Sure. couple of reasons come to mind.
- it induces the wrong atmosphere. Too 'strong-arm' / coercive. I'm not saying that there are not those who won't respond to anything else, but
a) the fine has to be significant, but, in being so, can generate large scale unrest, not to mention challenges
b) that mentality ends up winning, by forcing you to resort to a 'blunt-tool' policy, which obviates nuance
- as per previously stated: enforcement. Who will be the police? What discretion will they have? What CAN work is pier pressure. If vacating student leaves trash (or evidence of rule violation, the next person in has to either remove the offending materials or ends up 'owning' it. They can't say "oh, it was there when I arrived".
- A slippery slope. Is water in a sealed bottle OK? Tea for singers?
Are there garbage cans in (or right outside the rooms)? If someone were to act responsibly, putting food items on a table (not on piano), and taking garbage out before leaving, would that work? (Highly (or even not so highly) aromatic edibles, in a room with minimal air exchange, can be offensive to subsequent users, or those in adjacent rooms.
Is there any issue about how long a room can remain vacant before it is available to someone else? How long (max?) are students allowed to sign out room?
A drink on a table is OK. Anything found ON the piano should be cited. As long as there's some other surface, there's no excuse for that.
But again, make sure none of the faculty are blatantly violating said rules, setting a truly bad example.
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David Skolnik [RPT]
Hastings-on-Hudson NY
914-231-7565
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2018 15:45
From: Zeno Wood
Subject: Fines for food and drink in practice rooms, studios?
Hi David!
All good questions, some of which have a good answer and some of which don't. Thanks for the opportunity consider the reality alongside the ideal.
Curious why you think a fine wouldn't be effective, care to elaborate?
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Zeno Wood
Brooklyn, NY
Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2018 15:07
From: David Skolnik
Subject: Fines for food and drink in practice rooms, studios?
First of all, congratulations on staying long enough to take up residence in the new building. Does it have enhanced shop facility as well?
To your question, albeit in a circuitous route:
- are there any surfaces, other than the piano, which food or drink could be placed on?
- are there any nearby 'common' areas where food could be eaten (ideally with refrigerator or other food storage provisions? If not, to what lengths would student have to go to get some food or drink?
- are there windows on the practice room doors that would facilitate observing violations without having to have first entered the room?
- to what extent does faculty commit violations of these rules (perhaps in either classrooms or studios)?
- are there restrictions or protocols in the signing out of practice rooms that would encourage students to violate these rules?
In general, I think fines are likely to be ineffective... something like the tickets UPS trucks get: it's a part of doing business. Loosing practice privilege, at the time of occurrence or for some period thereafter would probably be much more productive. Of course, the questions remain: who will enforce? how consistently?
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David Skolnik [RPT]
Hastings-on-Hudson NY
914-231-7565
Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2018 13:16
From: Zeno Wood
Subject: Fines for food and drink in practice rooms, studios?
Hi gang,
We're starting another school year, this time in a new building with a bunch of new pianos. Of course we're grappling with the constant annoyance of students bringing their food and drink into the practice rooms and harming the pianos. So far, we just give them a warning if they're found in violation of the posted rules, and repeat offenders are referred to their adviser or the chair of the department for a talk. This time around however, we're considering instituting a fine. Does anyone here have a fine in place? How much? Is it effective at preventing or lessening damage to the pianos? How did you institute it, let people know, what are the exact mechanics of collecting it, etc? Please let me know. Especially appreciated if you have actual department documents to share.
Thanks,
Zeno
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Zeno Wood
Brooklyn, NY
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