To any concerned artists who may see this:

The arts are under attack. As many know, this recession is severely harming the art world. The arts are losing funding at institutions of higher learning, artists can't find work, the NEA is cutting back on grants, ect.

The specific trouble I bring to light is the blatant lies told by one Kent State University. KSU touts a great love of the arts and arts community and claims to foster the arts whenever and wherever it can. DO NOT BELIEVE THESE LIES. The Kent State University has slowly but surely putting a stranglehold on it's School of the Arts. The university has allowed the main art building to a point of disrepair that is beyond help. They have taken the art program and spread it out over at least 7 different buildings throughout the main campus, making communication between departments difficult and cumbersome. They have given a preference to the School of Technology in the case of the battle over the fate of office spaces that currently serve as studios for senior BFA students and MFA students in the printmaking program. These students would be moved to a different building, which would hinder their access to acids, presses, vacuum tables, and a dark room; all of which is required for them to complete their works.

Lastly, the University has sided with their Department of Residence Services to kill the only arts community dormitory on campus. This residence hall, Verder Hall, is equipped with studio that is home to artist students of many trades that form an Arts Co-op. This studio area is a vital part of the lively and energetic community that resides in Verder. It is the reason many dedicated arts students choose to live in Verder. Although it has not been permanently decided yet, the staff of Verder have been informed that there is near certainty that the Artist In Residence that run the studio area and keep it in order, will have their position terminated.

What this termination means is that there will be no leadership within the studio. The studio will have no one in charge that will organize where artists will have their desks located, to keep reference materials tidy, ensure general cleanliness in the studio, and most importantly: provide the planned activities that keep this lively community what it is. Without the AIRs (Artists and Residence), there will be no one to organize community building activities that keep people coming back year after year after year to live in Verder.There will be no one to mediate quarrels over who truly needs what space and what area.

Verder Hall on the Kent State University main campus is one of the few residence halls that students enjoy living in. They enjoy living there because of the strong and active community that thrives there. But that is being taken away. Simply because the Department of Residence Services wishes to save money. Keep in mind, that no other themed community are having vital staff cut. The Women's Learning Community, Business themed Community, Physical Education Community, Science Community, ect. None of them are experiencing this massive violation of their communities as the Fine Arts Community in Verder Hall is.

This is an outrage. Should Residence Services choose to go through with their intended actions, they can be rest assured that there will be a retaliation from the artists in Verder. Thus far, there has been an active effort to keep the studio community from knowing what is going to happen. This is because Residence Services knows that informing the studio members would mean they would have to deal with 40+ angry artists trying to stop them. They'd rather deal with the actual people that their decisions are affecting after the fact, when nothing can be done about it.

"The entirety of all that is human history can been known through art."

I will say more once the final decision has been made.