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FOTO: Paul Anthony Wilson
Not allowed to take exam
After Lisa Jørgensen’s exam project turned out to be critical of the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, she was not allowed to take her exam as agreed.
På norsk
FOTO: Paul Anthony Wilson
«An insufficient fulfillment of the work requirements of the study», says the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO). «Censorship of a project that was critical towards KHiO», says student of scenography Lisa Jørgensen.
- It was after I had made changes that made it clear that my bachelor project was critical towards KHiO, that I was told to stop my exam preparations, Jørgensen explains.
These changes had been approved by Jørgensen’s supervisors.
Did not want a public showing
After deciding that she would not be able to sit her exams, the studies administration still asked Jørgensen’s supervisors for assistance on working out a suggestion for an alternative form of examination for Jørgensen. The new form of examination meant that the student could take the exam, but that she would not be able to have an open showing with an audience, like the other students. Jørgensen would be able to construct a model. That Jørgensen did not lodge a complaint regarding this decision was also a premise of her being able to take the exam.
All the same, Jørgensen has complained and the complaint is now being processed. In a written statement to Jørgensen’s lawyer, one of Jørgensen’s supervisors, Zoe Christensen, states that it was difficult to get a clear idea of what kind of general conditions the school was willing to offer Jørgensen.
In a letter that Universitas has gained access to, Dean at the Faculty of Scenography, Suzanne Bjørneboe, declares that the offer to Jørgensen has expired: «With this complaint, we understand that you do not accept KHiO’s offer of an alternative arrangement for the completion of your exam project, as was presented to you by your supervisor, and the school will not follow up this case any further.»
- Terrified of criticism
- It is obvious that the administration is simply playing around when they change the demands along the way simply in order to stop her, says Marius Von der Fehr, former student and student representative at KHiO. He collaborated with Jørgensen on the exam project, and describes her as a mature and competent scenographer.
- The reasoning that the school gave, that Lisa has not fulfilled the demands of the study plan, is as poor as it comes, says Von der Fehr.
He thinks that the academy is terrified of criticism. Von der Fehr himself felt exposed by KHiO when he took a critical view of the school is his exam project «KHiO’s Black Book». Von der Fehr was also recently rebuffed when he wrote a contribution to KHiO’s yearbook that had been commissioned by the school. His contribution dealt with amongst other things the Lisa Jørgensen case and what he himself calls shocking conditions at the Faculty of Scenography.
- They argued that the content was too sensitive for the school, says Von der Fehr, who believes that Jørgensen’s case is a good example of the situation at KHiO.
- Perceived to be a threat
- The school advised me on several occasions that I should change the subject of my project in consideration of my career, Jørgensen states.
Supervisor Zoe Christensen believes that the academy feels threatened by the changes in Lisa’s project.
- Even though it was not Lisa’s intention to wage war on the school, I can understand that they might have perceived it in this way, Christensen says.
The supervisor advised Jørgensen against changing her project description, but thought that it was important that she was able to complete her project.
- It is impossible to say whether the project was good enough on an artistic level, because she was not given the opportunity to finish it, Christensen states.
The programme administration at the Faculty of Scenography does not wish to comment on this case until Jørgensen’s complaint has been processed. This is expected to happen within the first half of the autumn. They also do not wish to comment on whether the guidelines have been changed along the way.
Fakta
- In a number of articles in the media, it has been revealed that KHiO is struggling with a poor working environment and that students are unhappy with the organization of the study programmes.
- Scenography student Lisa Jørgensen wanted to make an exam project that was critical of KHiO, but after the programme administration discovered this, the school was no longer willing to accept the previously approved form of examination.
