Thank you for such an honest and moving response, Dean Howell. I'm sure it is difficult, and I did not want this piece to impugn my chancellor or any others who are making these decisions. I disagree with them and I think different decisions could be made (I know they could), but I appreciate your perspective as someone who is responsible for similar decisions, and I appreciate that they are hard for you too.

We're doing all the same things: buyouts, degree elimination, increase of class sizes, increasing acceptance rates, etc. But I also live in a very rich city in a reasonably wealthy state. My university just announced a campaign to raise $4M for new tennis courts, in what could be the worst timing for an advancement campaign ever! I wonder why we don't have a campaign for the Humanities?

You and I could have a very long conversation, I'm sure. Again, I appreciate your honesty about your experience. I haven't heard anything similar from our administrators, and I don't expect to.

Thank you for reading and responding, my friend. I appreciate you.