In the current divisive political and social climate of the United States, it is important to keep in mind empathy and critical thinking towards governmental institutions and fellow citizens.
However, due to societal changes, the academic institutions that work to foster the feelings of creativity, empathy and critical thinking have been shrinking over time.
“If we can’t understand each other, we’ve taken away the key building block of society,” Pat Janssen, professor of communication arts at Wayne State College, said. “Understanding the importance that arts and humanities bring to students and society as a whole cannot be overstated.”
Arts and humanities programs throughout the nation have been threatened by cuts to funding mandated by the government and the view of these programs deteriorating in the public eye. However, the faculty and administration at WSC have taken measures to keep arts and humanities programs well preserved and promoted.
One reason why arts and humanities have lost favor in recent years is due to society’s shift in thinking that skill-based education has more value, for example, anything science, math or engineering related.
“The notion that the humanities are inherently less valuable than STEM has pushed students away from studying societally important subjects,” Neil Mahto, writer for the John Hopkins Newsletter, wrote. “While a sizable number of students continue to study the humanities, the number of humanities degrees awarded drops every year, dropping nearly 25% from 2012 to 2020.”
Some could argue that society’s push towards STEM education and job fields is due to the arts and humanities too “abstract” of a concept.
“It’s not a new phenomenon to see people sort of attack things that they can’t fully wrap their arms around,” Janssen said. “Sometimes we as a society aren’t comfortable with things that we can’t quantify with figures and numbers, but that does not diminish their value.”
Not only is the current social atmosphere regarding higher education hurting arts and humanities programs, but government institutions are as well. Bills such as H.B. 257 and H.B. 261 attacked DEI efforts in Utah universities and several budget cuts have harmed staff and student protections in higher education.
“Being aware of these bills and budget cuts is crucial throughout the 2025 Legislative Session,” Emma Thompson, writer for The Daily Utah Chronical, wrote. “The empathy and way of speech taught in humanities are needed in America now more than ever. Cutting back on higher education will attack and eliminate togetherness brought by the arts.”
When these programs are attacked, defunded and cut, what do people lose? People lose the concept of what it means to be a person.
“It’s right there in the word: Human-ities,” he said. “It’s there for us to better understand each other. When you don’t seek out experiences and understanding of other people, you begin to lose empathy.”
Along with empathy and understanding, the value of education itself is lost.
“When we take a look at Aristotle’s idea of being holistically educated and the idea that you are to be a learned man makes you a better person, understanding art, history, culture, all of these things make us better,” Mike White, professor of film at WSC, said.
David Bohnert, the dean of the school of arts and humanities at WSC, said another thing we lose as a society is the understanding of civic engagement.
“If students just have a skills-based education, do they have an interest or an understanding of why it’s important to vote or be informed or to find out or to understand what they see and read and the accuracy of that information,” Bohnert said.
Even with the challenges and setbacks that arts and humanities programs across the country have faced, WSC manages to keep its programs steady.
“There have been some colleges that have seen cuts but we’re really lucky,” Janssen said. “When I came here in the Fall of 2023, I wasn’t replacing anybody, I was a new hire, which points to a nice growth here.”
The mass communication side of humanities has been at its largest size due to community, faculty and community support.
“The mass comm industry has changed a lot,” White said. “Originally it was two majors, it was broadcasting and journalism. Now we have a variety, now its electronic media, film, ag communication, and many others.”
While WSC arts and humanities programs have been holding strong, action is still needed to raise greater awareness for the arts and humanities nationwide.
“What we need to do is to continue to find avenues to share that message, to sort of help a prospective student, maybe a parent, maybe someone on the city council, understand that to have a well-rounded society, students need to have a well-rounded experience in college,” Bohnert said.
So go to the concerts, go to the plays, visit the galleries, participate and be seen. When we lose the arts and humanities, we lose what it means to be human.
“Think about how many people can walk through a museum and understand what they are actually looking at, that’s a low number, and that’s why the arts and humanities education needs to be there,” White said. “If you take art out of your life or film out of your life or music, what’s left?”
