The fall of 2012 has marked a difficult beginning to the academic year for Wittenberg University because of the rise in sexual assaults, the arrest of a French professor on charges of rape, and now the potential cuts that several departments are facing. The latter issue is the focus of this post and is something that should not be taken lightly.
Some of the departments that are up for elimination are Geology, Dance, Music, and French; it is these departments that face removal because they draw the lowest amount of students for a major or minor. It is unfortunate that any department has to face this fate because Wittenberg is an institution that values community and the education of every student by offering avenues to study many different disciplines.
I know that a department that students are particularly sensitive about and adamant about saving is the dance and music departments. People argue that if you take aways the art disciplines, then you are essentially lowering the standards that Wittenberg has set as a liberal 'arts' university.
The administration is offering a way for students to voice their opinions online regarding the departmental cuts. I think that this is good and it encourages student participation in a decision that is going to undoubtedly impact the future of the university. I only hope that the students who are most distraught by the potential elimination of several departments express their opinions through the online application provided.
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