Meet Alya Albert New Editor of the Prattler joins next Spring page 8
The Return of the Living Dead Dealing Dirt on the Dorms Whats Coming to Pratt?
the
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PROFILE: President Schutte An indepth understanding the Big Man On Campus himself and revealing the future of Pratt page 6
PRATTLER
Eviction Notice
Words and Cover Photo by Alya Albert
“I WILL TO TALK TO YOU, but my answers will be guarded.” This was Conrad Milsner’s response to our request to interview him on the townhouse situation. Most of us first learned of Conrad’s impending ouster only when an October 11th article on the Gothamist broke the news. Within two weeks 3,215 people signed an alumni-generated petition on change.org, urging the administration to reconsider. They did. On November 5th, PresidentThomas Schutte assured the Pratt community, by e-mail, that “Conrad is not being evicted or asked to leave his current residence.” And thus Conrad has been spared, but what exactly went down in the month between the delivery of the eviction notices and the letter from President Schutte, and what does the future hold for the four families who Schutte did not write letters for? While the situation has garnered a significant
amount of press and conversation, much remains unclear. In the process of trying to understand the events that have transpired, we contacted all five of the townhouse tenants facing eviction, as well as several administration offices, in search of answers. With the exception of Conrad and Sal Westrich, one of the tenants, we were met with silence. STANDING ROOM ONLY What we do know is that Pratt’s current undergraduate enrollment is 3,145. Approximately 75 percent of freshmen and more than half of all students live on campus, where Pratt can accommodate only 1,642 students, or about 52 percent, with beds distributed as such: Pantas 226, Stabile 224, Cannoneer 182, Willoughby 850, Esther Lloyd-Jones 82, Townhouses 78. However, in the past two years students in Willoughby have reported being told that they would be living in a double dorm, but on move-in day come to find Continues on Page 4
TURN DOWN FOR WHAT Words by James Tae
DISSONANCE. That would probably best sum up this situation. If you haven’t heard by now, the beloved upcycle shop Turn Up Art is no longer at Pratt. Victim to the forces of bureaucracy, the alumni-run shop had to close its doors mid-October, only a month into its official opening. It is unfortunate that such a program cannot exist within a school that preaches about progressive ideas and environmental sustainability. Especially if the idea addresses specific issues within the Pratt community. Unless of course the idea was “made” by Pratt and started by them too. Turn Up Art started as an idea when Gunner Tierno was taking summer classes at Pratt during his final year. What he witnessed was Continues on Page 2
STUDENT STAFFERS SPEAK By Elizabeth McGuire
THE FOLLOWING STUDENT workers are required to interact with both students and faculty on a regular basis. We asked them about their experiences. They decided to remain anonymous. What are the biggest differences between interactions with students vs faculty? NL: It’s more tense and formal with the faculty. They usually act like they’re in a hurry and you’re in their way, even when you are helping them. Also, students rarely get mad about their fines. They’ll moan about it, sure, but faculty members will yell at you. I’ve never had a student get mad if we didn’t have something they’re looking for. They just shrug and move on. It’s not so relaxed with the faculty. There’s a sense of entitlement because of their status. And in some ways, they’re right to feel entitled. My department has a lot of rules, but we’re allowed to break almost all of them for the faculty. There are virtually no consequences if they’re late or mistreat our materials. The students don’t get that kind of special treatment. Continues on Page 6