City College Protesters Demand That Music Go On

“Don’t stop the music.” That was the message delivered by San Diego City College students Monday at a rally protesting a drop in the number of music department classes.

The small--about 45 people showed up--but vocal gathering met at noon in the courtyard of the campus student center.

With some of the students and music instructors dressed in black and carrying signs that read “Music, Not Red Tape” and “Don’t Stop the Music at SDCC,” the protesters marched through the downtown campus singing: “All we are saying is give music a chance.” Their message, they said, was that they will fight to keep the classes.

Classes to Be Cut

Under a plan instituted by San Diego City College President Jeanne Atherton, the number of music classes offered next fall will drop from 15 to six.

Atherton said a committee, which will include two faculty members from the music department, will be formed to study what other schools offer to help decide what direction the music department should take beginning in the fall of 1990.

Several years ago, the music major was eliminated because of low enrollment. The school now offers what is called a creative arts major, with emphasis on music, and employs eight music instructors paid by the hour.

Rally organizer and City College music instructor Carolyn Terpstra said students cannot afford to travel to Mesa College or other nearby community colleges, where music departments are at full strength. She also said that the reduction in classes comes at a time when enrollment in music courses is on the rise.

“We think this isn’t fair,” Terpstra said. “The students here have been slighted for a long time. Music is important for the whole campus.”

Terpstra said that City College students have been making an impact on the local music scene. In the last year, students have played in the Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, Horton Plaza and Balboa Park.

“The campus and downtown area will suffer,” Terpstra said. “There will definitely be a loss of creative and music culture in the area.”

Cuts Defended

Atherton defended the class cuts, saying the money saved would be better spent elsewhere at the financially strapped college.

Two years ago, City College enrollment declined, Atherton said. Although enrollment has stabilized and is on the rise again, the college is still recovering from the previous shortfall, she added.

Atherton said performance-type classes are the ones to be eliminated and will still be offered through City College’s continuing education program and at nearby community colleges.

“Obviously this is an unfortunate situation,” Atherton said. “We do have strong classes that work toward the (creative arts) major. We have other cultural-type programs. This is a temporary situation.”

“We have to make a few sacrifices in order to get ourselves in order again. We cannot continue to lose money on classes,” she said.

Atherton, appointed president in January, said that, because of Proposition 13, enacted 10 years ago, and the reduction in revenue it has caused, the focus of the college has been forced to change.

“We lost the community-service aspect of the college,” she said. There is a trade-off of what affects 30 students taking community-service courses for 30 students working toward a degree, certificate or transferring to a four-year college, Atherton said. “That is a trade-off I have to make.”

Music major Kim Brady said that, by eliminating the classes, the administration showed that it is more concerned with money than with the needs and academic progress of its students.

“This was a very ignorant move on behalf of the administration,” Brady said. “Students should be concerned with their studies and not the business aspects of getting an education.”