Dear Editor,

In my opinion, you are right on the mark with your March 10 editorial (“Smaller majors under siege”). While there is no question that this university needs to critically examine its financial practices, many of the recommendations for fiscal restraint are modeled after the professional schools such as the University of Phoenix, National University, etc. Much of the problem is that we do have programs that lean towards that model, but the traditional undergraduate programs in the liberal studies model do not. The University is taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach to the question of fiscal restraint, hence the recommendation to eliminate majors that define us as a liberal arts university, but are not “economical” as defined by “the market.” That same approach has led the University to recommend demolition of the Old Gymnasium in favor of a few more parking places, as well as paving over much of the remaining green spaces left on campus. These recommendations are forced by the refusal of the City of La Verne to approve the campus Master Plan without enough designated parking to keep our community from “imposing” on the outside community. However, no one seems to be willing to stand up to the city and fight to preserve the physical elements of what we claim to be – a private, liberal arts college with green spaces, recreational facilities, and small classes with specialized majors. The University wants to grow, but the box we are in is becoming increasingly tight and I think we are looking for the easy way out.

The faculty recently ratified a revised Mission and Vision statement for the University that affirms our core values as an institution. I think that if the University wants to become a professional school, then let’s announce that now and stop “pretending” to be a private liberal arts college with quality graduate and professional programs. I would like to think that the recommendations will be tempered by the knowledge that to adopt them as they are written puts us into a competition with professional schools, a competition that we cannot win. Let’s stay with our core mission and continue to do to what we do best.

Paul Alvarez
Professor of Movement and Sports Science