Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Opinion

To the Editor:

Poetry & Art

Classified Ads

Back Issues

Blogs

Photography lab closure disappoints students

Lydia Elliott
The Commuter

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Linn-Benton College has had a lot of rumors in it’s halls the past couple of weeks, and none of them have been good. They started with rumors of restructuring and retirees not being replaced, until quickly the news had spread that departments were closing and staff members were losing their jobs, and not willingly.

Even though I knew change was coming, I was shocked and angered to learn the photography department was being dismantled. I came to this school because of the photography department it has to offer. So too, did my assistantant here at the newspaper, who drives daily from Salem just to come to this school. Without the photography department and the professional knowledge of it’s manager, Kent Bean, I would not have traveled so well down the road I am on. I quickly learned in my early career at this school that there was a lot the photography lab had to offer. Thanks to the photo lab and it’s employees, I was able to scan my lost negatives from China and see my photos for the first time in ten years. I was able to print professional quality photos for much less, allowing me to build a portfolio that has proved indispensable. I was able to revisit a traditional dark-room and learn the basics of how photography works, essential knowledge even for a digital photographer.

And now, that indispensable resource is being closed down, victim to a financial crisis no one had the foresight to plan for.

When asked by my assistant Becca Martino what he thought about the sudden news of the closure, Bean said that “It’s a disappointment to students and staff. We will lose students because photography is a great way to earn your first piece of paper, your AA.” He went on to express his concern at only being given four weeks to find another source of income for his family, and was disappointed that it was the staff who had to let everyone down by informing students of the closures.

Students that have been in contact with the Commuter have expressed confusion and anger about why their questions are not being answered by the school administrators. Many are frustrated that they will have to reevaluate their plans for college or their career because of this closure. Julie Oakley, a first-year photography major, was angry that she was only give four weeks to find a new major. “Basically, it sucks,” she said.

And as for me, my dreams of brushing up on my skills by taking Rich Bergeman’s photography courses are gone. I guess having exceptional skills as a photographer doesn’t matter to an aspiring photo-journalist, not at this school. I am glad I am graduating after spring term, I am not sure I want to be a part of the barren educational system LB wants to offer. There are better options than the utter annihilation of entire departments on this campus to get us through this financial crisis. Perhaps we need better administrators that can help find some new solutions.

Comment

Commenting is closed for this article.