To whom it may concern:

It has come to our attention that the administration is planning on cutting down on many majors and departments, specifically those that deal with and support the humanities. Though those behind the decision no doubt have their reasons, this comes as a grievous blow to nearly all the staff and students of Wagner College. Adult minds on the brink of stepping into the world and the workforce would be mentally, emotionally, and spiritually crippled without the stable presence of literature, philosophy, historical understanding, and similar knowledge bases that up until now have been available at this institution. 

 We understand that the actions of the administration merely reflect the current viewpoint of society, in which the ability to turn the wheels of the world through business, STEM, and the like is erroneously viewed as more important than the ability to see where the world is going and direct it morally, drawing upon the ideas and experiences of thousands of incredible people in our past. We understand that the administration, like so many people and organizations, are trying their best to stay abreast of what appears to be modern social trends. To that we posit: is it not the sole purpose and duty of any college, specifically a college with the compassionate, erudite history of Wagner, to produce students who shape the world and its ideas, rather than vice versa? With the college’s support, we can do just that. What is the point of having a college at all if it only offers the opportunity to learn less than half of what a productive member of society needs - the same half, moreover, that every other college and university in the country is also turning its focus to? We can do better than that. What has up till now, and hopefully for much longer, been the biggest draw of Wagner over any other college for those of us who have chosen to attend here is the fact that we students were given access to some of the best humanities courses, professors, and programs in New York. Wagner College is billed as a Liberal Arts school, and so far it has lived up to that. If it fails to do so going forward, admission rates are likely to drop, which would cost the college money and negatively impact all involved. 

 This petition asks of you, or rather pleads with you, to restore the reason a good deal of us chose this college as our alma mater; the reason built into so much of this college: the wonderfully stocked library full of any classic an English student could dream of, a frankly breathtaking campus practically designed for philosophical contemplation, well-equipped art studios and galleries built into the very buildings, and historical plaques and tributes dotted all across campus. This college would be very much wasted if the sole focus was business and STEM. Even if that were not the case, we would like to remind you of a quote by Thucydides: “The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools.” The same applies to the warriors of the modern age: doctors, businessmen, etc. If we as students and citizens do not have the opportunity to learn the mistakes of the past and the wisdom of its writers and storytellers, we are destined to lead our respective fields and circles in flawed, short-sighted directions. This applies not only to us humanities students, but to all students here at Wagner. A marketer needs to know psychology, a nurse needs to know about Florence Nightingale, and a doctor needs to know how medicine changes over the course of history. Philosophy, history, and critical thinking are essential in every field, especially ones like nursing and business, which this college offers concentrations in.

 The administration seems to believe that people focused on the humanities are thinkers and not doers, of little influence in the modern world. Well, let us disabuse you of that notion. Here we are. This is us, the humanities students, doing something. Fighting with our words, and reason, and our dreams to ensure an important and worthwhile college experience and environment for ourselves and future students. And it is not merely us current students and staff. There may be alumni, especially those who have gone into successful fields in humanities, who would be more than willing to donate time, effort, and possibly funds to keep the humanities of their alma mater afloat. This is something that concerns the past, present and future of this college.

Let it be known that if those concerned dismiss this petition, we are willing to try other civil means of getting what we need as three-dimensional people in this college. We hope you will spare us the need, and simply give the staff and students of this college what they have all been clamoring for: our humanities back. If logistics are the issue, or there is some other unknown reason for your original decision, talk to us. We are able and more than willing to help with any proposed solution to any obstacle in the way of these programs getting renewed. Sincerely, the students and staff of Wagner College.