STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — About 300 people gathered at UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday to protest proposed cuts to 13 majors that are mostly in humanities and social sciences.
Jennifer Collins, a Political Science Professor at the school, tells Newsline 9 that she’s concerned for both the university of the community if these cuts go through.
“We think that this is going to be fundamentally detrimental to the education that this university offers,” said Collins. “(It) would drastically change the nature of this university and really lessen the opportunities that are available for students in Central Wisconsin.”
As the protesters marched, they were met by UWSP Chancellor Bernie Patterson. He tells Newsline 9 that he agrees something needs to be done.
“Doing nothing, or keeping things as they are, is not an option. We have an opportunity to do something different here. We have an opportunity to lead rather than follow,” he said.
The students, faculty, alumni, and community members on had staged a sit in with 13 minutes of silence for the 13 proposed majors being cut.
Come August 1st the administration will begin working on the actual proposal. They then have 90 days to finalize it.
