DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - Protests on college campuses are a regular occurrence in response to anything from politics to policy.
University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) students protested the decision to cut the deaf studies program beginning next school year.
“Deaf studies as a whole isn’t just a minor,” said Cami Connolly, a member of the American Sign Language Club and a deaf studies minor at UMD. “It’s a language, it’s a culture, and it’s a community.”
She started a petition that now has nearly 7,000 signatures asking administration to rethink their decision.
“How proud deaf people are to be deaf and all the power that comes with being a deaf individual, as well, those are really important things to keep alive and to continue teaching students,” Connolly said.
The program is being cut because of the annual budget reallocation for the next academic year.
This time, $3.6 million dollars need to be shifted around into areas that would serve and draw the most students.
Lynne Williams with UMD said it is necessary in order for the school to operate at less of a deficit.
“We’re trying to do our best to align to our mission and minimize the impact on our students as much as possible,” Williams said.
She added, deciding what to cut is not easy.
“When people care about those programs, we really appreciate the advocacy, the interest, the passion, and we understand where that’s coming from,” Williams said.
UMD has offered different pathways, so those already enrolled will be able to complete the minor.
However, Connolly believes it’s not about completion, it’s about the complete experience.
“The language itself is just so expressive and so visual and bodily and it’s just mesmerizing to watch,” Connolly said. “You can’t really have ASL without the culture of the deaf community.”
The administration is just beginning conversations about the budget, but the final decisions may not be decided until the summer or even next fall.