This past Saturday, Oct. 19, the Elizabethtown Student Advocacy Group (ESAG) held a Peace Walk event as a response to the recent academic restructuring at Elizabethtown College. The restructuring included the cutting of the philosophy major, theatre major, theatre minor, peace and conflict studies minor and film studies minors, as well as the furlough of seven faculty members.
ESAG argues that the decisions are antithesis to Etown’s heritage, purpose and values as a liberal arts college, citing the College’s mission statement that “the College believes learning is most noble when used to benefit others and affirms the values of peace, non-violence, human dignity, and social justice.”
The event began with a group walk from Leffler Chapel to the BSC patio. As the group went through the Academic Quad, they carried signs with phrases such as “Blue Jays Always,” and “Keep Etown Liberal Arts,” along with flags with peace signs. The event then featured speeches from students, community members and alumni who had been impacted by the College’s restructuring, either directly or indirectly. Several speeches were emotionally charged as many talked about how the restructuring made them feel like they do not have a place at Etown.
“The restructuring decision took away my support network and my connecting points to the campus community,” sophomore peace and conflict studies minor and staff writer Giselle Taylor said in her speech. “With my Blue Jay identity invalidated by the cuts, I felt ostracized. Suddenly, I don’t have a place here, and I don’t feel I can express my pain or pursue my passions. I’ve never felt more lost and alone than I have these last few months. I feel betrayed.”
The feeling of betrayal was a sentiment echoed by multiple speakers. Speakers and attendees of the event alike discussed their love for Etown and reasons why they decided to come here, expressing disappointment and sadness that the very things they love about Etown are being deprioritized and removed. Faculty members and students alike expressed feeling as though they had been given a false sense of security from the college.
“One of the major reasons I came [to Elizabethtown College] was because it’s a liberal arts college and I enjoy the community regarding that,” sophomore Makenna Piper said. “I think the cuts are taking it in a very wrong direction.”
Another serious concern brought up was the impact the abruptness of the restructuring has on students currently enrolled in the cut programs. The restructuring goes into full effect following the Spring 2020 semester, but there will still be students enrolled in the cut programs. There has been a lack of clear communication of how the directly impacted students will be able to complete their intended majors and minors, when the faculty and classes for those programs are no longer available.
“I have my doubts there will be a serious attempt to get them to classes they were supposed to have for their major,” theater department chair Dr. Swanson said. “I strongly suspect it’s going to be a Frankenstein major, put together from parts. Students might be required to take a theater history class, and instead perhaps the college will approve European history, or something else that’s only related tangentially.”
One common theme at the event was the importance of the affected programs to the college community as a whole, with speakers noting the ways the cut programs enriched their education and experience at Etown, and the important mentors they found in the furloughed faculty members. The importance of the humanities and interdisciplinary fields for both humanities and STEM majors was also emphasized.
“I learned from a Peace and Conflict studies course more professional skills, conflict resolution skills, and personal skills than I ever learned in any of my occupational therapy classes,” occupational therapy major and president of ESAG Hannah Paymer said in her speech. “Being a STEM major at a liberal arts college is everything I could have wanted from my college education.”
“We’re more than one percent,” senior political science and philosophy of ethics major and vice president of ESAG Caitlyn Olivas said. “The college really tried to advertise this cut as if it didn’t really affect that many people, but as our speeches showed hopefully, interdisciplinary work is so important, and we truly value both STEM and humanities, it’s not a competition.”
In an emailed statement from the President’s Office, the administration addressed the worries that the college was losing important connections to liberal arts and its heritage: “Elizabethtown College has been grounded in its founding principles of peace, civil discourse, and social justice and we will continue to provide experiences and opportunities to our students that allow them to be exposed to this important part of our college’s heritage.”
Board of Trustees chairman Bob Dolan said in an email that although he was not aware of the Peace Walk, “the Board is committed to listening to all voices, a peaceful walk that does not prevent others from being heard or conducting their activities is a healthy exercise in our community.”
The group presented several goals they hope to achieve with the College going forward, including greater transparency from the administration, structures to allow for more student involvement in the marketing of academic programs and a promise from the College that departments essential to the liberal arts identity won’t be eliminated in the future. In addition, they want the Etown to establish a full-time Theater Director and a full-time peace-keeping position.
A petition to be sent to the administration and Board of Trustees has collected nearly two hundred signatures, and has been signed by students, faculty members, alumni, parents, and other community members. In addition to the petition, the group plans to present their goals in greater details with their research to the administration and the Board, in hopes that the College will be willing to negotiate with them.
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