How sweet it is . . .

Behind the Canvas raised over $72 at their first bake sale on Friday the 13th. Thank you to everyone who consumed our calorie-laden delectables. A few students left suggestions for how we might best spend the money on the student body, and we will be taking them all into consideration.

Health policy update

Here's where I'd like to give an update on changes being made to the health and safety policy at the Academy, but unfortunately, there is nothing to report. Heather Leininger and Jen Brazas are still waiting for a response from the administration to the proposal they presented in January.

In the meantime, most of our student body still doesn't know where to get a band aid or what to do in the case of a medical emergency.

Jen and Heather have been presenting their research in the current Art and Activism classes, and have done great work at raising awareness about the need for more widely publicized policies and improved services for students in this area.

Behind the Canvas Bake Sale!

Behind the Canvas is introducing a new kind of bake sale to the American Academy of Art. On Friday, March 13, students CAN have their cake and eat it, too! Members of the club will be selling yummy, sweet, sticky and chocolaty stuff and using all proceeds to purchase a gift for the student body. Every student, staff, or faculty who makes a purchase will also be able to make a suggestion about how the money collected should be spent. The Behind the Canvas staff will consider all suggestions and select the best one within the price range of what we collect.

Behind the Canvas Black Light Launch

Behind the Canvas launched its Facebook and Myspace presence as part of the Spring Arts Festival on February 26. This student organization, started by students in one of my Art and Activism classes in fall 2008, was formed out of a need for students at the American Academy of Art to have a forum for discussion of events and issues at the school.

Part of the launch took place in a blacklight room with a chalk mural where students were welcome to add their own artwork or answer a question posed by the group, "If you had a room dedicated to you, what would be in it?"

The group also set up a video confessional room where students could say their opinion of the school on video, to be edited and posted on YouTube by one of the students in Behind the Canvas. Sadly, very few students would participate in the video project. Most were afraid to voice their true opinions on video, even after we offered to blur faces and alter voices. I was saddened by the fact that so many students are afraid to say what they think on a student forum.

Our hope is that Behind the Canvas will help to show students that they are not alone and give them the courage to speak up and advocate for positive change.