In defense of the humanities at the University of Montana - ELI BROWN, Missoulian

As the University of Montana’s administration embarks on a new set of budgetary cuts, the ideals and values that define higher education as a guarantor of human dignity and enlightenment have come under a dangerous attack. The elimination of the core humanities and social science offerings at UM began five years ago, when the university administration adopted a policy of attrition. The university, which had failed to generate revenue by recruiting new students, instead used the money saved from the vacant positions to cover its budget deficits. Since 2013, three UM administrations have claimed that they have not cut active programs (because they haven’t touched tenured faculty positions), but in fact, the policy of imposing a freeze on new hires actively reduces the size of departments. https://missoulian.com/opinion/columnists/in-defense-of-the-humanities-at-the-university-of-montana/article_1803a384-d062-5a83-96fb-c855f98108da.html