On Tuesday, January 16th, Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam sent an email out to all students and faculty at UNC Greensboro, where he listed several academic departments that were being considered to be discontinued at UNCG under the premise that these programs are unsuccessful, costly, and do not benefit the overall university. One of these departments that is under threat of being discontinued is Religious Studies.

Religious Studies is so much more than what it seems: It is a wonderful major taught by wonderful, passionate faculty who want nothing more than to see students succeed and recognized the amount of diversity present in our world. Studying religion provides students with opportunities to explore and think about the world and culture in an interdisciplinary way, one that recognizes that people and society are more multifaceted than we believe. Studying religion isn't simply learning about religion by itself - its learning how important religion is as a basic fundamental of being human and how one experience life and interprets the world. 

Religious Studies is undoubtedly a discovery major, where students take a class in Religious Studies to fulfill a requirement, to which they are then introduced to how fascinating and complex Religious Studies is, and how important it is to understanding people and everyday life. 

The faculty within Religious Studies are some of the most passionate, intelligent, and genuine people that students will ever encounter. There is not a single person within the department that does not care deeply for the wellbeing and success of their students. 

If the Religious Studies department and major are terminated, then this deprives students of chances to expand their worldview, thus contradicting UNCG's values and mission statement, in which they state that UNCG is "a global university integrating intercultural and international experiences and perspectives into learning, discovery, and service" and "a learner-centered, accessible, and inclusive community fostering intellectual inquiry to prepare students for meaningful lives and engaged citizenship." Furthermore, this takes away educational opportunities from future students, especially those within the diverse population of Guilford County. 

Religious Studies provides both current and future students with a well-rounded liberal arts education that can be utilized no matter what career they choose to pursue, especially those that are not directly connected to religious activities. Students are able to use the knowledge they've gained regarding culture and human experience for careers in law, education, government, social work, counseling, academia, and so on.

To Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam. Provost Debbie Storrs, and all others involved in this decisions: we ask of you to reconsider your decision to eliminate the Religious Studies academic program, on behalf of all students and faculty. 

Please sign this petition if you support the fight to preserve Religious Studies at UNC Greensboro, as to continue the department and it's faculty's mission to provide students with highly valued, well-rounded, and enlightening education that works in tandem with UNCG's mission statement and values that they claim to want to uphold.