Petition to Senate Concerning Admission Freezes and Closures

A total disgrace. Why are Universities treating faculty and students in such an egregious manner? Do the students not have a right to know well in advance what critical decisions are being made that will no doubt change their future? Do they just not care?

I feel this decision should have gone through the Senate in the most transparent way possible. Suspending admissions for a year, without a thorough canvas of the options, pre-judges much and could lead to long-term harm to a fine program. It's a wonderful program we should be supporting, not starving.

Canada needs more not less of the Arts.

let's go forward and not backward.

I'm watching what I have worked for four years on completely dissolve in front of me, and it feels as though there is nothing that I can do about it.

Recent graduate.

Head of Visual Arts, University of Regina

As an artist I am concerned about the decision regarding the Fine Arts Program at Queen's. I question both the decision and the process that led to that decision. Queen's reputation is taking a big hit.

All of us need the presence of the arts. We also need clear and fair processes for decision-making. This decision -- taken without open consultation and without apparently the involvement of the Senate -- goes against the common interest we all in achieving what is possible as an intellectual community at Queen's -- a democratic and trusting environment enriched by the arts.

By taking away the studio art program you are basically putting the faculties into a sort of hierarchy placing visual arts as least important.

alumna

Arts '11

No closures without process.

Queen's BFA Program has made my life possible.

There seems to be a lack of due process - since education is a social and private investment that has a return over several decades, the university should not prioritize a balanced annual budget higher than the educational mission when a alternative (medium term deficit spending) exists.

i never imagined a day would come when i would be ashamed of the university, my university. but, alas, here we are. christopher scott bfa 1992

What a tragedy if Queen's loses this gem. Cut-back on the bloated Administration not the programs that make Queen's an excellent institution.

I highly support this petition.

BFA 1994 - Queen's University MFA 1998 - University of Alberta

The closure of this program is an insult to our culture.