A shift in curricula has become apparent as of late due the insistence of ‘inherent importance’ of certain disciplines of study. Jeffery Vitter, The University of Mississippi’s 17th Chancellor, was inducted in the latter half of 2015. Vitter’s credentials are impeccable to say the least (Undergrad at Notre Dame, M.B.A. from Duke University, Ph.D from Standford), he is by and large, one of the most accomplished members of 21st century academia, but it is important to acknowledge his bias of the system of education. The entirety of his career, fellowships and associations with academic societies have be focused predominantly on sciences and mathematics. This is by no means an insinuation of incompetency, but rather a lack of equal regard for all disciplines and areas of study for which his job implicates.
After the induction of this extensively qualified Chancellor, The University of Mississippi was awarded one of the nation’s highest honors in Academia, the ranking titled “R1”. For those reading this article that have never heard of this term before, R1 is the prodigious exclamation of: “Our University is one of the highest ranked research institutions in the United States.” On February 4th, The Washington Post published an article titled, “In New Sorting of Colleges, Dartmouth Falls Out of an Exclusive Group,” written by Nick Anderson. For many at the University of Mississippi and other schools also added to the 2016 Ranking, this was an opportunity for many to share on Facebook as a means of boasting intellection. Of course, I have no doubt that this ranking is prodigious in its very right, but I must expand on this: Vitter’s academic budget was set for $2 billion, and my guess is, the Liberal Arts aren’t getting their cut.
Fareed Zakaria’s “In Defense of a Liberal Education,” published in March of 2015, is a statement that acknowledges the dwindling faith in the humanities of edification. So here is my question to you: Where have all the Art majors gone? Where are my friends of the History department? Why are we straying from the studies that built our culture? Why do we consider English majors pretentious?
Standford Univeristy launched the “Joint Major.” Its intent was to surge computer sciences in conglomeration with the humanities, such as English and Music. Stanford’s motto should be: “You CAN have your cake and eat it too!” In light of undermining the essence of the arts, this major was created for the students that are in dire need of reassurance of a career lucrative enough to survive our economic climate after four years of college.
For those of you reading this, whether you are in your undergrad years or working on your Ph.D, remember that computer science and microbiology isn’t what created our country. Emerson, Susan B. Anthony, Wilde, Ida. B. Wells, Faulkner, Patience Wright and Hemingway. These names should make you feel American. They should make you nostalgic for what life used to be. Our shallow grasp of life is a shallow hold on Americanism. Where has the good gone? America needs another Renaissance. We need to prove to the world that we are more than gluttons. So fund the Art majors, give them a chance to write, paint, sing for our country. Give us a chance. Give us a chance to be more than the “artsy-farty” and the “pretentious English Major.” We deserve more than that. We deserve a fair and equal education.
Here’s my advice to you: Do not let anyone tell you that “You can’t make any money doing that.” You will never make a difference in a world that controls your happiness. Do what you love to do. Study what makes you excited to get up in the morning. Spend your tuition on something that enriches your soul. Be yourself. Accept the possibility of poverty, accept the possibility of changing some else’s life in the process.
