Students rally against cutting music therapy
Music therapy junior Kaylee Grettenberger, foreground, performs a rendition of a Beatles song on Monday with, left to right, clients Tera Dumeney and Robin Balone and music therapy senior Morgan Miller, along with Douglas Delnaay and Mark Carlson (not pictured).
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Andrea Kozminski turned down scholarships at other schools before coming to MSU last fall. The no-preference freshman wanted to pursue a career in music therapy.
Then, about two weeks ago, Kozminski learned of a proposed moratorium on admission into the program.
“The first thing I thought was that the clients and the clinic downstairs (of the Music Practice Building) was going to suffer,” Kozminski said. “The clients are the most important, not me.”
The College of Music on Feb. 6 submitted a moratorium — or freeze on admissions — in response to financial concerns, said James Forger, dean of the college.
Kozminski was one of a group of about five to seven students who weren’t music therapy majors but had already started the required courses. Forger said since the moratorium was submitted, the decision was made to allow these students to audition into the program.
The decision came after a number of meetings in which students, faculty and other concerned parties voiced opinions against the moratorium, he said. Kozminski’s audition is this Friday.
Although Kozminski said this is a positive step, she still feels the future of the program is uncertain.
“The (meeting) with the provost made me a little more reassured because I’m going to fulfill my dream,” she said. “But I got the overall feeling, not that they don’t care, but the decision is already made, that they were obligated to come listen but they’re not going to do anything for us.”
Music therapy isn’t the only area in the College of Music being affected by cuts. A number of positions are slated to be terminated, including an alumni special events position and various teaching positions. The college needs to cut about 10 percent, or $800,000, from its $8 million budget, Forger said.
Groups outside the college have voiced their support for keeping the program. On Feb. 18, the Council of Graduate Students, or COGS, adopted a proposal that supported the continued existence of the program.
The council also is sponsoring a petition that — as of about 4 p.m. Tuesday — had more than 3,000 signatures, said Manish Madan, president of COGS.
“This was definitely an issue that is going to affect many grad students that are going to enroll,” Madan said.
ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, passed a bill in support of the therapy program during its meeting Tuesday night.
At Academic Council Tuesday, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said the entire university is dealing with a budget crunch.
“(It) gives you a glimpse what is happening across the campus, as each department and college struggles with the reduction plan,” Simon said.
The music therapy program offers free therapy services to the community, said Frederick Tims, professor and chair of the music therapy program. If the moratorium were approved, clients could continue their therapy until the program was phased out. The clients then would have the option to continue through MSU’s Community Music School at a cost.
Phyllis Shance, one of music therapy program founder Robert Unkefer’s daughters, has suggested looking for ways to raise funds to endow the program.
“I know it’s very hard times and it’s hard for everybody, but I’m just hoping that something comes forward to save the program because it’s so important.”
Commentary
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MSU
(02/25/09 10:45am)Report
This would be a great loss if a program like this was cut. I have clients who use this program and it is very beneficial for their growth and development. I hope MSU can find an alternative to cutting out this wonderful program.
Townsend
(02/25/09 11:00am)Report
Good for the Students! No way should this program be cut; it is one of MSU’s “Jewel” programs. Nobody likes Granholm’s cuts (and I heard, they may be rescinded or reduced), but MSU fell down in it’s fundraising campaign, which ended with $1.4 billion a few years ago. How could such an internationally prestigious program like MT not have an endowed professorship? MSU always seems to lack a clear grasp on things like prestige and tradition — which is why, on such a historic and pioneering land-grant campus, only 1 measly building (Eustace-Cole) has been designated a (protected) National Historic structure. It’s why, when (apparently) a few decades ago when there was a budget crisis, the University offered up James Madison and Lyman Briggs on the chopping block (and from what I’ve heard, without mass protests against the lug-headed Administration and Board of Trustees of the time, those nationally renowned programs would have been history)… If we don’t as a U community can’t get it’s act together, this nonsense will happen again and again…
… U-M, Wisconsin, Illinois, Berkeley would never allow such a ridiculous turn of events to occur.
Ryan
(02/25/09 11:28am)Report
“The first thing I thought was that the clients and the clinic downstairs (of the Music Practice Building) was going to suffer”
Don’t worry, they won’t—they’ll be getting real care now.
Voice of Reason
(02/25/09 1:30pm)Report
Well they had to cut something…. you can’t keep spending money you don’t have and this seemes like a good place to make cuts, would you rather have the buiness school cut, or the law school? No matter what someone was going to get upset, im glad though because this tiny program cut represents a step in the right direction for financial responsibility for this school.
Jaded Alumni
(02/25/09 8:38pm)Report
The decision falls under the category of fear based crisis management. The music school left itself very vulnerable when it seceded from the College of Arts and Letters last year and having to cut programs is unfortunately one of the consequences since there is less revenue available. Once a program of this caliber is cut, it does not come back. The university will not re-seed the barren landscape. That takes vision.
MSU MT
(02/25/09 9:53pm)Report
This program established in 1944 has done more for the Greater Lansing Community than your bus or law school.. it is not a “tiny” program that is expendable “Voice of Reason” One day when you develop Parkinson’s, CHF, COPD, Alzheimer’s, another form of Dementia, etc… that a Music Therapist comes to your aid regardless of your comment and position right now. Value judgements don’t seem to be your strength.“Step in the right direction”… sigh Music Therapist’s are getting jobs in this poor economy, we need to value what is providing employment.
EE Alumnus
(02/26/09 8:21am)Report
My daughter is a high school senior who plans to major in music performance and is seriously considering MSU. These severe budget cuts in the College of Music leave me wondering if I should advise her to enroll at U of M or Western instead of State. If the music therapy program is the first to go, what courses or programs will fall under the budget-cutting ax next, and at what cost to the College of Music’s reputation?
MSU2001
(02/26/09 3:46pm)Report
Well said MSU MT.
Virginia
(02/26/09 10:21pm)Report
The mission statement of Michigan State University includes the following language, “providing outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and professional education to promising, qualified students in order to prepare them to contribute fully to society as globally engaged citizen leaders.” The music therapy program has always fulfilled this mission by preparing its students to be leaders in the workforce. There are open jobs in music therapy now and the field will continue to grow as the U.S. population ages and requires integrated health care. It is irresponsible and against the University’s mission to cut a program that prepares students for rewarding careers.
Moreover, the music therapy program at MSU, the oldest in the country, has historical significance (the College of Music is proud to announce this on its website). Any description of the history of music therapy includes recognition that the teaching of music therapy began at MSU. The University and the College of Music will tarnish their reputations by cutting the music therapy program.
Finally, the music therapy program distinguishes the College of Music at Michigan State University from the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan. All other programs and areas of study offered by the College of Music at Michigan State University are offered by the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan. It seems misguided to discontinue the only program in the College of Music at MSU that distinguishes it from its nearest rival. The music therapy program at MSU should be used to attract students who might otherwise choose to attend the University of Michigan.
Right here, right now
(02/27/09 4:54am)Report
This is what Dean should candidly read
Music Therapy Program Resolution -> http://cogs.msu.edu/downloads/02-18-09-08-09%2005-COGS%20MusicTherapy_Final.pdf
and this is where he should sign
COGS Adapted Petition -> http://www.petitiononline.com/080905/petition.html
3000+ people have done it, so can he :)