BY HEIDI ULRICHSEN
Laurentian University president Judith Woodsworth says it is premature for her to discuss ?saving? Huntington?s music program.
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WOODSWORTH |
She told the Laurentian University senate earlier this week she has received very little official notification from Huntington University?s board of regents
about the decision to suspend the program.
?I?ve been given a very brief heads-up about the closure of the music program by administration at Huntington and by faculty, but...I was not informed or consulted about the closure...,? she said.
?I was told on the phone today...that the chair of the music department would be meeting with students later this week to talk about course offerings for
next year...that is a little reassuring,? she said.
It wouldn?t be a simple matter for Laurentian to take over the music program, said Woodsworth.
It would have to go through several committees, and there is the question of space and resources.
Woodsworth said she will work with Huntington to make sure students can complete their music degrees.
Laurentian?s December senate meeting was better attended then usual. Teachers and students crammed inside to hear how the university plans to respond to the suspension of Huntington music program.
The board of regents at Huntington University, a federated college, announced last week the program was being suspended.
Rumours circulating in the weeks before the announcement resulted in the music facility unionizing.
Regent board chair Andrew Vujnovich told Northern Life last week the program has been losing money for a long time.
LU philosophy professor and senate member Peter Simpson asked that the senate censure the president and board chair of the federated university for suspending the music program without ?open, meaningful and appropriate consultations.?
Student senator Luke Norton could not attend the meeting, but sent a written statement.
?I firmly believe that it is a mistake to cut the music program from Laurentian. I say Laurentian instead of Huntington because it is Laurentian that will
suffer the adverse affects of its absence.?
People who want to help to save the music program can e-mail the Huntington student music council at [email protected].
