While DePaul University refuses to discuss the reasons behind the recent firing of two popular teachers in the Digital Cinema (DC) program, current DC students are going on the record to vent their frustration.
Many DC graduates support their complaints, with accusations of gender discrimination, substandard equipment and unqualified teachers leveled at the school.
Stated Matthew Hessler, a current DC student: “Dave Stone and Lou Kleinman were the most well-connected professors in the department. They’ve had the most industry experience, and while they were not teachers by trade, the experience lost due to their departure is irreplaceable.
“The school’s reorganization better show some proof in the pudding before the DC program becomes a joke.”
Complaints and criticism come amid rumors that DC program director Matt Irvine will give a “presentation” in May to current students. He will address their concerns over the surprise firing of popular teachers Dave Stone and Lou Kleinman and the near-concurrent reorganization and rebranding of the School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems (CTI), which houses the DC program.
Officially, no reasons were given for DePaul’s decision not to renew Stone and Kleinman’s contracts on the eve of such a major transition.
“This shows the gross irresponsibility of the Digital Cinema program, said Ross Heron, a current DC graduate student.
“These two were the strongest resources the students at DePaul had. With them gone, it’s not the program, not the investors, but the students that will lose.”
“We are being watched”
In the aftermath of the teachers abrupt departure and the CTI school’s reorganization, many former and current students spoke out on ReelChicago’s BackTalk section, and on Facebook pages.
These comments, however, were often anonymous as writers cited fear of retribution from remaining faculty, upon whom many were reliant for passing grades or professional references.
Comments on a Facebook group advocating a boycott of DC senior graduation also dried up after a post stating: “Just to warn you all, if you haven’t figured it out already, we are being watched by faculty members and the like. I have created another group outside of Facebook where students will be free to express their opinions and not worry about unfair consequences.”
Many current students approached by ReelChicago after this point stated they were unwilling to go on the record until after they had graduated.
DePaul denied that any pressure had been put on students to follow their own policy of silence.
“Our earlier statements remain our statements in regard to this matter,” said Shawn Malayter, DePaul’s media relations officer. “However, we want to be clear that no students have been reprimanded by the University for speaking out on the subject.”
“I guarantee that there will be few students who will go on record right now, but come graduation, there will be more. Unfortunately, DePaul in general is known for dropping controversial professors without explanation or investigation,” added a student who did not want to be named.