Changes to the Department of Religious Studies have some worried the university is moving to eliminate the discipline.
Since 1998, College of Arts & Letters officials and faculty have disagreed about suggestions to downgrade the department to a program. The suggestion was withdrawn in October.
But the recent replacement of its chairperson and reassignment of a professor led some faculty members and students to believe college officials could be moving ahead with the plan anyway - an accusation the college dean denies.
“My real frustration with the idea of the department being dissolved is that the University of Michigan already dissolved its department,” said Christina Serafin, an elementary education senior and religious studies minor. “In this day and age, where other schools are augmenting their religious studies programs for more awareness, to think that Michigan has two Big Ten schools getting rid of theirs.”
In December, John Hinnant was unexpectedly replaced by Lewis Siegelbaum as the chairperson of the department. Siegelbaum is also the chairperson of the Department of History.
Hinnant, who now makes $12,000 less per year as a professor, said his demotion shows officials’ goal to turn the department into a program and possibly dissolve it, despite recommendations to do otherwise.
“The reasons to turn it into a program haven’t been seen as acceptable by the College Advisory Council,” said Hinnant, who had chaired the department for more than two years. “It’s been a long, hard struggle.”
The council of faculty members advises the dean by evaluating academic changes within the college.
Robert McKinley, a professor of religious studies who sits on the College Advisory Council, said it’s possible officials want to alter the department because of its small size and lack of donations or grant money. But he still thinks religious studies needs to be treated as a unique discipline.
Arts & Letters dean Wendy Wilkins said although she has recommended changing the department into a program in the past, she is not suggesting it now. She said Hinnant was removed for reasons she didn’t want to discuss.
And although Siegelbaum has no experience with religious studies, Wilkins said her decision to name Siegelbaum chairperson was based on his experience with departmental reviews, which religious studies is slated to begin this year.
“He’s good for overseeing that process and he’s a good academic leader,” she said. “I hope we’ll have an even stronger academic program.”
But Hinnant said the department needs someone who is familiar with the discipline to complete a self-study. He said the most important thing should be the interest of the more than 30 students who major in religious studies.
“Siegelbaum will provide a unique perspective because he knows nothing about it,” he said.
Siegelbaum was out of town and unavailable for comment Thursday.
And even if the department is downgraded to a program, Provost Lou Anna Simon said that shouldn’t decrease its quality. She said other programs, such as Jewish Studies and Neuroscience, are very strong.
Many religious studies faculty members are also upset that Professor John Grimes was reassigned to the Asian Studies Program. The College of Arts & Letters attempted to cut the Buddhism and Hinduism classes he teaches, but reconsidered after receiving complaints from community members.
MSU is not renewing Grimes’ contract for next year, leading the professor to believe he will be replaced with a part-time position.
“It seems like a very sad situation when President McPherson daily talks about world affairs and the first thing they do is remove Indian religion courses,” he said. “There are only five members in the department and when two retire, I can’t see them being replaced.”
Such a move upsets religious studies senior Victor Burt, who switched his major from mathematics two years ago.
“My religious studies degree is priceless,” he said. “Sept. 11 showed us religious studies should be top priority. We need to respect different cultures and take them on their own terms.”
