Dear Stony Brook University, Stop Cutting Back Programs That Aren't 'STEM' Enough | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Dear Stony Brook University, Stop Cutting Back Programs That Aren't 'STEM' Enough

Soon, all we'll have left are STEM classes, and we cannot have STEM without the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

541
Dear Stony Brook University, Stop Cutting Back Programs That Aren't 'STEM' Enough
Unsplash

Dear Stony Brook University,

Stop cutting Humanities, Social Science, and Arts programs. Just stop. First, it was the cutting back of our theater and arts programs, then it was the firing of adjunct writing professors, and now it's the firing of a professor in charge of the Speech-Language Pathology program at Stony Brook for Linguistics majors and minors.

If you're unaware of how this went down, the professor in charge of the Speech-Language Pathology program in the Linguistics department just received a letter stating that he was fired with no reason given whatsoever. He was the sole professor who taught and was certified to teach courses in that program, and many students were involved in that program. With the firing of that teacher, a bunch of students were left with no idea how to progress in the program, since that program no longer existed without that professor.

This led to a petition to get that professor back and reinstall the program at Stony Brook, and it has received 1,193 signatures as of this date and is only a little bit short of its goal to reach 1,500 signatures. You can sign the petition here to show your support.

But this isn't just about keeping the SLP program at Stony Brook. It's about much more. The Dean of Arts and Sciences, as well as the university as a whole, has just been continuously cutting back on programs that don't classify as "hard STEM" classes. First Theater and Arts were gone, then cutbacks on writing, and now Linguistics is being targeted. It seems the only programs that the Dean and the University care about are hard STEM classes like Biology, Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science.

If we quietly keep letting this happen without showing our support to the recent cutbacks, we submissively allow the university to continue cutting back "nonessential" programs. What's next? Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology. Any social science, music, or arts program is at risk.

Anything that isn't wholly STEM is at risk.

Even if you aren't in the SLP program, or you don't care about writing or you hate the arts, this matters to you. If you've ever had a slight interest in taking anything outside STEM classes, you should realize that they very well might be gone soon because of the way Stony Brook is handling any programs and courses that aren't "STEM" enough.

Furthermore, even if you are a "hardcore" STEM major, I would say everyone needs the humanities and social sciences. The STEM classes at Stony Brook can be very difficult, especially biology and chemistry courses.

Theater and arts programs at Stony Brook offer students who are taking heavy STEM courses an outlet and a way to relax without stressing over their intense course load. Painting or drawing in a class for just two hours a day can be incredibly relaxing, or if you release your stress through theater that can be another coping mechanism. Social sciences provide students that maybe aren't doing so well in the hard STEM courses a relatively easy way out.

These people might find that maybe a "hard" science isn't for them and might want to go into Psychology, Sociology, Linguistics, or Anthropology.

Either way, this applies to all Stony Brook students. From the Arts majors to the Engineering majors, this affects everyone. We cannot allow Stony Brook University to continue cutting back programs that could save students from massive amounts of stress, or cut programs that many students show interest in. I like STEM classes, but I also enjoy my fair share of writing, painting, and drawing. And I would hate to see all those taken away. For your sake and for others, we need to put an end to this careless stripping of "nonessential" programs.

To the Dean of Arts and Sciences and to Stony Brook University, keep the interests of your students in mind when cutting back all these programs. Because soon they'll be nothing left but STEM. And we cannot have STEM without the arts and the social sciences.

Sincerely,

A concerned student

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

13927
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

40262
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

20412
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

320799
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments