Gil Muller

Description

Dr. Gil Muller was Special Assistant to the President at the time of the interview and overall a long time member of the English Department. he talks mainly about the development and changes in the English Department.

Timestamp summary of interview:
(1:18) Dr. Gil Muller said he had interviewed for LaGCC in the Winter of 1970 here in New York City at the annual Modern Language Association Meeting. At the time, Muller had lived in Berkeley, California and had taught overseas after graduate school.
(6:25) Talks about first seeing the college and meeting President Joseph Shenker
(6:34) “It was a very raw factory – it was a college in the making.”
(7:26) Muller went back to Berkeley, California and received a formal letter to appoint him as Assistant Professor in Division of Language and Culture.
(8:30) Talks about the college orientation in the summer of 1971 to plan for the opening of the College
(10:10) They were creating a college from scratch.
(10:43) Talks about Prof Harvey Weiner another English professor from the start of the college
(11:24) Muller spoke about the courses they had created and spoke about one week Intensives. Talk’s about Professor Judy Gomez “Utopian Society” course in Staten Island, NY and Professor Sarah Barbara’s “Wilderness Experience” course in the Catskills of New York.
(14:41) Muller spoke about the helicopter ride – circle tour around Manhattan and Long Island City.
(17:00) Describes teaching in an environment where construction was happening all round the building.
(17:51) Talks about The Great Hall and its many functions (administration, counseling and teaching.)
(18:41) Describes the “founding” faculty members of the college, especially their youth and President Shenker’s age.
(19:20) Muller talks about the work environment and long hours worked. Mentions open admissions. Talks about off campus food and meeting spots, specifically Brooks Restaurant
(20:53) Spoke about the first fiscal crisis (1975/1976). Muller talks about the tenure and discusses President Joseph Shenker and George Groman.
(24:30) Talks about the hiring of professors and hiring a diverse group of faculty members. Talks about bringing John A. Williams and Richard Price to the college. Discusses adjuncts at the college.
(30:27) Discusses the English department and its courses.
(31:48) Talks about the creation of the Faculty Council, college governance and splitting the English Department from the Humanities Department
(34:12) Discusses students that were attending LaGCC and changes in the English department’s mission
(37:48) Muller spoke about what he thought made LaGCC different – and how the college has adjusted its mission.
Ends at 40:30