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Thank you

I am so sorry.

Hokusai faced struggles too, working under tight financial constraints while creating iconic art.

I didn't say AI had anything to do with the program cancelation, just that they were symptoms of the same problem. Regardless of program enrollment, humanities classes tend to be net moneymakers. They also teach skills that oligarchs tend to find uncomfortable.

As a former religion major, this hurts.

thanks. thing was it wasn't political, just a rather hostile college environment and a (really flawed) university-wide "efficiency" study

At least your dept/school relocation process will be collaborative. /s

Virginia Tech?

I say sue Em If you can

Extra sad for me. Some years ago when working on my theology degree, thus was a subject I explored-the many different ways religion interacts with culture. So higher education loses even more of richness. Sorry this happened to you. They're so shortsighted.

Love the claim of the "collaborative process" to implement a unilateral decision. That's some toxic leadership you've got there. I'm sorry you are going through this!

That's terrible. I'm so sorry.

Sorry, that sucks.

I am sorry and also fully understand. When bus admin types set the standard s, we all suffer.

jfc I'm so sorry

I’m so sorry. This is cruel and devastating.

Sorry Matt this is ridiculous!

I’m so sorry.

Welp, it looks like future religion and culture news will come from state news networks or Bellingcat, I guess

it's of course complicated and the dean made the case, approved by the higher administration, that this was violating the letter but not the spirit of shared governance (which is VERY weak here)

I am so sorry, Matt. Of all the myriad disheartening things happening around/to us, the rampant anti-intellectualism infecting our government and so many academic institutions is the most depressing. Minds and hearts no longer matter: In fact, they are seen as a threat. Keep caring, keep fighting!

Higher Ed needs to unionize or behave like unions. All faculty at your campus should be striking.

Noooooooooo! What a travesty. I’m so sorry Matt!

Low enrollment. bov.vt.edu/assets/Minut...

That's just terrible, Matt. How awful for you and everyone affected.

Really sorry. This is terrible.

"This will not be a unilateral process but a collaborative one...." I'm sure it would sting no less, but my kingdom for someone who speaks plainly as if the firees have intellect. I'm sorry! I feel like the world is being sucked into the widening gyre of techbro ignorance

Who is the responsible dean?

I am so sorry. This is awful.

I am very sorry you and your colleagues are going through this. I hope you will have the opportunity to revive this group at some point in the future!

Also whatever you think you know about this from asking chatgpt, you don’t

I'm really sorry to hear this.

That's awful. Solidarity Matt ✊

I'm very sorry.

This sounds really useful!

I'm so sorry.

This is outrageous

UGH I can't stand it. I'm so sorry. (I'm a PhD grad of the late great UPenn Folklore & Folklife Dept, and I'm still angry & sad about that. So: you have my utter empathy.)

I am so sorry for you, your colleagues, and all of the students who will lose out because of this

As someone who works in public service with a “religious studies” degree because our school wasn’t allowed to make its religion & culture focused degree anything else: Thank you for your role in ensuring students had access to the program I really wanted. I’m so sorry they did this.

We truly are living in the dumbest of times. Best of luck as you move forward in your job search.

terrible. So sorry. Let this be a nadir that we come back from.

I’m so sorry, Matt.

Which college is doing this? Where?

the management class in higher ed are the worst buffoons ever! to think these idiots were once faculty. SMH

🤬🤬🤬

I have no words. I'm so sorry.

How terrible! So sorry for you and your colleagues and all the students who will miss out

So sorry to hear this Matt.

Sorry to hear of this change. I have not googled your name yet, but what state are you located in, and at which university were you a department chair? The entire country has not gone to shit, and it's helpful to know where the fetid decay is the worst.

Matt, I'm sorry. I know that you worked really hard and well on this. American universities continue to shoot themselves in the feet ...

I am so sorry.

This is awful news, Matt. I’m really sorry to hear this.

I’m so sorry! This is awful.

I’m so sorry to hear this terrible news, Matt

grrrr 😡

I am so sorry. The lack of faculty input is quite disturbing.

Solidarity from Berlin!

Maybe lecturers and Profs can start new Universities... create something modern. Theres a couple in the UK now.

but they had careful deliberation about this that makes it better right

Jfc. I’m so sorry.

The switching between “I decided” and “this involves a process” gives me dizziness.

Very sorry to hear this. As a UVa grad and having grown up in Virginia, very disappointed if not surprised. I hope there’s real pushback here.

Utterly stupid. I wonder what they’re *really* up to?

I am sorry.

It is such a myopic, shoot-yourself-in-the-foot move by the administration. I'm very sorry.

So very sorry....

That is absolutely appalling. I'm so sorry.

Not only do I hate that this has happened, but also the way the Univ has gone about it-so horribly shady.You and your students all deserve better.How odd,also,to keep somebits like Appalachian is it Studies? (it cut off after Appalachian) and shift them to another dept-Outside funded?

So is this Virginia Tech?

So sorry about this. I saw how popular RLCL classes were with students and it's insane that the university closed the department.

Does your faculty contract/ faculty-school agreement include advisement and direction? Maybe you’d have a court case?

terrible

I'm so sorry. And mad. Really, really mad.

Very saddening news, Matt.

The curriculum is certainly interesting.

This sucks so much, Matt.

This is an absolutely horrible decision. VT is not better for this decision.

This is HORSESHIT, I'm so sorry.

Thanks

Terrible. Similar outcome at my university. An awful decision that is part of a terrible trend. So sorry that this happened to you and your colleagues and students.

💔

Infuriating. I'm so sorry

Heartbreaking.

Thanks, Rick

B*****ds are trying to lay off at least a quarter of my department, and the same for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences generally. Solidarity.

Urgh, so sorry to hear that Matt.

This sucks, I'm sorry.

😪

I am so sorry. The Humanities course I took at University changed my view of the whole world. How awful that others will not get that benefit.

Shit, I am sorry, what a lost to future students, your book bright ages was incredible, what fools they are for not treasuring the talent they hired.

I’m so sorry - must have had a curriculum that taught the possibilities of truth, huh?

I'm so sorry. This makes me so mad I don't even know what to say.

I hate this, I'm so sorry

I’m sorry- that sucks. Shitty.

All these universities closing the same kinds of departments just means they'll all be competing even more with each other for whatever STEM classes they are trying to push. In the long run it will mean some unis will fail becasue they have nothing unique to offer.

They announced the closure a year ago.

I mean, the play for saving - or reviving - the department seems clear to me (to be clear, a Jersey guy): 1) Activate Dem state legislators to object +Kaine; 2) When VT's new president takes office, the legislators lobby her/him to reverse the decision.

I don’t know why is he not answering, but the answer is Virginia Tech. https://profgabriele.com/about

University administrators are not coming out of these years smelling like roses. They have utterly failed to protect their universities from outside political pressures.

Boooooooooo this sucks, man. I'm sorry

People running things are being so insanely destructive of education and knowledge, and I fear that most people don't really care.

😭

I’m so sorry. These are dark days indeed, and I hope you find a not-awful new path. If it’s any consolation whatsoever, that email sure needs a good edit.

So incredibly saddening

So sorry to hear this.

THE ENTIRE HISTORY DEPARTMENT? That can't be, that would be nuts.

What an idiotic decision – I am so sorry to hear this has happened to you! It’s not like the impact of religion on culture and society has been decreasing, so your teaching and research will certainly be missed soon and sorely. 😣

Shameful.

Well...damn! I'm sorry to hear this!

My sympathies, Matt. I hope you land softly wherever you end up.

I’m so sorry, what a loss to the university and the students