http://statenews.com A discordant note has interrupted the harmony within MSU’s College of Music in recent weeks. On Feb. 6, the College of Music submitted a moratorium — a freeze on admissions — that could eventually lead to the disbanding of the college’s music therapy program, said James Forger, dean of the College of Music. en-us Gryphon 2.2.3b-tsn (woodward)/Foundry5 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:04:35 -0500 webmaster@statenews.com http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32720 Although I am not a student in the College of Music, I certainly share the sentiments of those students in the Music Therapy program. On the other hand, Granholm caused this and its time for MSU to adjust its budget. So, now its the moment for the students and alumni of that program to move around and raise money to maintain the existance of the program. In general terms, it is very important for alumni to step up. They are crucial for MSU in terms of sustaining and improving this institution. Also, as part of the financial crisis that we are living today it is necessary the financial support of the alumni. MSU has been doing an excellent job in taking advantage of opportunities to receive grants and money from the federal government and private foundations and corporations. So, I encourage all the alumni to show their Spartan Pride in difficult moments and help their alma mater. GO GREEN!! Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:13:34 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32720 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32797 student — Granholm “caused” what? The College of Music made the decision to eliminate the program. The Governor had only so much money to work with and she cut everything in the budget that just came out. Granholm caused this as much as she caused the rain that flooded the state last year. Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:00:49 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32797 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32803 MSU and its College of Music is responsible for this: a terrible travesty. Universities worth their salt don’t shut down their most prestigious units just to save a few sheckles: $250,000/year in this case. Let’s not play the political, Granholm finger-pointing game here. This is an East Lansing decision, period, and on-campus officials responsible should feel the heat for it… … did it occur to anybody that MSU’s 2-year-old decision to “elevate” the Music School to a College — with the expense of a dean and other administrative bennies — may be more wasteful than an internationally respected program like Music Therapy. Last I looked, U-M still has a Music “School” and it’s considered more prestigous than MSU’s upgraded “College.” … I don’t know about you, but I’d much prefer downgrading the College back to a School to save the money and keep Music Therapy than the latter proposal. Sounds typically MSU penny-wise/pound foolish…. I understand MSU, years ago, tried to close prestigious James Madison College just to save a few bucks… When will this crazy University every GET IT? Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:34:50 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32803 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32808 No! This has to do with alumni donations and the external support that MSU receives. MSU and UM do the same administrative practices. The difference is in that they have a substantial larger amount of endowment funds. Still, with the size of the endowment of MSU we are improving and the results of this campaign have not been seen completely but MSU needs more endowment funds. As a student, I say that we need more chairs, more scholarhips, better facilities… we should never stop improving. I am a student and I hope that the future classes that graduate increase significantly their philantropic activities. Personally, I want to support this U. The academia is a cycle. Specifically, the quality of pool of applicants depends on your facilities, your profs, and scholarhips. And, I would say, that scholarhips does not matter that much when you provide top notch faculty and facilities. So, MSU has to maintain and improve its facilities and keep hiring better and prominent (EXPENSIVE) faculty. So, if you want to sustain something in the U in times when the State is reducing its funding, give up some money, endow a chair… Making phone calls wont do anything. This is Granholm’s fault. Not supporting higher ed indirectly provokes the cancellation of some academic programs because MSU has to allocate its resources better. Look at the facts: 2 profs of the dept are retiring, only 34 students, shortage in the budget, thousands of students to satisfy in other depts… i’m just saying.. either open the check book or say goodbye Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:29:47 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32808 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32817 Not surprising — mental health is taking a hit right now across the board. And right now Mich. is facing higher rates of substance abuse and depression because of the crap economy. Just great. Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:23:35 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32817 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32828 Just to clarify, UofM’s school of music is a separate college with its own Dean’s office. One advantage U of M has, however, is a long history of successfully meeting fundraising goals. To claim that Granholm is the reason for the lack of higher ed funding in the state of Michigan is too simplistic of an argument. While she certainly shares much of the blame over the recent cuts to education, she only sets the budget with the approval of the state legislature. Where was the opposition? Republicans, especially those in Michigan, do not have a history of supporting education, particularly higher education in this state. So to lay the total blame at Granholm’s feet is not entirely fair. Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:03:39 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32828 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32849 You hear of all these so called cuts coming to departments like music therapy, so where is all this $1.5 billion dollar endowment going? Can’t it be tapped to help worthwhile programs such as this survive these lean times? Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:09:13 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32849 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32863 Steve, as many students in this campus, you don’t know anything about the financial aspect of this U. The endowment in all the universities is a fund that already has a specific use, which is determined by the person who donated the money. It is not a savings account. That 1.5bi fund is destined for specific uses that have already been determined, like endowing profs chairs, creating scholarhips… for eternity.. Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:24:56 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32863 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32866 Hello First off thank you to those who stuck up for our department in this story. Second, I don’t think anyone anticipated these kind of problems when the School of Music became its own College last year. Tonight at the meeting facts were revealed that we have NOT declined in enrollment because students are taking our courses that are considering or are currently transferring over to Music Therapy as their major. Our occupation is one of the few jobs that is hiring and creating new jobs and is not on a decline what so ever! Although we seem small in number, we are powerful. WE are one of the few occupations that give people that are disabled, impaired, and not included in the “normal” society a voice and a CHANCE for life! Without this program MSU, Lansing and Michigan will suffer for years to come! Money is a problem every where, and every department at MSU is going to have cuts, we are just being proposed as the first. We will continue to fight for what we believe in. We are planning fundraisers and creative ideas for raising funds, plus ways to save our program. Thank you! Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:31:03 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/32866 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33279 This is not Gramhold’s fault! The state only has so much money to work with. You could blame the UAW and unions more then you could blame her for driving business out of Michigan due to high wages and benefits. You cannot substain a program at a state university with this few students. Plain and simple. Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:04:35 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33279