JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University students rallied in support of professors who were laid off after the university slashed several majors.
Dozens of students stood outside the J. Henry Gooding Building on Wednesday as a faculty meeting took place.
The students clapped and cheered for the beloved teachers who exited the staff meeting.
JU announced the decision to cut Fine Arts programs, resulting in the layoffs of nearly 40 faculty members.
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“They’ve taken away the soul of this university,” former professor Tony Steve said.
He was a professor of percussion and musicology and an artist in residence.
Students didn’t stay quiet about their concerns regarding the changes either.
“It’s frustrating,” student Theo Austell said. “It’s suspicious, all of the tenured professors that have been here for so long, who have done incredible things nationally recognized just gone overnight.”
Faculty members like Steve expressed feeling blindsided by the decision.
“They hand me a packet, and they say, you’re being terminated,“ Steve said. ”This has nothing to do with my performance as a professor. And they said this was strictly financial.”
Tell us: How do you feel about the changes at JU?
JU said the cut would save the university $10 million.
The university started as a music school 90 years ago. Steve was heartbroken that the JU’s origins would no longer exist.
“It’s become a tech university. So if it has a soul and it breathes, it’s gone,” Steve said.
Austell was one of multiple students offered a full-ride scholarship for the length of his time at the university, but he’s exploring other options.
“The money that they’re offering, it’s life changing," Austell said. “It’s amazing, but it’s also like hush money. It’s like, change what you do, find something else, and we’ll continue to support you. It’s sickening. It doesn’t feel right.”
Savannah Ivey was a freshman studying music technology, one of the many majors being cut.
“I’m very upset because they cut all of our music staff, entirely. So, I won’t be able to continue my education with them,” Ivey said.
Sofia Ramirez-Zapata was a sophomore majoring in psychology and minoring in communication science disorders.
While her major is unaffected, her minor was removed.
“That was my only reason to come here in the first place, and now that it’s cut, it’s really disappointing,” Ramirez-Zapata said.
Steve became emotional thinking about the students’ response to the changes.
“Can’t talk about it,” he said through tears. “They know we’ve always had their back. The faculty has always had their back, and they know that anytime they need us, they can call us, even now, and we’re there for them, and we’ll always be there for them.”
News4JAX received the following statement from JU:
“Jacksonville University is fully committed to the rights of free speech and peaceful assembly on our campus. We understand that some students wish to express their feelings about Tuesday’s announcement and we support their right to do so.”
