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Rebecca Bryant Novak, a conductor and doctoral student at the prestigious Eastman School of Music, has voiced her struggles against the misconduct of a particular faculty member.
Highlights of her experience include:
…My encounters with aggressive, entitled men in the music field and the subsequent protection they receive, particularly at Eastman School of Music, have been challenging.
The dilemma of deciding how much to share about such experiences on a platform as vast as the internet is real. Both oversharing and undersharing present their problems, leaving much to the audience’s imagination.
Faced with these issues, many choose to stay silent. However, I’ve resolved that remaining silent is, in many cases, the most irresponsible action one can take. The struggle to find a balance in speaking out is a toll-taking process.
Being one of the few women admitted to Eastman’s orchestral conducting program, I encountered a concerning faculty member only weeks into my first semester, which necessitated a formal complaint.
The issues were twofold: unprofessional conduct and unsettling comments aimed at students and myself, including gender-based remarks. Documenting these problems was straightforward as they previously existed and he’d been reprimanded before.
I reported to Eastman’s leadership and was advised to transfer, to protect my own interests. This act of protectionism towards faculty, despite significant and persistent behavior issues, was disconcerting.
The initial agreement was to reduce my interactions with the faculty member. However, when he complained, the agreement was revised without consulting me, pressuring me to comply or risk my degree.
Even with three female tenured faculty advocating for me and the initiation of an official investigation, the resolution was only partial. My academic and professional prospects suffered significantly.
The lack of support from other students and faculty was astonishing, considering their awareness of the situation. Many even justified and encouraged such behaviors, an attitude that is alarmingly normalized in our professional environment.
This ordeal has not only impaired my work and mental health but also raises concerns for younger students who may face similar dilemmas. The administration’s approach is a precursor to the abuses witnessed in notable organizations such as the New York Philharmonic.
Eastman is inadvertently teaching its students the culture of fear, compliance, and silence. The administration’s defense and justification for the reported faculty member, emphasized by the Title IX Coordinator’s trust in his judgment simply because he is a faculty member, is unsettling.
For a deeper insight into Novak’s story read further here.
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FAQs About Confronting Aggressive Behavior in Academic Institutions
- What are the main concerns Rebecca Bryant Novak raised about the faculty member?
- Novak reported unprofessional behavior, troubling gender-based remarks, and a lack of privacy, which created an uncomfortable working environment for her.
- How did Eastman School of Music respond to her initial complaint?
- The school’s initial advice was for Novak to consider transferring to avoid potential worsening of the situation, a response which she found shockingly protective of the status quo.
- What was the outcome after reporting the issues?
- Novak faced an administrative nightmare, losing opportunities and the potential for references, alongside a year filled with stress and distraction.
- What does Novak believe the institution’s response teaches its students?
- She argues that the culture of fear, compliance, and silence that’s being perpetuated teaches students harmful lessons on dealing with abuse and authorities.
Conclusion
Rebecca Bryant Novak’s ordeal at Eastman School of Music raises critical questions about the handling of misconduct within academic institutions. Through her courage in speaking out, alongside the support of tenured female faculty members, she highlights the systemic issues that protect aggressors and marginalize those who raise legitimate concerns. Her experience serves as a call to action for institutions to re-evaluate their responses to such incidents to foster a safer and more supportive environment for all students and faculty members.
