Grad students talk about cuts with dean

Graduate students were demanding answers from school administrators yesterday. Over 100 graduate students, eager to glean some information about departmental closings in the School of Arts and Sciences, met with Dean Rosemary Stevens and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Residences Donald Fitts. During the meeting, coordinated by the Graduate Student Associations Council, graduate students finally faced the administrators who recommended closing the American Civilization, Regional Science and Religious Studies departments. For many students, the question and answer session provided new information on what many have called a very frustrating and closed-door process. Students seemed surprised when Fitts pledged that their degrees "will not change in any way" as a result of closures. "The courses you need will be available; we'll hire somebody if necessary," he reassured students. Fitts also stressed that while departments will close, the degree-granting graduate groups currently housed in those departments will not be cut. But new graduate student admissions have been frozen in these departments. Stevens told students concerned about the future of their programs that she will set up a task force to examine the fate of the graduate groups. She emphasized that appointing the task force is not a "delaying tactic." But, she said, it is "not an option" for the task force to save a department from closing. And while students said the task force is an important step in recognizing student concerns, many said they feel the timing is wrong. Toni Horst, a regional science graduate student, said she does not see the logic in "closing the department before you have recommendations from a task force." Fitts suggested students create a small committee to meet with him on a regular basis. But, for some students, these measures constitute too little, too late. "No one from the dean's office informed grad students before the recommendations were made," Horst said. "They didn't solicit our input," she added. "It's only now she seems open to talking to us." Students also sought justifications at the meeting for why specific departments were slated for closing. "I have the feeling that some of the details have not been thought through, especially how to get the current graduate students through without disrupting their studies," Horst added. Fitts provided criteria such as "cost avoidance" and efficiency, but added that the reasons varied for each of the three departments. Am Civ graduate student Jessica Neuwirth said the meeting exceeded her expectations. "I'm surprised they were that cooperative," she said. But she also said the meeting offered "no solution" to the problems facing students in the affected programs. "It was pretty productive," she said. "The administration realizes its error in not contacting graduate students sooner."