This afternoon we will be discussing the proposed budget cuts in Cornell's Department of Theatre, Film and Dance. As part of Cornell's campaign to lower costs across the University, the Department of Theatre Film and Dance has been pegged for between one and two million dollars in budget cuts over the next two years. A recent Cornell Chronicle article explains that the Deans of the College of Arts and Sciences have asked the department to come decide on both short-term and more permanent budget cuts that may include the dismissal of some faculty members.

The Theatre, Film and Dance department is especially susceptible to budget cuts because it employs many faculty without tenure such as technical instructors and senior lecturers. Furthermore, the $1 to 2-million cost cutting figure represents the amount that Theatre, Film and Dance's annual expenditures exceed other arts departments at Cornell. Most of these extra expenses come from non-professorial salaries, namely expenditures for lighting, set design and the people associated with putting together theatre productions.

While no plans have been made for immediate alterations to the Schwartz Center's schedule for the remainder of this school year, the cuts will likely affect the number and scope of the productions that the department puts on in the future.

The College of Arts and Sciences has asked Theater, Film and Dance to submit several proposed cost reductions by May, at which point the different options will be evaluated. Once one is selected, the full cuts will take effect over the course of two years.

Katherine Karaus, a Cornell senior majoring in Theatre Arts, shared these links with our listeners at 5:00 P.M. about how you can get in touch with the Deans and Cornell University about the recent proposed budget cuts in the Department of Theatre, Film and Dance.

Click on SaveCornellArts.com or send an e-mail to savetheschwartz@gmail.com.

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