Students protest “P&E” report at Rhode Island capitol building

Alana M. Carroll

Anchor Staff Writer

“Why can’t we have a say about what majors get shut down? Why can’t we have a say about what majors stay open?” Hak Kay, a gender studies and film major at Rhode Island College, asked the audience. That was the primary question on protesters' minds as they gathered by the entrance to the statehouse Thursday, equipped with signs and delivering passionate speeches into a microphone.

The crowd was made up of dozens of Rhode Island College students, many from majors that will be suspended, including the MED in music education, masters in creative writing and BA in women and gender studies. Some who spoke out at the event were even school faculty, including Dr. Leslie Schuster, director of the Women and Gender Studies Department as well as Dr. Elisa Miller, a history and women’s studies professor. Upon hearing that almost the entirety of her class that afternoon would be attending the protest, she cancelled class to attend and speak.

“I’ve been [here] for almost 20 years. My shirt says ‘I love RIC’, and I really do,” Miller began, answered with cheers from the crowd. Before long, however, her tone shifted.

“There’s never been a clear answer about why these cuts are taking place. Enrollment at RIC is significantly up for the past couple years. There’s no financial crisis, and none of these cuts are going to lead to significant financial [gains], and some of them are going to lose financial revenue.”

Miller’s statements are correct. ”RIC’s total enrollment crossed above 6,000 students for the first time since 2021,” reads the 2024 Official Census Enrollment Report. The school has jumped 9% in state funding and its net position has increased by almost $45 million since 2019. 

President Jack Warner acknowledged these gains in an email sent to students on the 16th. “I’m pleased to report that this year and last we achieved both a balanced budget and an increase in enrollment. … This was not an immediate cost-cutting measure, though we do expect savings to accrue over time from greater program efficiency.” Warner states that the cuts were primarily to “make way for new programs with demonstrated high demand.” These “new programs” include the artificial intelligence BS, cybersecurity BS, and biotechnology BS.

Image by Alana Carroll

Many who disapprove of the cuts emphasized the importance of these programs whether or not one has it as a major.

“As a friend of mine said, ‘you don’t have to want to be a gender and women’s studies major or a global studies major or a creative writing major, but you want to go to a place that has those programs,’ where there are faculty and students exploring those issues,’” explained Dr. Schuster, “so you can dip in when you want to.”  

“I worry that what this does is limit the opportunities of Rhode Island College students and of the people of Rhode Island… We all can’t afford to go to elite universities that have these programs. Since it’s not an issue of costs, we’re sort of left wondering, ‘why?’”

“I just switched to gender and women’s studies this semester… but I started here as a music and education major,” said Juniper Alves, a resident student. “Honestly, I don’t think I would have come to RIC if it wasn’t for the liberal arts education that they provide.”

Despite the unanimous dissatisfaction amongst the crowd, they were unified not just by their love for these programs but for the school in general. Miller was not the only attendee who wore their school merchandise.

“I’ve got my ‘I love RIC’ t-shirt,” shared Schuster, earning a warm and reciprocal reaction from the crowd. “We all really really love RIC and what it does. I’ve been at RIC for over 20 years and I love RIC students.”

“I’m not here because I don’t like RIC,” Alves assured the crowd. “I’m here because I love RIC, and I think that’s the same for all of us.”