October 20, 2010

President George Philip

Office of the President
University Administration Building
State University of New York
Albany, NY 12222

Dear President Philip,

 

We at the Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages of Stanford University write to express our deep concern about the decision made at SUNY Albany this month to eliminate majors in French, Italian, and Russian, as well as Classics and Drama.  We understand that while first-year language instruction may survive this change, even that is uncertain.

 

At a school whose motto is “The world within reach,” the elimination of modern languages other than Spanish indicates a confusion of purpose.  The study of modern languages at a high level offers a gateway to international business, diplomacy, and research in all fields.  The study of literature in foreign languages challenges students to cross cultural boundaries and teaches them how to do so effectively.  By rejecting these programs, SUNY Albany is reducing its students’ intellectual breadth and their competitiveness for a range of professions.  It is moving the world out of reach. 

 

This decision is especially disturbing at a school that trains so many of New York State’s teachers.  Three of the programs cut – French, Italian, and Russian – are significant New York heritage languages, and a large French-speaking population lives right over the border in Quebec.  These are languages that New York K-12 students have motivation to study, and even to master.  By making it impossible for future Albany graduates to teach them, SUNY is reducing not only the education and competitiveness of its own students, but those of the state’s high school students as well.  In the case of Russian, where Albany houses the only major program in the SUNY system, this danger is especially real.

 

The elimination of modern language programs at Albany appears to be part of a larger reallocation of state funding.  Even while the university saves some $12 million by cutting these departments, $435 million in state funding is going toward a new Institute for Nanoelectronics Discovery and Exploration, which has the stated goal of transforming the Albany region into a high-tech hub like California’s Silicon Valley.  Here at Stanford, located in the real Silicon Valley, it appears especially short-sighted to imagine that the way to foster innovation, investment, and job growth in our increasingly global economy is by rejecting the study of modern languages and cultures.  Rather than firing faculty who are experts in foreign languages, the university should turn to them for help in training students who are able to understand international consumers and investors.  Stanford has engaged its foreign language and literature faculty in creating new administrative structures that can respond effectively to the needs of students at all levels.  We challenge you at SUNY Albany to follow the example of Silicon Valley in deed, not just in words.

 

Sincerely,

Gabriella Safran, Director, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, and Chair, Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages 
David Palumbo-Liu, Director, Department of Comparative Literature
Carolyn Springer, Director, Department of French and Italian Literatures
Russell Berman, Director, German Studies Department
Jorge Ruffinelli, Director, Iberian and Latin American Cultures Department
Elizabeth Bernhardt, Director, Language Center
Amir Eshel, Graduate Chair, Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages
Dan Edelstein, Undergraduate Chair, Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages