Attempted power-grab continues at Cleveland
NewsDisaffected students and former alumni are trying to topple the present leadership of Cleveland Institute of Music.
None of the agitators has been brave enough to give their name or to cite the precise allegations being made against the head of conducting Carlos Kalmar, all of which have been dismissed by an independent legal inquiry.
This is an ugly situation and it will get uglier still if the CIM board continues to sit on the fence.
Here’s the wording of the petition, which has gained some 400 supporters:
We, as proud alumni, educators and performers, firmly request the distinguished Board of CIM to dismiss President Paul Hogle, Provost Scott Harrison, and Conductor Carlos Kalmar.
Their collective abuse of power has been rampant to the extreme detriment of current and recent students.
After watching in horror for several years the mishandling and denial of students’ concerns, we can no longer be idle while our beloved institution rots from within.
The unilateral hiring of Mr. Kalmar by Mr. Hogle was against the recommendation of the search committee as well as the majority of orchestral students. The blatant disregard of student concerns regarding Mr. Kalmar’s hostile treatment of them is antithetical to the main purpose of a higher learning institution. They have listened time after time to their own faculty and staff reporting the same abuses, dismissed their concerns, and then…. Nothing happens (other than a “restructuring” and sudden departure of the staff member whose job it was to investigate Title IX complaints).
Solidarity with the students, hope people trying to justify abusive behaviour step on a Lego.
Even if the mob happens to have a reasonable point, it’s still mob rule.
Would love to hear your thoughts on democracy. Actually, no, please keep them to yourself.
What abusive behavior? Please tell me. I really, really want to know.
Where is the petition and list of supporters viewable?
Irrespective of the merits, it’s hard to look at the first sentence of their second para (“unilateral hiring”) and not conclude that they had a beef with Kalmar *before* he even set foot there and before any of the hostile treatment they refer to could have taken place. Time is linear, after all. Again, that does not nullify the allegations and yet it is quite salient that they chose to underline this upfront. (They wrote the letter so it was their choice to highlight it.)
You are so far removed from what is going on. If you did any research, you’d know that the complaints aren’t just about the Title IX investigation. This is what informed, authentic reporting looks like:
https://van-magazine.com/mag/cleveland-institute-of-music-carlos-kalmar-discrimination-bullying/
Consider taking notes.
Really, Disaffected Student? Can you point me to the bit of the article where there is any concrete example of Kalmar behaving in an inappropriate manner? Because I missed it. “Informed, authentic reporting.” Please.
You had to know that the article is behind a paywall. Thus, your comment loses all credibility. Such vague, anonymous charges are also completely lacking in credibility.
Slip disc cock in ur colon, ho
If this comment passed moderation, one shudders to think of what Mr. Lebrecht does *not* let through.
Just curious if anyone knows, definitively, who else they considered before hiring Kalmar? Did they have a number of guest conductors?
I know JoAnn Falletta was on the short list. I’m not sure of all the conductors who were in serious consideration, but certainly she (or others) would have been strong, equally prestigious, less problematic contenders.
What is the abuse?
“None of the agitators has been brave enough to give their name” would seem to be contradicted by ” …the petition, which has gained some 400 supporters” who have presumably signed it with their names?
“Sudden departure” of the Title IX officer? How about she broke the law by publishing vague, unsubstantiated and anonymous allegations?
“None of the agitators has been brave enough to give their name …”
Fear of victimisation by a toxic regime tends to do this to you …
Best wishes to the students.
One cannot help arriving at the conclusion that students who don’t like a staffer’s politics can have their reputations destroyed. This was the case with Dr. Bret Weinstein and I know there are others. Ours is the age of the cry-bully.
As an alumni, of the Cleveland Institute of Music, hearing about these troubles, is very upsetting! I was given a chance to work on my music artistry, for which I will be eternally grateful, at CIM. This was back in the days, when Victor Babin, and Vitya Vronsky, were leaders! The prevailing mission, and attitude, during those times, by all faculty, was to create an atmosphere of creative, open, musical, artistic freedom, developing a student’s best potential! The faculty at CIM, and leadership, embodied the attitude of being supportive of students, whereby their learning from distinguished faculty, would be free from harassment, and sharp criticism, yet still provide a disciplined approach, to learning their craft, and developing their musical potential! I thrived under that exemplary approach! I had transferred from a previous music conservatory, where politics, critical attitudes, and sharp criticism were prevalent. I was not able to develop my potential under those conditions! At CIM, I did develop and surpassed my own expectations, as a student. CIM prepared me well for a successful, professional, music debut, and I am indebted to CIM, and it’s faculty, for all they did for me! It pains me to see these type of problems, now plaguing CIM!
Take note orchestras everywhere: be sure to screen out any resume who was a student at CIM during this time. Just not worth the risk to hire some witch-hunting commie.
I have to say I agree. No one wants this kind of poison entering an orchestra.
“None of the agitators has been brave enough to give their name or to cite the precise allegations being made against the head of conducting Carlos Kalmar, all of which have been dismissed by an independent legal inquiry.”
I think this statement is misleading – it is a fact that the numerous complaints against Kalmar were there long before the Title IX allegations. And the dismissal of Title IX allegations was probably the correct decision because the complaints that were reported did not reach the threshold, technically, of Title IX violations. But that certainly does not change the seriousness of Kalmar’s intolerable behavior and inept and destructive handling of the orchestra program. Based on countless problems Kalmar has created, behaviorally and artistically (way too many to write about in this forum, unless you want to read a novel), he should be dismissed.
Unfortunately, Kalmar is threatening lawsuits because of the mishandling of the Title IX investigation. He is holding CIM hostage, basically. But no one wants him, most importantly, the clear majority of the students.
I wish the petition had only gone for Kalmar – first things first. I fear that the petitioners have overreached by including the other two – we’ll see how this plays out with the board.
If he doesn’t sue, he’s a damn fool. These vague allegations and the resulting publicity have ruined the man’s career. Go ahead write your novel – interesting that you used a word referring to a work of fiction.
Patience, my dear WGA. it will all come out in the end – and much has already been documented. But I am surprised you could not comprehend the context of my use of ‘novel’ as something containing thousands of words, and that many novels are based on true events. Glad I could help you with your education.
“Power grab”
“Agitators”
When you’re using oppressive-regime speak just to editorialize on a situation you’re not even personally involved in, perhaps it’s time to consider whether or not you are too personally invested in this topic to be reporting on this.
Oooh, I have one more, maybe you can consider these buzz words:
“Impartial Journalist”
Nah, too much work, not enough spleen venting.
I’m still wondering what is really going on. Regardless, the admin and Kalmar have clearly lost the support of many students and so, rightly or wrongly, things need to change. But I have taught at universities for many years and found that sometimes what I consider reasonable high standards have caused great resentment among students. Putting students “on the spot” and expecting them to answer questions and discuss the material is apparently bullying now. Not letting a student shrug off a problem but pushing them to work though to a solution is also now intolerable. Pedagogy has changed to something very different from when I started.
You need to make up your mind what your point is.
Latest public news is that Kalmar is on a “leave” for the rest of the semester. A CIM internal email states, “TYhis semester’s orchestra programs will be conducted by Sameer Patel, of the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus, and Anthony Parnther of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra.” [Note: JoAnn Falletta and Kalmar are CIM’s conducting faculty of record]
https://www.ideastream.org/arts-culture/2023-09-30/cleveland-institute-of-music-professor-enters-leave-of-absence-following-protests
What are “former alumni?”
Will the last person to leave Cleveland please turn out the lights.
It’s one of a personal favorites that this website wastes no time to almost always be like “well they’re anonymous so they must have something to hide” as if you wouldn’t report them coming out publicly as a “power grab.” If you’re going to report the news, taking a side isn’t the way to do that.
Maybe having 400 signatures on a petition should have you asking “maybe these allegations are right and warrant inquiry,” huh?
Surprised there aren’t more comments on this article. This does sound pretty cowardly on the part of students. But how are they signing their names if they don’t wish to go on the record?
It’s a fair point: how can anyone demand that anyone else be fired, without specific examples of unacceptable behaviour? People can write unanimous comments here, so please, let’s hear some examples. And please do not send links to pay-walled websides in lieu of written answers.
I read the VAN article and there was absolutely no concrete detail as to the supposed offenses. Not even a vague anecdote. I think that’s what is so pernicious about this case of reputation murder. For all we know it could be that Kalmar looked sternly in the general direction of a female student as he asked the whole section to play with more bow…
“The unilateral hiring of Mr. Kalmar by Mr. Hogle was against the recommendation of the search committee as well as the majority of orchestral students. The blatant disregard of student concerns regarding Mr. Kalmar’s hostile treatment of them is antithetical to the main purpose of a higher learning institution.”
They overplayed their hand. How could Kalmar have treated them with “hostility” before he was hired? An since when do students get to choose who will run their program? This sounds like a conspiracy run by a faculty member/administrator who is using “students” as his storm troopers, so that he’ll get Kalmar’s job.
Tell me you didn’t attend CIM without telling me you didn’t attend CIM. There simply isn’t anyone there to take over, they’d have to look outside the school. There aren’t just conductors hanging around every corner.
-CIM alum (2003)
“After watching in horror . . . . ” If that’s their definition of “horror,” the real world is going to really be a challenge. Such drama.