President Banks’ Latest Changes
As many are now aware, through the “Save the Batt” movement on Instagram and state-wide attention, Texas A&M’s student publication The Battalion will no longer be issuing printed newspapers after this spring 2022 semester due to an impromptu decision by President M. Katherine Banks. However, there are other decisions being made within the university that need to be brought to attention for students and faculty across A&M.
President Banks decided last week, with the help of MGT of America Consulting, that the International Studies Department would be moved from the College of Liberal Arts to the Bush School of Government and Public Service. This is a major disruption for a multitude of reasons. There are six tracks within International Studies (INTS) majors including politics and diplomacy, communication and media, global cultural studies, commerce, environmental studies, and geographic information systems. This shift to move the INTS major to the Bush School only benefits the politics and diplomacy track, leaving behind the 5 other tracks completely bewildered.
An anonymous Texas A&M INTS professor stated, “Neither the Bush School nor the A&M professors want this change to be made. We are trained in the humanities, language, and culture, not international affairs and relations.” As learned about in INTS classes, there is a huge difference between globalization/cultural studies and international relations/affairs. One studies from a sociological perspective of people groups and global interconnectedness, whereas the other studies more from an economic standpoint with international political relations between countries. This major is being reduced and compressed while stripping all of its potentials away from the students.
According to the Texas Tribune, this is just the start of moving many more liberal arts majors into different colleges of sciences and geosciences. The major of psychology has already transitioned to the College of Science, with its addition of a neuroscience curriculum. According to The Battalion, “Even if MGT’s consultation yields the best outcomes, everyone involved should be made aware, instead of being left blind and stumbling through the dark.” The problem is that opinions of students and faculty have not been heard and all are left wondering what decisions are being made on their behalf.
President Banks’ reason for eliminating the print version of The Battalion is “Times are changing.” Matthew Watkins, Texas Tribune writer and A&M graduate wrote, “No details were provided to The Battalion’s student employees about why they were not a part of the decision-making process.” These decisions are being made without thinking of the interests or considerations of Texas A&M’s students and professors.
Between the dismantling of the Battalion’s beloved papers and the slow pulling away from the College of Liberal Arts, the changes being made could prove to be not only disheartening to the student body, but disrupt the public opinion of the university.
Written by: McKenna Madis, Design: Josh Carley, Social Media: London Marchman & Emma Mcminn