LiBeraCarts or lousy degree?
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scufpts in tReRosentl^r Art bunding. Photo by An
by Brooke Vann
Jovernor Pat McCrory (R) isfinding little support
fo^Te comments he made within the last few weeks
that the basic funding formula for higher- education
should be based on how well universities do in placing
students in the world of work.
McCrory told a national audience on conservative
radio host Bill Bennett s "Morning in America " show
that "I think some of the educational elite have taken
over our education where we are offering courses^
that have no chance of getting people jobs... ".
Crory specifi cally targeted liberal arts classes
as gender studies that do not teach technical skiits
required to obtain jobs in the workforce. McCMjry j
suggested that that funding for public univ^rsitiesif
North Carolina be tied directly4.o th^^billty of theif^
graduates to obtain jobs.
Junior April Love was incensed byWcCfpfV s com
ments given his opposition to forpn^jliNC Governor
Bev Purdue's commitment
this coming. To say thatali^^tarts education is
obsolete or a waste of taxpayers' money is like say
ing it is a waste forStudents in middle or highs school
to take music or art when studies show how much it
improves grid§s and test scores."
Carole VVeatherford is a professor of adolescent
literatur^^the FSU English department and she
understands that McCrory s c’oJtimefi.ts are in line with
a school of thinking that'criticizes the liberoTdrts and
sometimes views degree seekf rs drtii^ holders as the
"elite" Howeyejsj Ms. Weatherfordfuggested that lib-
erot arts are a worthy educational pursuit.
"Lfb(fer||i^ucation.COur^3 absolutefy have the ability
to p^Dare students f op^bs."
Weath®fbrd has Wod several publjcibftions, including
books df poetry; nonfiction^ ond children's literature.
She currently teaches q brand new class offered at
FSU called "Hip Hop: Poetry, Politics and F’op Culture."
(ENGL 370- D1) that studies bolth rap and the cultural
movement that emerged from the spoken word art
form.
April Love is one of the students taking the Hip Hop
class this semester. Weatherford and Love implied that
it takes a well- rounded curriculum to produce a well-
rounded education.
Gov. McCrory is obviously in a position to affect change
in the General Assembly. However It is not clear yet
whether he will support legislation to cut funding or rid
the system of some programs, but this issue is surely
one to pay attention to in the coming years as UNC sys
tem President Tom Ross tries to take the universities in
another direction.