191 ★ SAVE EAST ASIAN STUDIES AT U of T!

[itskeitodesu]

The Dean of Arts & Science at University of Toronto (my University) is planning on shutting down a bunch of cultural studies programs, including the HUGE department of East Asian Studies (my major).  His reasons for this are most likely to cut costs.

This is not a department that has half empty classes, we pack the Auditorium every Monday night

Comments

[cyberslowpoke]

Man, I'm sorry U of T is making such a stupid decision to do that to you guys. D: It just totally adds on to the many more reasons why I am... not fond of the school, and chose another school over what many people think is a prestige school (which I obviously beg to differ on some levels). As someone who has applied and received acceptance from this program, I'm more than happy to support and sign the petition for you. :)

I really hope for the best! :D

[itskeitodesu]

Thank you! It's really ridiculous, I mean on one hand I go to my PoliSci class and learn how important Asian countries are right now, and then I realize that they're cancelling my major and tossing East Asian studies away like it's nothing. I actually went to U of T because York seemed to be cancelling a lot of it's programs. Now I wonder if that was the right choice.

Again, thank you!! Hopefully if we get enough power behind us we can change the Dean's mind.

[cyberslowpoke]

But it's silly how they've chosen that route because there have been estimates saying that in the next god knows how many years, a lot more people will be choosing to enter into the "arts" - thus why Ryerson is choosing to expand in our area quite a bit. I'm sure EAS is included in this vaguest definition of "the arts".

I do know that a lot of post-secondary schools are being pressured to give more acceptances and space on currently high demand programs. Ryerson has been a victim of that for awhile now... forcing to expand and stuff when we clearly don't have room for more kids. :/ I'm sure UofT is probably in the same situation, but I'm disappointed at them for choose this way out to accommodate (and possibly other reasons wayyy beyond what I know). D:

[untilwerestars]

Signed that petition long ago! :)

But ugh, are they seriously still going through with this? I thought that by now, they'd have realized what a ridiculous decision this is! Last year, UTSC made the decision to cancel all their language courses too, I believe? Really, U of T? What are you trying to do, exactly? -_-

[itskeitodesu]

UTSC made that decision last year, really? UofT is just failing in my opinion, sorry this comment is really late. But yeah, we're still trying to fight it. I was only able to make it to one of the meetings with the Dean because they're during when I have classes. But you can check out the blog if you want to know exactly what's going on. They're much better at explaining things than I am. D:

BTW! How's your school year been going so far? Did you finish midterms and stuff yet? O: Since it's my first year... I was so unprepared and everything is totally killing me right now. XD;;

[minamoto]

oh my god what is this. I adore languages, so I'm all for a new School of Languages - but definitely not at the cost of the East Asian studies dep. That's just not a call that you can make ):

[itskeitodesu]

It's ridiculous when you consider we'd still HAVE all the languages available if this plan doesn't go through. Idk, downsizing and crap. :/

Sorry for the ridiculously late reply.

[tsunagatte]

Signed.

See, this is the reason I didn't go to U of T. They're a bunch of snobby bastards who don't care about anything other than money.
Who cares if a good fraction of the school's left with half-completed majors? As long as I get more money, I'm happy Bitches need to STFU and think about others >/

[itskeitodesu]

I'm beginning to see exactly what you mean by that. D: And again, thank you so much for signing! ♥

Laaaate reply.

[tsunagatte]

Although now, we're having a strike here... >.>

Late reply is better than no reply ♥

[itskeitodesu]

I saw that, what exactly is that all about? O:

Good news on my side, apparently the plan to create that international school of languages has been SCRAPPED! But the departments now have to do a bunch of rebudgeting, get more enrolment, etc. We'll see how it goes, not in the clear yet but still good news.

[track_04]

I really hope you guys are able to make your voices and opinions heard and that the University decides to change it's mind on the matter. It seems incredibly ignorant and like such a waste to condense the entirety of a culture down into a language class, especially given the interest that there is in the department at large!

Good luck with your town hall meeting! I'll be signing the petition. :)