By Nick Frantz
Originally posted in the Shopper News

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees met last Friday, but an appeal from campus faculty removed the most contentious item from the Board’s agenda. The decision to eliminate three programs, including the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, was delayed until the Board’s meeting Oct. 23 and 24.

“I will ask the trustees to allow campus and system leadership additional time to seek faculty input and involvement,” said UT president John Petersen.

More than 100 supporters of the audiology department met last Wednesday for a rally, originally organized as a protest but becoming more of a celebration with the news of the delay.

“I think the reason this decision was delayed was because of you and your support,” department head Ilsa Schwarz said. “We’re going to keep our efforts going.

”When all the facts are in, I think the net result is not only a benefi t to society, but also to the university and its finances. We’re not a drain on the university – it will probably lose money by removing us.”

State Rep. Doug Overbey (R – Maryville) was also on hand to voice his support for the department.

“I don’t think any of us in the state legislature would have thought that our budget cuts would lead to this – a nationally-ranked program that helps people, young and old, and graduates its students with a 100-percent job placement rate on the chopping block,” he said. “I stand with you to help save this department.”

West Hills resident Larry Silverstein, whose father, Bernie, started the department 55 years ago, spoke about the uncertainty surrounding the department.

“I can’t tell you exactly how this is going to get resolved or when,” he said. “There could be some change in our structure like being in a college other than arts and sciences or becoming part of the medical unit or something else.

“I’m not too concerned about that. All I’m concerned about it keeping this department in business, keeping our students and faculty and having the adequate resources to maintain a program which provides a valuable, irreplaceable service to the people of East Tennessee.”

Supporters are encouraged to keep sending e-mails to the Board of Trustees and Petersen. The Board can be e-mailed all at once by e-mailing lhertz@ utk.edu. Petersen’s e-mail address is utpresident@tennessee.edu.

For more information on the department, visit saveutasp.org/.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 10:01 am and is filed under In The News.
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