effect that at a certain point there will be a tipping point and a culture change."

Tilghman echoed the potential to instigate broad changes, saying that "[t]his is a place where we can really make a difference." She hopes to present a plan to the Board of Trustees early in 2006.

Tilghman described two types of students who typically become involved in the arts at Princeton: committed, experienced artists and inexperienced students looking to try their hand at something new.

"We need to be sure that we meet the needs of both types of these students," she said.

The panel stressed that improving the arts would also benefit non-artists by improving, in Tilghman's words, the University's "overall culture." She argued that Princeton "turns out effective students of the world and effective patrons of the arts."

One alumnus in attendance suggested that, for students considering a career in the arts, Princeton often lacks the appeal of other specialized colleges, noting that many arts-oriented colleges offer prospective students auditions.

Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel pointed out, however, that the University offers devoted artists the chance to pursue their studies beyond on-campus opportunities through the University Scholars and field study programs.

One obstacle to greater student participation in the arts, USG President Leslie Bernard-Joseph '06 said, is that a large number of art classes require students to apply by submitting a portfolio, thus effectively preventing many non-artists from taking certain classes.

"One of the most important questions is how can we expand curricular offerings in these fields," Tilghman responded. "The goal is to be able to have the greatest number of students take these courses."

Diversity taskforce

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The council also heard a report from Associate Provost for Institutional Equity Terri Reed on the recent evaluation of the University's efforts to hire and retain a diverse workforce.

Reed said the University's minority hiring rate over the last five years is roughly consistent with the rates of other universities. The diversity in hiring, however, is not evenly spread across the occupational spectrum, she said.

"About 50 percent of our service staff are people of color," Reed said, noting that only 10 percent of the executive and managerial staff are individuals of color.

Reed cited the hope that improving diversity in higher positions could lead to what she called "trickle-down" diversity, where a more diverse administration would lead to greater diversity throughout the University faculty and staff.

Vice President for Student Life Janet Dickerson expressed a similar view when the taskforce began its work several months ago.

"If the majority of people of color are serving food, working on grounds or in facilities," Dickerson said in February, "it might give students an impression we don't want to give regarding the nature of work for people of color."

Tilghman also announced two new appointments to the CPUC: A.J. Stewart Smith, physics professor and chair of the University Research Board, and Lianne Sullivan-Crowley, vice president for human resources.