What is the fate of CU's Creative Writing program? Erin Brotherton ponders in this illustration. No definitive answer is expected until late December. (CU Independent illustration/Lauren Walter)
CU has made no decision concerning cuts for the Program for Writing and Rhetoric, despite rumors, Program Director John Ackerman said.
“Vice Chancellor Rick Porreca knows people are mentioning the [Program for Writing and Rhetoric as far as cuts go],” Ackerman said. “But they are mentioning a lot of things.”
Ackerman added that as little as $10 million to as much as $50 million will be cut from the budget for the school.
“We simply don’t know what we will be cutting,” Ackerman said. “Until the governor makes the decision we are all on hold.”
Ackerman also said that the school would not know about cuts until the state informs CU, probably in late December.
CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said that although no cuts have been made, the faculty in large programs tends to get nervous.
“Instructors not on the track to get tenure get nervous,” Hilliard said. “Often [instructor positions] are the positions we have to cut.”
Hilliard added that there are many instructors in the Program for Writing and Rhetoric who are not tenured and thus get nervous.
“We certainly understand the concerns of the faculty and staff, we are mindful of them in what will be a difficult budget process,” Hilliard said.
Ackerman said that the school was disappointed the economy has not turned around.
“Everyone is really disappointed that higher education is being hit,” Ackerman said.
Karly Hobbs, an 18-year-old freshman political science major, is currently enrolled in Advanced First Year Writing and heard the rumor that the program is being cut from a friend.
Hobbs said that cutting the writing program would be a “really bad idea.”
“People need to know how to write,” Hobbs said. “Even if you are homeless you need to be able to write a good sign.”
Jacquie Wright, an 18-year-old freshman studio arts major is also currently enrolled in First Year Writing and Rhetoric. Wright said she agreed that the program should not be cut.
“I think [cutting the program] would be silly, especially for people who want to write,” Wright said.
Contact CU Independent Writer Sara Fruman at Sara.fruman@colorado.edu.
