In 2019, UMSL cut multiple departments, including the master’s program for music and the bachelor’s program for theatre and cinema arts. Associate Professor Felia Davenport was moved to join the communication and media department after her position as chair of the department of theatre and cinema arts was dissolved along with the rest of the department.
Although there are still theatre and cinema classes available to students, they do not go towards a theatre or cinema arts degree. Instead, they count as elective classes.
Despite this major loss to the art communities, UMSL does have an Art + Design Department that houses BFA’s in studio art, graphic design, and art education. They do not offer options for a master’s in fine arts (MFA).
While UMSL slacks on its fine arts and music departments, the university grows in other areas, like the recent addition of Spot, the robot dog. Spot came from Boston Dynamics and is estimated to cost just below $75,000. Some students express discontent with the dog and the university’s use of its budget by leaving comments on social media. One commenter requested to name the dog, “Ghost of the Music Department” and another said, “can afford a 75k dog but not a dining hall” on UMSL’s Instagram post, introducing the dog this past October.
UMSL has taken great strides to prove itself as a competitive STEM school by promoting and supporting the science department, but in turn, they have neglected the crucial role of the arts in the lives of creative students. Art, music, and theatre are foundational to the development of a student’s ability to communicate complex ideas in creative ways. The lack of funding for the arts leads students to be discouraged from pursuing these passions and could turn away future students. As the art department continues to face small budget cuts, one wonders how quickly the department will cease to exist.
This issue also creates less diversity on campus. When people think of UMSL, many people see the university as a beacon for the nontraditional student. UMSL allows and supports students to continue with their personal lives while pursuing an education. The cuts to the department could easily lead potential students interested in furthering their education to look elsewhere since they do not see themselves represented well in the school.
Although this may discourage potential students, current students find ways to keep the arts alive. Recently, UMSL hosted their Fall Music Festival which involved the University Singers and UMSL Symphony Orchestra. Professor Joanna Mendoza, the chair for the department of music, told UMSL Daily, “The Lee Theater was packed and practically trembling – it was a fantastic evening.”
The positive turnout for the Fall Music Festival means not all hope is lost in keeping the music and fine art departments alive. It will take effort and support from students, faculty, and staff to keep these programs and organizations running for future Tritons in the years to come.
