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East Stroudsburg University Cutting Music Programs

EAST STROUDSBURG — A controversy has been brewing on the campus of East Stroudsburg University. The university will close its music programs and its two t...
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EAST STROUDSBURG -- A controversy has been brewing on the campus of East Stroudsburg University.

The university will close its music programs and its two tenured music professors will be out of jobs come May.

But a crowd showed up at the trustees meeting Thursday night to fight for music education.

Members of the community were there, along with ESU students and faculty.

The East Stroudsburg University A Capella ensemble performed for the University's trustees and president Thursday night after the packed meeting.

ESU's president calls the decision to end music programs difficult, but financially necessary.

"We have not killed music at the Poconos or at ESU, we're just trying and struggling to find a different way to do it," said Dr. Marcia Welsh, ESU's president.

Dr. Welsh said the decision is a done deal.

In addition to losing music courses, ESU's two tenured music professors will be losing their jobs, too.

Dr. James Maroney is one of those professors and attended the trustees meeting Thursday.

"These students work extremely hard performing very sophisticated music, the type of thing that simply cannot be done simply by another faculty or adviser letting the students do their own thing. It requires a full-time committed faculty member," he said.

The school's choral and orchestra groups will go as well.

"My personal experience as a musician, I play the cello in the East Stroudsburg Community University Orchestra and from attending the University choral concert last night, I know what fine performing groups you have here at East Stroudsburg University," said Rev. George Taylor of Stroudsburg.

"Once you make these cuts, even if temporarily, the damage will be done. Esu will send a clear message to students, donors and our area rich with music, real music education just does not matter," said ESU Communications Studies Professor Andi McClanahan.

Saving the music program is an emotional issue for many and tears were shed at the meeting.

University leaders said there will still be music on campus. For example, the marching band will stay. Some people said that is just not enough.

"This was Robin Williams and he was asked the question, 'Do you know what music is?' And I think they expected some kind of comedic response. His response was, "God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in the universe," said Patti Alleger of Stroudsburg.

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