If a major was not offered tomorrow, what would Keene State College students change about today?
Franklin Pierce University released a statement this week saying the college was going to stop offering six majors, including theatre and dance, graphic communications, fine arts, math and arts management, as stated by the Union Leader.
“Full-time faculty members in those departments are going to be reassigned to teach in other areas,” stated FPU website.
According to the website, students currently enrolled will be able to finish out their majors, but no new entrants will be allowed into the programs.
Peggy Rae Johnson has been working at Keene State College for 14 years within the Theatre and Dance department. Johnson previously worked at Franklin Pierce University for 15 years.
“I don’t think people understand the value of the arts,” Johnson said in response to news of program cuts.
Johnson continued and explained she believes many people call the art programs ‘extraneous.’
James Black / Equinox Staff
Johnson said, “There are so many jobs that come from studying the arts.”
“There is a lot more going on than Franklin Pierce University has made public,” Johnson said.
She continued by stating schools need to maintain balance.
Kaitlyn Tordonato, a junior, agreed with Johnson and stated, “People see those majors as non-money-makers, but if you research the majors you can find so many opportunities.”
Tordonato is a dance major with a management minor at KSC. Tordonato said she started spreading the word about events and supports the performances. She said this is what will make these majors flourish the way they should in their communities.
“The community members rely on those performances as entertainment,” she added. “If you take away those majors, you take away that entertainment.”
Marcia Murdock is a resident artist in the Theatre and Dance department at KSC. She has been working at KSC for 29 years.
She stated American education is unlike others; for example, Europe’s education.
Murdock said the education system does not have as strong of an arts foundation as other schools do.
“Creative movement is problem solving,” she stated. Murdock said she believes teaching students at a young age is what will build the skills sets they need. She added if those creative movements were shown in schools on a regular basis, one could use it to interface and augment teachings, such as the subject math.
Murdock used math as her example and said, “Geometry is so easy to encompass with your body. Then, one can visually understand what a parallelogram is, because you’ve just made it with your bodies.”
Sophomore Christine Nigzus is an elementary education major with a focus in math and a minor in music. Nigzus said she was shocked to hear of FPU’s decision to cut programming.
Nizgus said, “I was told I should pick either math or science instead music as a focus because they are in high demand.”
The sophomore continued and said she thinks math has key concepts that the younger generations need to know, such as money. It is a beneficial degree that the school systems rely on, she stated.
“There is a lot of math in music,” Nigzus explained.
As a member of Chock Full Of Notes, Nigzus said she uses the math within the music to progress with her experience with the group.
Senior Gabby Pacheco continued with Nigzus’s statements and expressed the importance of the arts for students’ growth.
“People will always need teachers and nurses, but the arts are more about individual expression which we’ll carry with us,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco is a dance and sociology major at KSC and is looking to teach dance in high-risk areas. She stated parents tend to be hard on those kids that choose the majors that don’t have a money guarantee.
She added that she believes the reason those majors are looked down upon is because they give people the need for a back-up plan.
“You have to dedicate yourself the whole way through,” Pacheco said, “know there is a place to go even if you have to make your own way.”
Haley Erdbrink can be reached at herdbrink@keene-quinox.com
