An Ohio University faculty advisory committee is evaluating the possible benefits of consolidating OU's schools of film and theater.

Dean of the College of Fine Arts Raymond Tymas-Jones announced his wish to unite the two schools and created an advisory committee to determine the effects of such a merger, said Bob Winters, chair of the faculty advisory committee. The College of Fine Arts consists of six schools and currently enrolls 1,034 students.

A merger between the two schools would mean an undetermined curriculum change to incorporate theater and film courses for students of both schools, said R. William Rowley, director of the school of film.

Winters said he hoped a proposal would be agreed upon by Jan.1, but no formal decisions have been made.

He said that the committee, which is composed of full-time professors from both schools, was prepared to fulfill its responsibilities to the dean. The committee members are charged with deciding what will be best for both schools' students and faculty.

"Our job is to propose a plan to the dean that can implement his announced intention to bring the schools together," Winters said.

Winters said the proposal will not guarantee the consolidation of the schools of film and theater.

Reactions from faculty members remain mixed.

Vince Cardinal, director of the school of theater, said a union of the two schools has the potential to benefit all students involved.

Consolidation would give film students the opportunity to direct other forms of acting and would allow theater students to have access to a new forum of performance through film. In addition, many students already make the transition from theater to film, Cardinal said.

Although he does support the idea of consolidation, Cardinal said he thinks the issue should be given adequate consideration.

"We must ask ourselves if the opportunities for the students would outweigh such a merger," Cardinal said.

Rowley said he agrees consolidation should be approached with an open mind.

But he said a merger of the two schools could detract from variety in film study. It also could change the identity of the School of Film, which could upset students who feel that they came to OU for a certain kind of program.

"This School of Film has always been free-standing," Rowley said.

Rowley said he recognizes an overlap between theater and film. But the number of people affected does not constitute a merger.

Sophomore Kate Duermit, a theater student, said she definitely would support a union between the two schools.

"I would really like them to do it," Duermit said. "I think they would offer more classes which would be beneficial to students."

But some students do not really feel they understand the purpose of the union.

"We're really not sure why this merger has to take place," said Eunice Charlton, a first year graduate student at the School of Film.

Before any type of change can be made, faculty members from both schools must approve a new curriculum, Winters said.