While the merger of the Caine College of the Arts into the College of Humanities and Social Sciences may be a necessary step toward reallocating funding and streamlining university operations, any decision to exclude the word “Art” from the new college name sends a troubling message.

By removing the word “Art,” this merger could unintentionally diminish the value of artistic disciplines and the thousands of students who pursue degrees in visual arts, music, theatre, and design. At a university where creativity and expression are essential to the academic and cultural fabric, eliminating the recognition of the Caine College of the Arts is both disheartening and damaging.

Excluding "Art" from the proposed names of the new college could effectively erase the presence of artistry at Utah State University, devaluing the work, identity, and contributions of current undergraduate and graduate students who have committed themselves to the pursuit of artistic excellence. Furthermore, this merger erases the existence of alumni of the Caine College of the Arts and the legacies that they have worked endlessly to create. The arts are not a footnote to the humanities and social sciences—they are a core pillar of a well-rounded education and a vibrant university community.

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge the administration and the merger committee to ensure that Arts are included in the naming of the new college.
A revised name should acknowledge the full spectrum of disciplines the college represents and should reaffirm Utah State’s commitment to honoring and supporting the arts as a vital part of academic and cultural life.

Let us ensure that the arts are not only preserved in practice, but also in name.