Dear reader,
West Virginia University’s administration is currently planning to chop 32 of its programs and all of its foreign language offerings. Meanwhile, President E. Gordon Gee is taking home a nearly million-dollar annual salary. Vile!
I personally earned my B.A. in Lit and Cultural Studies at WVU and then worked in the Office of the Provost for almost five years. It was bad enough watching administrators like Gee make enough money to own vacation homes and get carted around via private jet on the University’s dime while I earned a measly 35k (before taxes, and I thought that was wealth), but now I have to watch them take an axe to the arts and humanities at my home state’s only public institution.
I’m sharing my dramatic letter below, just in case you need any inspiration for your own. You can read my friend Alexa’s letter here. If you’re not feeling up to an entire heatedly-penned email, you can also sign this petition, this letter, and this message from alumni.
If you don’t want to read my entire missive, I’m signing off here so I can get back to drawing messed up looking lambs and deer. See you soon for more travelogues, Bean Broad, and miscellaneous art projects!
To the Office of the Provost, Office of the President, and all others concerned:
I tried to sit down and write this message in a detached way, but frankly, I am disgusted by and disappointed in the actions of this administration, a sentiment which I cannot sugarcoat.
Firstly, I know that whoever is reading this email is probably not the one responsible for the ridiculous decisions being made as of late. I may have even worked with you—I was, myself, part of the Office of the Provost staff for nearly five years. I’m also an alumna of the WVU English Literature and Cultural Studies program and a proud West Virginian. Both of my parents and my younger sister—who has actually stayed on for her master’s program—attended WVU as undergraduates. It’s difficult for me not to take these program cuts quite personally and to heart.
Some of the most impactful and interesting classes that I took at WVU were through the departments of English and World Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, as well as the College of Creative Arts. I had the privilege of studying sociolinguistics, blacksmithing, multimedia sculpture, French, literature and art throughout time and place, and how to apply critical lenses to the scenarios, spaces, and stories I encountered. I deepened my scholarly knowledge of Appalachia—the region I call home—and felt more connected to its history and future.
Without the aforementioned courses and the mentorship of associated faculty, I know I wouldn’t be where I am now as a storyteller, creative, and future librarian. Cutting these programs will be a loss for the University as a whole, the state of West Virginia, and, most of all, our young people.
The humanities and the arts are what give society a soul—they help to create a sense of empathy and community; they let us express our joy and sorrow and bridge divides. Learning another language, how to communicate with one another, and how to walk through the world in a curious and culturally sensitive way should be crucial parts of any education.
I truly hope this administration as a whole learns to feel some sense of shame while taking home its bloated paychecks and depriving students of vital programming and opportunities for growth.
Sincerely,
Maggie Grey McDonald
B.A. Literature and Cultural Studies, 2017