YSU students, faculty protest academic cuts, call for formal meetings

YOUNGSTOWN — On Tuesday, just hours after Youngstown State University released a formal list of academic programs being cut from the university, students and faculty used their voices to raise concerns about the sunset of 26 academic programs.

About 50 students and faculty walked from DeBartolo to Tod halls chanting, "Stop the Cuts," holding signs that read, "No Funds, No Future," "Value the Arts, Save the NEOMFA" and "Medical Laboratory Technicians are Essential, Not Expendable."

Several students and faculty from academic programs such as the Northeast Ohio Master's of Fine Arts program, the Associate of Applied Science Medical Laboratory Technician program and the religious studies major attended the rally outside of Tod hall.

Second-year student Cassandra Lawton delivered a signed petition of over 1,200 signatures to President Jim Tressel's office in Tod Hall to request a formal meeting on the NEOMFA program.

The NEOMFA program brings in out-of-state students and is the only consortial program in the United States, Lawton said, that works with other northeastern Ohio universities.

Christopher Barzak, coordinator and alumnus of the NEOMFA program, is now a published author. He spoke at the rally on how YSU professors in the NEOMFA program are contributing factors to his current success.

"When I became a student at YSU, I found people who believed in my creative talents and abilities," Barzak said. "Now 25 years later, I stand here as an award-winning author of seven books. … YSU was a place where I realized my dreams, and it hurts my heart so badly to see that being taken away."

Read more Wednesday morning on MahoningMatters.com.

This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 2:51 PM with the headline "YSU students, faculty protest academic cuts, call for formal meetings."