T
he cinema department is one of
the most fortunate on campus , but it sti ll faces hunger on the
Bola Hanson is a student who belongs to the interdisciplinary studies program, which allows students to design the ir own
savannah. It cannot pay a T.A. t o man
majors if VCU does not already offer a
the computer lab more than a few paltry
similar program.
hours a week . Pouting, I head to Cabell
"B.1.5 [majors] already have the problem
library's MRS stations after the cinema
of not belong ing to the majors of the
lab closes. Unfortunately, those
classes we register for," she said. "We end
computers don't offer the full range of
[up] having to get overrides. With fewer
applications I need, but I cope with the
classes, it takes us B.I.S degree-seeking
available resources. White-tail deer,
students even longer to graduate."
after all, have been known to eat salmon in extreme cases.
Hilary Stallings, a theatre major, said, "The budget cuts [have] a major impact
I also have to swallow and deal in the
on the theatre department. We had to use
Eng lish department, where my second
a track for Ain't Misbehavin' as opposed
major and creative writing minor lie.
to a live band, which completely changes
This semester, I have a whopping 50
the atmosphere. It was still a great show,
students in my 300-level, discussion-
but it wou ld've been better with a live
based literature class, with just one
band. Thankfully, we get to use a live band
professor and no T.A. Luckily,
for Tommy, but they were talking about
J
have an
entertain ing, knowledgeable teacher and
using a track for that , too. And they've
severa l articulate, well-read classmates .
cut back on the number of shows [we
But stil l ... 50 people. I anticipate book -
perform]. I have a feeling the reason we're
heaving herds in my literature courses
collaborating with Barksdale [Theatre] on
next semester, too. When I asked the English professor in charge of the VCU Glasgow Artist and Writer Workshop if the Engl ish department was offering scholarships for
The Grapes of Wrath is because that's the
only way we could get enough funding to
[perform it]." That's proof, then, that I'm not the on ly one frowning at the near-empty
the summer program, he laughed. Then
waterhole. From here on out, it's just
his face quickly assumed a helpless and
"survival of the fittest."
pitiful expression. How could the answer not be "no"?
In my French minor, I know I only have a chance at enrolling in the classes I need because of priority registration (Thank you, Honors Co llege). One of my friends, a declared French major since her freshman year, was not able to sign up for a sing le French class for two consecut ive semesters. There were simply too few classes available. Before I enro lled in the Honors College, all active students received a $500 stipend for studying abroad. That, too, is as dead as a dinosaur now. At least they haven't removed the 20 -student cap on Honors classes yet. But does that also lie in the near future? This is not just a weak ling's whine-a-thon, however. Everybody, in every department, graduate and undergraduate, is suffering at least a tad right now.
" Everybody, in every department, graduate and undergraduate, is suffering at least " a tad right now. inll
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