The University’s legacy buildings are “the core” of this University according to a trustee in last Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting.
Yes, you read that right. It’s not the students who are central.
It’s not education that is paramount. A couple of old buildings are what makes this University what it is.
This statement is telling. This mindset that pervades the upper-echelons of the University’s administration explains the recent renovations to campus buildings and the construction of new ones.
McDonald Hall received a face-lift, Olscamp was remodeled and the Wolfe Center sprung up on campus.
This is not to say these costs weren’t needed. McDonald was a mess and performing arts students needed a place to perform, but these and a series of little ‘improvements’ like touchscreen televisions in the halls of various building, inspiring photos of the University in the Education Building illustrate the manic improvements to the University’s facade while education at this University has been faltering.
These cosmetic approaches are just that: cosmetic, but why are we doing this?
The answer is recruitment.
Applying a thick layer of makeup to the face of this University might make it look more appealing to potential students but it lacks any substantial reason to stay at the University.
No student attends college to look at pictures in hallways; we’re here to prepare for future careers and become educated members of society.
Sure, we need a place to learn in but buildings, even legacy ones, are certainly not what college is about.
I decided to attend the University because of the phenomenal Adolescence to Young Adult Education program which I intended to major in. However, one class with one teacher changed my mind about the work I wanted to do post-graduation and I changed my major to Sociology.
That instructor is no longer at this University. Over my four years here I have had the privilege to work with some amazing faculty who have challenged me to think and provided me with skills I’ll need in my career and life after the University.
I came to this University for a fantastic program and I stayed because I love working with and learning from the faculty here. I am not the only student who feels this way about their teachers.
This relationship between students and our educators is why hundreds marched on McFall when administration threatened to cut 100 faculty. This is why more than a hundred sat in on the Board of Trustees meeting Friday since, after cutting faculty, we see more jobs are on the line. We students care about our faculty and the quality of our education.
President Mazey claims “it seems it’s the age of criticism of the administrators” and she’s right. We students and faculty are criticizing you for disrupting our educators’ lives and abilities to teach.
We’re criticizing you for negatively affecting the quality of our education. We’re criticizing you for failing to strive for the vision and mission of this University.
Cutting faculty only leads to larger class sizes, fewer courses offered, less individualized education and more stress on teachers.
The core mission of education at this University is compromised when those who actually teach are being cut left and right.
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