SAMI WEINKOETZ: Proposed program cuts threaten future of Dana School of Music

Faculty associated with the proposed degree cuts in the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University could be terminated. However, these professors teach a wide variety of courses that all of our music majors must take to ensure they graduate with a diverse set of musical skills and knowledge.

Even if the list of proposed majors to be cut is smaller than what was initially stated in December, it will harm the quality of education for current and future students in the Dana School of Music. The remaining faculty members will be forced to teach courses they may not feel comfortable or qualified to teach, as we’ve seen happen in the past at Dana.

All of this will lead prospective students to attend other institutions, which will only make YSU’s financial situation worse than it is now.

The university claims they will ‘continue to value Dana,’ but how can we trust that statement when they have already terminated the music theory and history degrees, and those respective professors?

How can we trust that the university values the Dana School of Music when our programs and professors always seem to be first on the chopping block?

I’d like to end by saying this issue is not unique to YSU, or the music department. We are seeing similar cuts affect all areas of the arts and humanities throughout the country.

The termination of these programs and their esteemed faculty only leaves students with a watered-down, one-dimensional education.

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