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OFS drama

Submitted by annie on Mon, 09/03/2007 - 2:52pm.

Hi All, I don't quite understand if I'm posting this in the right place, if not I apologize and hope that the moderators will move it. I wanted to share a letter I wrote to the OFS Board regarding the recent firing, and my experience with Jeff and the theatre. I hope the people who are boycotting can attempt to put this incident in a historic context, and that we can all make the effort to trust accounts of experiences that are not our own.

Dear OFS Board,

I wanted to write regarding the recent firing of Jeffrey Bartone, and the subsequent criticism and walkout by the projectionists. Part of the complaint in the projectionists' open letter was that this firing signified that the board is out of touch with what the OFS community wants. I would like to tell you: nothing could be further from the truth.

I have produced shows and festivals at the theatre for over 12 years, and was also formerly on the OFS Board of Directors. I have had extensive contact with Jeffrey in many different contexts. He is a great person, but terribly suited to any position where he has to work with the public, let alone be the main face of the organization for many groups who use the theatre. He actively makes the theatre unwelcoming, makes you feel like you have no right to be there. His behavior ranges from the run-of-the-mill rude to bizarrely aggressive- like nothing I have seen in the 150-odd venues I have produced shows in across the country.

I have heard horror story after horror story over the years from women, of incidents where they have felt discriminated against, deliberately intimidated, and even harassed outside of the theatre by Jeffrey. I have had some of these experiences with him myself. Being female and trying to produce shows, you come to expect the sound guys to treat you badly, and you tell yourself to suck it up and get on with things. But not all women are willing or able to take that attitude. And why should they have to? Why shouldn't the theatre be easily and equally accessible to everyone? Many women have quit their volunteer shifts at OFS, others now flat out refuse to work or produce events at the theatre. It's not all women either- many bands won't come back to OFS due to their treatment by Jeffrey. There are sound people who won't work there due to the unsafe conditions he maintains and the steadily declining physical plant he has presided over.

I know this is not new information, I know the board has a mountain of evidence of community issues with Jeffrey- from the anecdotal to formal letters and complaint processes. While on the Board, I was a part of a long and earnestly undertaken (by all parties involved) formal mediation process between the Board and Jeffrey. The issue has certainly been given an incredible amount of air time over the years. Community members who have attempted to raise concerns about Jeffrey have ended up feeling doubly alienated and discouraged when complaints were ignored by the Board and seemingly no action was taken. It seemed unthinkable that this many people could voice problems consistently over a period of years with someone's sexism, rudeness, exclusivity and incompetence, with no response.

I am sure this was an incredibly difficult decision to make, and one that you will be feeling the fallout from for a long time. I also know that it will be difficult for Jeffrey, and sincerely wish him the best in finding a new place to work that works better for his personality and passions. But OFS is supposed to be a community organization that values the participation of everyone- not just the (largely male) circle of people that were liked by and able to communicate with Jeffrey. This decision is one that will finally be a move towards making OFS more truly accessible.

Tara Perkins

annie's blog
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Thank you very much for

Submitted by Phil Owen on Mon, 09/03/2007 - 3:17pm.

Thank you very much for providing a little more background, Tara. I trust your judgement, and I will do my best to make it to a show sometime in the next week!

The Canaanite's Call

I hope I'm not out of place,

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 09/03/2007 - 3:25pm.

I hope I'm not out of place, since the only complaint I feel I have the right to address is as a patron: the mainstreaming of OFS films.

In the various discussions I've seen subjects other than Bartone's firing including the treatment of volunteers, the questionable actions of the board, and the choices of movie selection. I'm sensing that the way in which the board fired Bartone (bringing new members under condition of not voting, not telling them the subject, then dismissing the two who expressed reservation after the fact) was, as someone else said, a catalyst. I suspect there are those who would accept (reluctantly or not) Bartone's firing had it been done properly.

If Bartone's alleged evils were to be exposed for all to see, and every last projectionist, volunteer and patron agreed that he needed to go, there's still dormant issues that have finally surfaced and need to be addressed. They're not going to just disappear.

Yes, thanks Tara

Submitted by blagoblag on Mon, 09/03/2007 - 3:27pm.

Thanks for giving more information about the history of this situation.

I'm still uncomfortable with the way the vote was conducted, from what I know about that, and I'm still interested in improving transparency and [perception of] accountability in how the board conducts business.

But it is good to hear this decision wasn't just the personal agenda of a couple of people.

Thanks...

Submitted by Guglielmo on Mon, 09/03/2007 - 7:02pm.

I am neutral by grace of ignorance on the issue of Bartone's firing. If your characterization is accurate, he needed to go. However, the bad-faith interpretation of the bylaws (if the story is accurate) used in his firing disturbs me and makes me wonder about the judgement and ethical makeup of the current board, to whom I trust the lion's share of my charitable donations.

My 2 cents

Submitted by The Original Yoda on Mon, 09/03/2007 - 5:34pm.

Thanks Annie. I too have had some weird exchanges with Mr. Bartone. Everytime I talk to him, I kind of have to put up my "psychic" armor.

I was not surprised (nor was a TESC faculty I interviewed) when I heard about Jeff's firing, though the circumstances sound a bit fishy...

I would like to hear from

Submitted by cupric oxide on Mon, 09/03/2007 - 6:12pm.

some other past board members as to their opinion on this issue. I would like to know if they indeed have spent an inordinate amount of time on this problem. It seems that just one well written response by Ms. Perkins has done a lot to explain the situation. I would welcome more discussion from those directly involved (past and present), rather than those on the outside who are pointing fingers with nary a shred of evidence to support their position.

Right on Tara!

Submitted by puttahna on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 10:23am.

For posting about what an asshole Jeffrey Bartone can be! as an OFS member and active volunteer, I have personally been offended by his obnoxious behaviour, to the point that I avoid having to deal with him. He may have done a lot for OFS, but some of that is damage: turning people OFF to OFS, keeping performers and patrons away, allowing things to deteriote, making OFS feel like an elitist little boys club. What I don't get is why this town, which prides itself on being cool and progressive and is the birthplace of those righteous grrls, Ladyfest, and other strong women, why bullies of the male sexist pig sort are not only tolerated but defended, venerated, allowed to continue instead of being run out of town!

Let me see if I'm understanding everything...

Submitted by Anonymously Larry on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 11:38am.

"why bullies of the male sexist pig sort are not only tolerated but defended, venerated, allowed to continue instead of being run out of town"

The above comments are not inflammatory, nor sexist?

I'm losing faith - QUICKLY.

If my desire for EQUALITY on Olyblog is an unreasonable request, please let me know.

"There is only one race, the human race" - The Neville Brothers

Are you seriously telling me

Submitted by sophielou on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:03pm.

Are you seriously telling me that you have lived in Olympia for any amount of time and do not understand [or choose not to understand] the basic principles of privilege?

sexism: 1 : prejudice or discrimination based on sex; especially : discrimination against women [emphasis mine; source: Merriam-Webster]

It's a pretty common tactic to claim that when the group who is not in power speaks disparagingly about the group who is in power, that the less-empowered group is perpetuating the same actions about which they are complaining, but that's not actually how it works. In the same way that it's not racist when black people complain about racist white people, it's not sexist when women complain about sexist men. Even if she had called all men sexist, which by the way she did not, it still wouldn't have been sexism, because women do not have that institutional power in our society. But she wasn't even talking about men in general, she was talking about "bullies of the male sexist pig sort," and I think we are all aware that this does not represent the male gender as a whole. So if you're looking for "equality" for male sexist pigs, then no, you're probably not very likely to achieve that particular goal on Olyblog. Sorry, I just don't see that one happening.

yeah, what she said. They

Submitted by Rob Richards on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:09pm.

yeah, what she said.

They must find it difficult...
Those who have taken authority as truth,
rather than truth as the authority."
- Gerald Massey

I'm still waiting patiently

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:17pm.

I'm still waiting patiently for my privilege. Everytime I've ever filled out the last (allegedly optional) page of an application with my age, race and gender and never heard more I wonder where my privilege is. I wonder how many white men at Camp Quixote feel power and privilege.

Without exception every single supervisor I've ever had was a woman. Most all of them were wonderful and I'd work for them again, but where's my power?

I have no problem with an abusive chauvinist being dismissed. I have no problem with someone who experienced abuse based on gender speaking about it or denouncing the guy who did it. I have a big problem with drawing a line between black and white, or man and woman, and creating a problem where there is none.

I bet you have a better chance of catching a cab at night

Submitted by Guglielmo on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:34pm.

than some folks. I bet your next apartment won't be "already rented out" because of the way you sound on the phone. I bet when you reach for your cell phone, a cop won't automatically assume you're reaching for a weapon. Then there are the little things. Have you ever noticed how when it comes time to pay for dinner, your server is more likely to assume the credit card belongs to you instead of the woman you're eating with? Pfffft!

Based on the number of black

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:42pm.

Based on the number of black and hispanic neighbors I have in my complex I don't think "already rented out" is a common problem in our town.

I've only ever ridden a cab once, the driver was Middle Eastern.

I agree the cop probably won't assume I'm reaching for a weapon. How many non-caucasian Olympians have had the police draw their weapons on them because they reached for something?

As for dinner with Tammy, the card is mine, as evidence by the waiter or cashier seeing me pull it from my wallet.

I know there are communities and neighborhoods where these issues are for real, I don't see it in Olympia and I've had plenty of non-caucasian friends who haven't seen it either.

This isn't an argument, it's just contradiction ~ No it's not!

I'm going to give you the

Submitted by sophielou on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:31pm.

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you really do not understand how your position as a man has worked to your advantage in our culture, and ask you to check out the Male Privilege Checklist. Then, instead of refuting each point with an example of how it is not true in your particular life, I'd like you to read it again and understand that even though you yourself may never have acted in a manner that was oppressive to women, women are still oppressed by men, and that we as a human race, and especially you as a man, still need to act against that oppression.

I'm not denying that there

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:58pm.

I'm not denying that there aren't sexist men. What I'm denying is that there's this powerful force that takes in all men whether they agree or not and lords them over subjugated women.

I'm going to go over the checklist and post my reaction in a separate entry.

it's invisible

Submitted by enpen on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:32pm.

I was pulled over in a "rough neighborhood" in Seattle when I was 19 for doing 75 in a 35 at 3am. The cop told me "next time be sure to slow down when you see us" and sent me on my way. Judging from my friends' with more melanin than I and their experiences in the same neighborhood, my conclusion is that I was let off because the police officer and I shared similar skin pigmentation. Going to a high school where white people were not a majority led to a really wonderful education on just how shitty chance can be. Being raised by a single mom who was subjected to some extreme sexual harassment as she worked her way to the glass ceiling also opened my eyes. There's a lot we can't see and a lot we're not able to see just by virtue of being white men in America. It's the nature of the beast.

The old show In Living

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:49pm.

The old show In Living Color, produced, written and performed by African-Americans, had a skit addressing that. We were invited to dial 1-800-YT-GUILT to speak with a counselor.

When you were pulled over were you polite and cooperative, or defensive and jumpy? I've been let off the hook after being pulled over too, yet I've also gotten two speeding tickets, from white cops in small towns no less.

One, Ocean Shores, is considered by some to be a racist town: I saw it for myself when I lived there in the 80s, the Whites and Indians kept their kids separate after they left elementary school. Then of course there was that stabbing from a couple years ago.

hah

Submitted by enpen on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:54pm.

It was 3am and I had just gotten pulled over for doing 40mph over the speed limit in the middle of the Rainier Valley and I wasn't wearing any shoes (another offense). I immediately broke out into a sweat, I was nervous as hell and I don't even know if I was able to make eye contact with the guy. All I had going for me was that I was a scared white kid in the middle of a rough neighborhood and I was all alone.

Don't expect "equality"

Submitted by Guglielmo on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:14pm.

I mean, this community has a perspective that is really pretty easy to understand. I don't have a problem with it because I like that perspective and I am here voluntarily. I think the best one can do is (1) not take things personally, (2) directly, but respectfully address posters that offend you, then (3) move on. Personally, I am disappointed in puttahna's choice of language. Referring to humans as pigs is really not acceptable in my opinion. That said, there is really nothing else to do but move on. Any discussion about whether or not men should be referred to as pigs will be frustratingly fruitless and probably antagonistic. And since I am largely on puttahna’s side regarding the veneration of sexists, it would be a disappointing adventure.

My apologies

Submitted by puttahna on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 12:28pm.

to pigs and swine and sows, who are misunderstood animals that do not deserve the bad rap. No sympathy for misogynists, misanthropes, bullies, abusers or for posters who veer off topic and look for personal insults when there are real issues that should be addressed!

or for posters who veer off

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 1:02pm.

or for posters who veer off topic and look for personal insults when there are real issues that should be addressed!

Agreed, but is that really happening here? There are hundreds of tangents that could be brought up in a discussion, it doesn't always mean that it's gone off-topic. Even when it is off-topic the poster isn't necessarily trying to denigrate the original point's validity.

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