The Letter I Wrote Today

I wrote this letter today to the administration of my college.  The list of recipients included the president of the college, vice president, executive dean, dean of instruction, and dean of students.  Each of these administrators have been in their positions for no longer than 1.5 years.  Some of them are in interim positions.  Each of them has had a hand in making severe decisions about programs, departments, faculty and positions without conferring with faculty or even division deans.  I would like them to step down from their ivory tower for just a moment.

Hello,

My name is [sophist] and I am the chair of the Performing Arts department.  Ironically, I am also the Curriculum Committee chair for Dance–I say "ironically" because I do not dance.  But I am Curriculum Committee chair because we no longer have a full-time dance instructor due to budget cuts two years ago. 

Tuesday evening I attended the annual Student Dance Concert.  This annual event began about 8-10 years ago, opening to a scant crowd.  The cost to attend continues to be a $3.00 donation, with 100% of this money going to scholarships for dance students.  This year the concert in the Performing Arts Center opened to a full house (450+ people).  The overall event was coordinated by Kimm [No Last Name], a part-time faculty member, with the cooperation and help of our other part-time dance instructors: Gary [NLN], Leru [NLN], and Rachel [NLN].  Besides the performances of the students enrolled in spring dance classes (the choreography created by their instructors), many of these same students exhibited their own choreography.  Students in Dan [NLN]’s TA 113 Introduction to Stage Lighting did all the stage tech work–there were 22 different performances the students had to light.  The last amazing magical piece to this concert was students from John [NLN]’s MUS 158 Group Ensemble performed for the tango dance presentations.  In its totality, the 2005 Student Dance Concert was a student focused, multi-campus, across multiple programs event that embraced many aspects of [our college’s] mission.

As I sat in the audience watching this incredible presentation of student outcomes, skills, and talents I was humbled.  I was humbled for many reasons.  First, we have some wonderfully talented and passionate students at [our college] and I am always blown away when I see the things they do, be it music or acting or dancing or writing or research or community service. 

But secondly, and more importantly, I was humbled by how exciting and professional and coordinated was this event, especially given the lack of funding for Dance.  Kimm [NLN] coordinated the presentation on her own time with no compensation, as did all other dance instructors.  This happened because they believe an end-of-year performance to be important for our students.  The students put their hearts and souls into preparation for this event, on their own time without credit hours because they believed in what they were doing.  [The theatre people] and students in TA 113 gave of their own time without compensation because they believed in this event and the opportunity for students to practice what they are learning.

While sitting in this audience I was humbled by the significant show of learning outcomes, the dedication of our part-time faculty, and the passion for which our students have for dance.  I was humbled that something so grand could be presented from a program that is now run on a shoestring. And at the same time I was proud to be associated, even associated on the fringes as I am, with this amazing group of dedicated people.

And as I humbly sat in that audience, I noticed that none of you were sitting in the audience with me.  Amazingly, there was not one person in the audience who has ultimate control of monies, decisions of classes and instruction, decisions on who will be able to teach or what could possibly be offered by the college beyond the limited four dance classes we share with the PE department.  There were no decision-makers to see the faces of joy and of struggle and of passion.  There were no decision-makers to experience the results of students’ and faculty’s hard work and dedication.  The students gave the performance of their lifetimes, performances with heart.  This was noted only by those who already appreciated what the students could do.

Each of you spend your time looking at numbers and FTE and money.  Each of you make decisions based upon these and other factors.  It would be nice to see you in the audience along with me in order to show your support for our programs, to show your appreciation for student and faculty hard work, to see the faces of those passionate students who make up the community of [our college]. 

Sincerely,
sophist