Picture this: a society where books are banned and prohibited from being discussed due to sensitive materials. History is no longer a priority in education, allowing the government to frame and change the past. Censorship has taken over, suppressing the voices of the public.
In 1953, “Fahrenheit 451” was published by Ray Bradbury, warning our society of the dangers of censorship and the importance of free thought. In Bradbury’s novel, the government has used technology to take away the critical thinking skills of the people and to reshape the past.
However, how far off is our society from following in these footsteps?
A majority of states are already banning books in education based on content deemed inappropriate. Utah is amongst this list with 13 books banned from all public schools across the state. Additionally, certain university programs might be threatened by HB 265, taking us one step closer to a dystopian society.
The Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment Bill, HB 265, was proposed on the first day of the 2025 Utah State Legislature session. This bill enacts and amends provisions regarding the funding of certain programs in higher education, due to the legislature removing $60 million from institutions statewide to be placed in a reinvestment fund.
The bill “requires each degree-granting institution to create a strategic reinvestment plan to reallocate funding from certain programs and divisions of the institution to certain programs and divisions that merit additional investment.” This reallocation will occur in programs considered “underperforming.”
Universities have been reassuring their students that no certain program will be targeted; however, will less popular, but just as important, programs be deemed underperforming and have funding cut?
Or my fear, will the College of Humanities and Social Sciences department be deemed underperforming and receive funding cuts?
Feeling the fears and stress of students, faculty and the public, it is important that the CHASS department does not receive drastic funding cuts from HB 265.
Now, I am not saying any certain major is more important than the other. A diverse set of programs allows our society to run functionally and smoothly. However, the CHASS department at any institute creates essential skills to form a well-rounded person.
I might be a little biased as an English major and communication minor, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the last four years at Utah Tech University thanks to the CHASS department.
The CHASS department includes a variety of important programs that teach students vital information. Utah Tech’s CHASS department programs include:
- English department
- Applied sociology
- Criminal justice
- History and political science
- Humanities and philosophy
- Modern languages
- Psychology
- Media studies and digital media
- Communication studies
- Military sciences
Furthermore, Utah Tech’s CHASS website states, “Our programs prepare students for 21st-century jobs by focusing on the skills that employers prioritize, including effective oral and written communication, critical thinking, collaborative teamwork and sophisticated analytical skills.”
No matter what job students pursue after graduation, they would benefit from the skills gained from the CHASS department.
Additionally, the CHASS department has provided me with opportunities that might not have been offered if funding was cut. Through this department, I have been given hands-on opportunities to study abroad in Greece for two weeks, work as the copy editor for Sun News Daily, create a journal as the managing editor for Southern Quill, join an English honor society and make countless new friends.
Beyond the entry-level classes offered, I have been able to take a variety of unique classes due to the available funding. For example, one of my favorite classes was Queens of Mystery & Mayhem, where we discussed and read books/short stories by Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. This class was offered to not only English majors, but allowed anyone to dive into some of the original mystery and thriller writers. While this class was not a part of the core curriculum, it ended up being one of my favorite classes.
Don’t get me wrong, the high enrollment majors are important. Yes, we need doctors, nurses and supposedly business majors. However, it is the skills learned from the CHASS department that prevent our society from becoming a dystopian novel. It is the writers telling stories, the reporters revealing facts and the historians reminding us of the past that keep our society in check.
With HB 265 making its way through Utah State Legislation, it is important to consider certain skill sets that might be erased if funding is cut from the CHASS department. Therefore, it is a necessity the CHASS department does not receive severe funding cuts. Let’s leave the dystopian societies to the books and not take any steps closer to following in their footsteps.
As Martha Nussbaum said, “The humanities are the heartbeat of democracy, and we need to fight to keep them alive and well.”
