Advocate for CTE students and faculty

Comments

#5

I am a senior within the theatre arts department at CWU. The statement above resonates pure truth. I would love to see support for our positive and inclusive department.

Michael Christensen (Ellensburg , 2022-02-09)

#7

My education is at risk if things continue in the direction they are headed right now. It is very important to have the amount of faculty to run our department for us all to receive the education we are paying for.

Andrew Knickerbocker (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#9

I am a parent of a CTE student, Ellensburg local, and a CWU staff member. My son, a current BFA Musical Theatre student, had been involved with the theatre dept since he was 10 years old and started acting in CTE shows. It has been very disheartening to watch the decline in staffing and upper level university support for this amazing department over the last few years and simply heartbreaking to see it come to this point as he has finally realized his dream of actually being a student here. Please maintain the current staff members and increase support for them, support hiring qualified theatre professionals at competitive salaries, and grow this department back to the successful, sought after, award winning department it has been in the not too distant past. Do not combine with other dept like film or independent studies. This department needs individual support for regrowth.

Adrienne Zimny (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#11

My brother is currently a part of the theatre program and it is important to me and especially to him that he is given the education he attended CWU for. I support this petition.

Emma Clostio (Bigfork, 2022-02-09)

#14

As a CWU grad practicing in Theatre Arts as a teacher and director the past 23 years, having proper class balance with individualized instruction is a necessity in higher education. The arts are not cookie-cutter, and definitely not a conveyor belt system to crank out grads just for the bottom line. CWU is not known for this and it’s brand will be hurt significantly. Part of the pipeline created over the last 30 years of the Theatre program has been directly from grads in the industry encouraging hs students toward CWU. Diminished staff = diminished opportunity =diminished reputation = diminished enrollment.

Seth Mullinnex (Lynnwood, 2022-02-09)

#19

I support the CWU Theatre Ensemble and want to see its continued existence

Makana Golis (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#20

As a Theater Arts student at CWU, I have donated three years and thousands of dollars to Central. I hope administration recognizes that by reducing this program and devaluing our work, they are driving both current and potential students away.

Caelyn White (Ellensburg , 2022-02-09)

#24

I’m signing this because I support the above statements and believe in how crucial it is to support the faculty of Central’s Theatre Department. The better the conditions for our faculty the better the education and learning environment is for students.

Seamus Smith (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#29

I came to Central for the theatre arts. The institution has been slowly killing our department, and pushing away students. I have felt strongly about leaving the university due to this.

Kegan Manker (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#32

The arts are crucial to public life, and to deny students access to quality education does a disservice to us all.

Dylan Rogers (Seattle, 2022-02-09)

#36

A friend brought the issue to my attention

Joseph Gorelick (Olympia, 2022-02-09)

#37

I'm signing this petition because i'm a Theatre Major and I love this school. However I don't love the way the theatre department has been treated. I want to be able to say that I want to stay here to continue studying theatre, but the lack of administrative support for this program is disheartening.

Jeremy Davis (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#39

I believe in the power and importance of a smaller class size to improve the education of students in the arts. I also believe there is a moral obligation from an academic institution to provide humane working conditions for their staff. Larger class and fewer faculty is an immoral failure.

Dalton Elliott (EAST OLYMPIA, 2022-02-09)

#41

I am a proponent of the arts. I am not sure where my children would be without theatre in their lives as they are not sports kids. Theatre is more than just getting up on stage and acting, but teaches so many skills these students can bring with them into the world. We need young adults to continue on in this field in order to bring programs into communities for the younger kids who need theatre in their lives.

Nicole Harker (Bigfork, 2022-02-09)

#45

Arts departments are important and are always disproportionately affected by budget cuts

Bryson Taylor (Olympia, 2022-02-09)

#46

Class sizes are important and this department has dealt with enough change in the past few years.

Paul Nelsom (North Bend, 2022-02-09)

#48

Four years ago, I chose to attend CWU because of the opportunity to participate in a unique, personal, and prestigious theatre program with supportive, highly qualified faculty. Without the Theatre Arts program here--particularly the Theatre Arts minor--I would not have elected to attend this university. If the administration is concerned about student retention and enrollment rates, downsizing the Theatre Arts program in any way is a very poor idea.

Alana Glaser (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#52

As an alumni of the CWU theatre department, it is deeply saddening that an institution that consistently and constantly inspires & perseveres. CWU as a school should not single out the theatre department for their own budgeting mishaps. Future theatre students will be harmed by this, and it will become a self fulfilling prophecy.

CWU, you will lose your arts departments one by one.

Kevin Williams (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#54

I am a strong supporter of the arts

Desiree Glaser (Kailua, 2022-02-09)

#55

This program is important to many people and deserves the proper support.

Anthony Norris Silva (Roseville , 2022-02-09)

#56

I attend a theatre program at a different undergrad program and have seen the good that small class sizes can do for training individuals in this field. I want my friends who pay for quality education at your institution to be given the resources they deserve and are paying for.

Elisabeth Goulding (Provo, 2022-02-09)

#61

One of the main points addressed by the administration in the student success listening session I attended yesterday was that student retention rates have been in a steady decline since even before the pandemic started. And as the faculty in the theatre department has decreased by 50% since 2018 (also before the pandemic) we can clearly see how the lack of faculty correlates to the lack of students who want to complete their degree at CWU rather than transferring to other schools who have the faculty needed to instruct them effectively. Especially for theatre, we need faculty members who are trained in specific areas of theatre to instruct us, for safety reasons as well as for the quality of our education. I have loved my time at central, but only because of the wonderful faculty members in the theatre department. If it weren’t for them and their amazing dedication to each and every one of us students, I would’ve transferred to another school by now that offered me more scholarships and a complete bfa musical theatre experience.

Sayli Keni (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#65

A respected theatre program like CWU’s should be supported by its administration, especially one that claims to love the arts. Put your money where your mouth is

Nel Baehr (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#70

I’m signing because I’m supporting a friend

Mats de Winter (Amersfoort, 2022-02-09)

#71

I'm signing here because I want to support my department and facuilty. They are important to me, and the people that will follow me.

Cassandra Kerschner (COVINGTON, 2022-02-09)

#72

I’m signing this because my daughter is in the Musical Theater program at CWU and has experienced the negative impact of faculty reduction and turnover addressed in this petition and as a result has not received the level of education or experience promoted by CWU in their recruitment of her as a student. Her experience with advisors has been atrocious, having had a half dozen or more - none of whom have a clue what they are doing. It has reached the point where I wonder if a class action lawsuit against CWU is our best recourse for the negligence that has prevailed over the past few years. These students have been robbed not only of their money, but years and experience they can not get back.

Craig Hunnicutt (Abilene , 2022-02-09)

#74

The arts are crucial, I'm 3 years into my degree and I deserve the training I was promised.

Bren Trotter (Ellensburg, 2022-02-09)

#75

I’m signing because this program is amazing and our teachers are a vital part of it. I am in full support of this petition because everything it states is needed for this department. We are not like other University departments. We can’t have large classes and we need specialized professors. It’s needed for safety and to teach these professions properly. The reason we haven’t had many accidents or injuries in our department is because we have amazing professors who teach and practice proper technique and safety in the theater world. We have lost specialized professors and we were LUCKY that some staff members had training in the areas they did. It’s not safe to give someone a job they do not specialize in when it comes to theater. Someone who has no experience in carpentry can’t teach scene shop skills. Someone who has never repaired a light has no business being up in a genie changing and repairing light fixtures. We are thankful for our current staff because they stepped up when we had no one else to fill those positions safely. These are safety concerns. We also have a very specialized program with very specific classes and needs for those classes. We have multiple Degrees for our department and they require different classes. Our classes are ALWAYS small. We cannot gain the proper teaching and experience with large classes. It does not work for our purposes. It’s heart breaking to watch your school department slowly get cut down to nothing. I have been here for three and a half years and I miss the experience we used to have here. It’s not what I signed up for and our department deserves attention to fix these issues. Just like any other department here. We deserve to have a department and our professors deserve job security.

Kristofer Simmons (Anchorage, 2022-02-09)

#84

My Son attended CWU Theatre program. And I want it to thrive

Misty White (Vancouver , 2022-02-09)

#85

Art=good

Levi Kowalski (Tumwater, 2022-02-09)

#92

If CWU can support the subjects I love but can't pursue, it will mean the world to me.

Cinder Willow (Ellensburg, 2022-02-10)

#97

I’m signing because being in the film department was one of the most frustrating experiences of my life and central should care a lot more about there art programs especially there theater and film departments then they do

Quincy Harthun (AUBURN, 2022-02-10)

#99

The arts are SO important and this blatant mistreatment of a nationally recognized program is unacceptable. Support the arts!

Emma Jones (Kingston, 2022-02-10)

#104

As an alumni of this program I fully believe that the success of future students lives in maintaining appropriate and safe class sizes in the shop.

Alex “Scotty” Clark (Orlando, 2022-02-10)

#108

As an arts major at the college, it is important for us to support one another. The theatre department is going through terrible turmoil and I for one stand with them for change, for getting the support and policy they need to remain doing what they are passionate about.

Stephen Williford (Ellensburg, 2022-02-10)

#119

Because being a part of Central Theatre Ensemble set me up for success for the past 12 years of my life.

Rachel Browning (Kennewick , 2022-02-10)

#120

I support the arts department. Central is know for their state wide reputation in the arts department and it’s foolish to downsize and disrespect the ongoing years of produced talent.

Joseph Koval (Lacey, 2022-02-10)

#126

The theatre department deserves better.

Evelyn Roehn (Ellensburg, 2022-02-10)

#129

I’m signing because I care about the theatre department and it’s continual support

Carolyn Randles (Ellensburg , 2022-02-10)

#130

I’m signing because I support theater art as a necessary and integral part of education. Theater Art promotes communication, creativity, expression, history, education, self-confidence, camaraderie, inclusivity. It teaches us about ourselves in ways no other discipline can. “Earth without art is just eh.”

Carol Knudson (Olympia , 2022-02-10)

#132

I am a former student of this program. I left because I felt I wasn’t getting the education I deserved as a paying individual to this school. It was due to large class sizes and lack in faculty that caused these issues. Think about the students when they are still students so more don’t feel compelled to not continue their education.

SarahLynn Mangan (Taocma, 2022-02-10)

#135

Theatre should have everyone’s support.

Clara Cessna (Bothell, 2022-02-10)

#136

A university that inadequately supports its arts and arts education programs and the students enrolled in them will never be a world-class institution. CWU Theatre Arts is a destination program for students across the state. Do not throw away a diamond of the institution.

Ramon Esquivel (San Luis Obispo, CA, 2022-02-10)

#138

As a current student in the university theatre arts program, it is disheartening to see our funding and staff whittled away. To CWU, please support our students and staff in this crucial department.

Shawn Mulligan (Ellensburg, 2022-02-10)

#139

I believe Tina stepping down as chair of the department would bring irrebuttable damage to the success of students within the theater department

Nick Zimny (Ellensburg, 2022-02-10)

#147

I’m signing because the cwu theater department means a lot to my little sister. I love watching her perform and thrive on the stage at central and I hope she is able to continue to do so at your school.

Ashley Bowder (Orlando, 2022-02-10)

#148

THE ARTS ARE IMPORTANT!!!!

Connor McKinley (Port Orchard, 2022-02-10)

#149

I am signing this petition e cause I think CTE programs are important and we are one of the only schools that have one in the Pacific Northwest and students who attend Central Washington University love the products that come from this program.

Janessa Sexton (Ellensburg, 2022-02-10)

#156

I'm signing because I support my CWU Theater student.

Kendall Fuller (Sacramento, 2022-02-10)

#157

I’m signing because a decrease in faculty but an increase in minimum class size does not promote a healthy, quality, or stable educational environment for students or faculty, especially in an arts department.

Nikki Bowder (Bellingham, 2022-02-10)

#159

I’m signing because I believe in this cause, and want to support my fellow theatre kids.

Maiya Tate (Lacey , 2022-02-10)

#161

I’m signing this petition because I believe we should not down size or cut any staff members.

Emma Tolmich (Ellensburg , 2022-02-10)

#167

I’m signing because I feel that the arts are important and it is usually the arts that suffer the most from budget cutbacks.

John Clowry (Sammamish, 2022-02-10)

#176

We need to support our students!

Edgar Espino (ellensburg, 2022-02-11)

#178

I'm signing because countless students chose to come to CWU, chose to put themselves in debt because of the theater programs offered here. They should not now after so much time, effort, and personal resources invested in the theater department, have their quality of education put in jeopardy.

Brady Smith (Ellensburg, 2022-02-11)

#181

Cwu needs the arts, especially theatre which can be a source of revenue for the school.

Ricardo Orta (Grandview, 2022-02-11)

#184

As a CWU student, the arts play a critical role on campus

Alejandra Cruz-Martinez (Ellensburg , 2022-02-11)

#185

My child chose this school because of its Theater program. Please don’t gut a program that draws students to your school

Shana Baehr (Kingston, 2022-02-11)

#186

I’m signing because I firmly believe in the importance of arts education. And limiting the BFA program at CWU (the only program of its kind offered in the state of Washington) will not only damage arts education, but it will damage the university’s reputation as a destination for these types of degree opportunities. My daughter chose CWU for these programs. And ever since she has started attending, the programs have gradually been cut back. Please don’t allow this to happen.

Bryan Webb (Gig Harbor, WA, 2022-02-11)

#190

I value our faculty and department as they have had a significantly positive impact on my education. I want to keep our department running smoothly and effectively as I have seen it run over my 3 years here.

Brad Alemao (Ellensburg, 2022-02-11)

#193

We all need the arts in our every day lives.

Greg Pacquer (Antioch, California, 2022-02-11)

#195

I was a theatre major and that education has been critical to my success in multiple careers, thus I believe that a theatre education is just as viable and important to a strong society as any other major.

Aaron Sneary (SIERRA VISTA, 2022-02-11)

#197

The arts are an integral part of society. The actions the college is taking are detrimental to the theatre department and students. Also, considering how much in tuition these students are paying, they should be receiving the best education possible. Quit trying to cut corners!

Emily Hearn (Shelton, 2022-02-11)

#198

Theater matters.

Thalia Wolff (Portland, 2022-02-11)

#199

My child is currently a freshman at CWU and really feels that he belongs there. He loves the theater program as a BFA in musical theater major.
However, he is disappointed in the lack of support this program is receiving and feels that if the program can not help him to succeed, his only option is to transfer to a school that will support his educational pursuits.

Jennifer Olson (Shelton, 2022-02-11)

#200

I am a former BFA Theatre Performance Major at Central Washington University.

Pierce Williams (Richland , 2022-02-11)



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