In an effort to answer some of the MSU community's tough questions about her blueprint on the university's liberal arts programs, Provost Lou Anna Simon spoke openly with students and faculty Thursday night.
And despite her rush to attend the MSU women's basketball game, Simon remained in the Union Ballroom discussing issues with several students and faculty for almost an hour after the forum.
"They asked a lot of thoughtful questions," she said, adding that she gladly would meet with more groups in the future. "And they care very much about their degree."
Perhaps no one expressed more concern for their degree Thursday than interdisciplinary humanities and English sophomore Jana Fields, who told Simon she planned to come to MSU since she was 5.
"I regret that now," she said to Simon during the forum. "If this is what it looked like when I was applying, I wouldn't have gone here."
Fields said she was worried about the fate of her major, but Simon said humanities would not be harmed.
"The plan is not to eliminate that program," Simon said.
The forum was sponsored by ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, and Students Protecting And Representing Education. About 60 people attended the event, which was broadcast over the Internet so viewers could submit e-mailed questions.
Simon released her proposal discussing the reorganization of major college units as well as the creation of several new programs on Feb. 18.
In her report, the College of Human Ecology, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences and the College of Arts & Letters will be dispersed into different areas of the university. No programs will be eliminated as a result of the proposal. The plan also recommends combining several departments into a new college.
At the forum students and faculty voiced their fears about the recommended growth of James Madison College and the possible reduction of teaching assistants.
"To gut graduate education is to put Michigan State University on the track to being a very large community college," said Scott Henkel, president of the Graduate Employees Union.
Some students said they felt Simon dodged community members' questions during the forum.
"I was just so shocked at her evasiveness of the questions," Fields said. "She didn't answer very well, or they seemed prepared beforehand."
But some students said they were impressed with Simon's responses, and left the forum feeling more knowledgeable about the proposal.
"There were some very challenging questions asked - some that even made me cringe - and I think she handled them well," said Michelle Beaujean, a special education sophomore and ASMSU member. "People are going to continue to complain, and yet they do have the opportunity for their input. I want them to stand up and take part and be proactive."
Simon said she was pleased with the questions from the forum and plans to continue meeting with the MSU community during the process.
"We have the same goal," Simon said. "We may differ on how to get there, but we have to move forward."
