By NICHOLAS NEGRON
Opinion Editor
It’s been a devastating week at The College of Saint Rose. 23 beloved professors were told to find a different place for employment, come January 2017. Along with these faculty members, different degrees and certificates are being eliminated. Perhaps the most shocking out of these program cuts, is the removal of the Religious Studies and Philosophy Bachelor’s Degree.
Saint Rose was founded in 1920 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet. The Catholic college chose its namesake after the first canonized saint in the Americas, Saint Rose of Lima. Slowly, the amount of Catholic priests and nuns began to dwindle on campus. Since then, the school has maintained its spirituality. The Office of Spiritual Life is not necessarily a Christian office. It dives into the meaning of faith and engages students in exploring the world’s unanswerable questions The Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary is a peaceful break from the heightened stress of finals week. . Interfaith is the word most closely associated with Saint Rose now. The College of Saint Rose is of Catholic origin, but is now largely an interfaith school. The liberal arts curriculum, until very recently, reflected this.
Students are required to take three credits of either philosophy or religious studies, in order to graduate with a Saint Rose degree. Ethics and Values is the most common course, taken by students. Although there are a few other courses such as Invitation to Philosophy, Business Ethics and Old Testament that fulfill this requirement. With administration cutting both religious studies and philosophy, it is unclear whether these courses will be offered in the future. Perhaps this liberal education requirement will be removed.
I ask the administration, what is left of an institution deprived of the foundation it was established upon? Why must our principles as an ethically sound college be compromised due to irresponsible spending? How does an institution keep its moral compass without offering these courses to enrich the minds of its students? I’m well aware that the majority of American students are not studying philosophy or religious studies. I understand that the college is going through its roughest time; facing a $9 million deficit. Nationally, the rate of students pursuing teaching degrees is dropping. Change needed to happen. It is oblivious to me how administration did not take action sooner, to secure the careers of its dedicated faculty, while preserving the meaning of a Saint Rose education. I was under the impression that a tenured professor, is one with a contractual right to not be removed from their position without valid cause. Apparently, contracts can be breached without the fear of repercussion. It is too soon to say whether there will be any legal action taken up against The College. Regardless, this is all infuriating.
“It’s a shame that an institution that prides itself on diversity would head the opposite direction. Religious Studies being cut is ironic as religion is in the news every day and has a tremendous impact on the world. Lives are defined by religion and Saint Rose no longer seems to recognize the importance of understand the fundamental drives behind world events”, says Saint Rose Religious Studies student, Dan Haglund.
Haglund is one of the many students, faculty and staff with strong opinions on Friday’s decision.
Father Christopher DeGiovine, former Dean of Spiritual Life at Saint Rose also had comments concerning the school maintaining its spirituality.
“I know there’s a lot of confusion about Saint Rose’s identity. It was founded as a private independent school with a Catholic history and heritage. As long as it wants to retain that heritage it hard to offer courses for students to retain its mission…without a dean of spiritual life, it’s hard to continue that mission… It concerns me that an institution with such a Catholic history is making such hard changes”, says Father Degiovine.
Father DeGiovine is the new Pastor of St. Matthew’s parish in Voorheesville, NY. Since Father DeiGiovine’s departure from Saint Rose, there has not been a replacement dean.
“…it is a great loss to not have the opportunity for students to major in either of these areas [ religious studies and philosophy]…What the students who major in these areas add to a campus is beyond measure. They raise our level of conversation and reflection”, says Joan Horgan, Director of Campus Ministry at Saint Rose.
Horgan understands the hardships being faced at the school, but has faith that the Saint Rose mission will prevail. She cites other ways to keep The College’s spirituality intact, including the Offices of Campus Ministry and Community Service, student organizations and different interfaith lecture series.
The various Facebook pages, petitions and protest have all but gotten out of hand. An uglier side to The College was shown on social media. Profanity was used. Images photo shopped with President Stefanco’s face have circulated online. People are demanding her resignation. The Saint Rose community is rightfully upset. However, I suggest everybody remember that they are still representing The College. With all the media coverage these budget cuts are garnering; the Saint Rose name should not be further compromised.
The main philosophical question to be answered is simply; is Saint Rose still Saint Rose? To me, it seems like the school was just re-founded. The re-founding began with a merry start; cutting 23 full time professors, during the Holiday season. Is there a beacon of light coming out of all this mayhem? Hopefully one day, the changes implemented will result in a stronger Saint Rose; one that will be able to continue these forgotten programs and keep promise to faculty. Until then, understand that Saint Rose has ripped itself of its history and tradition. It’s simply tragic.
An event like this cannot pass with the College losing at least a piece of its soul.
You are as misinformed as the rest of the Chronicle staff. You are eager write about what if’s and maybe’s, while never quite grasping the facts. The majors are gone because no students wanted them. Some of the professors are being kept to cover the required Philosophy or religious studies course work. Those that were cut were chosen because they had no seniority. The Administration you all are so quick to judge has to follow Faculty Handbook rules too.
What does “It is oblivious to me how the administration didn’t take action sooner” mean? To “secure” faculty careers? What on earth do you think the college’s responsibility is? Faculty are not children, although some behavior of late might be reason to dispute that. Let’s be blunt, shall we? These under used programs are going away because you, the STUDENTS, have not being interested in them. And that;s fine, but then don’t get all high and mighty when the Administration says we can’t afford to keep them. Their action is a CONSEQUENCE of students choices. Philosophy as not picked out of a hat. Religious Studies either. You put them on the list.
Own that, and stop your complaining.
With dwindling job prospects here in New York, I’ve wondered why the college continues to invest so much into its childhood education and teaching programs. There was also that report maybe a year or so ago that found St. Rose did a poor job of preparing students for teaching positions, but anyway…
Meanwhile, St. Rose is within walking distance of the Capitol. Why is there not more of a focus on political science, public policy and public administration? After all, state government (and by extension municipal government to a degree) is the driving force in the Capital Region.
Slashing positions and programs may very well be necessary, but in this instance it conveys a sort of “leading from behind” mentality on the part of the president and the board, and it certainly isn’t very innovative. I do see that St. Rose has partnered with several law schools. It’s commendable, and collaboration will have to be a key component of addressing the issues facing higher education. Are there other opportunities for local colleges and universities to collaborate on administrative, back office, marketing, IT and other functions that would have a minimal affect on students?
There is, in fact, a teacher shortage in New York State, one that will require–you guessed it–more teachers. So the cutting of education is actually short-sighted. The report I think you allude to is one of those “all education of future educators is bunk” think tank jobs, so take that for what it’s worth.
Law school? Has anyone checked placements of lawyers in the last 10 years or so? They’re not good.
That is a good point about perhaps setting up a consortium (or consortium-izing, in business-speak) some of that admin/back office. I could see that happening in the years to come. Maybe even months.