Recently, Aaron Paden's position as Senior Photographer at KU was terminated by the design department. We feel that this decision is wrong, and we hereby voice our appeal to the administrators who have called for his leave. For Art, Design, and Architecture students, the development of skills for documenting work, as well the presence of a trained professional in a well-maintained facility, is essential to career preparedness. Aaron's expertise in assisting students with this process of documentation has become an essential part of the education in the Art, Design, and Architecture departments at KU. Each and every student, in these departments, will be negatively impacted by the loss of Mr. Paden's expertise and generosity in the following ways: -Students will no longer have access to Mr. Paden's expertise in the practical intricacies of preparing and photographing two and three dimensional art and design works. -Students will no longer have access to Mr. Paden's deft skills in live photography, particularly for site-specific or time-based works. -Students will no longer have access to a documentation studio and equipment checkout facility organized and maintained by a dedicated professional.

As a result, Art and Design students will be at a disadvantage, upon graduating, in both the quality of their documentation and the understanding of the fundamentals of that documentation. This disadvantage is antithetical to the mission of the University of Kansas. All students, faculty, staff, and alumni signed below demand that his position be reinstated for the fall semester and all semesters beyond. His absence would be a terrible loss for each and every current and future student to matriculate at the University of Kansas.

Please feel free to leave positive comments when you sign the petition.

Update 5/30: At this point it is important to remind those signing that it was Aaron's position that was eliminated and not Aaron having been terminated or fired specifically. As a result of this, students face the loss of his expertise as well as the associated facilities of his post. Our demand is that this job, and his position therein, be reinstated. Thanks to all who have signed so far, let's keep it up.