Creative Crisis: How the University of New England Fails the Humanities 

Colette Murphy 

Art is very important to U.N.E’s student body- it’s the life blood of the humanities and important to every major. It’s storytelling and hands-on experience in the physical- incorporating life and cultures in many different mediums.  

“I don’t see the arts being highlighted, not even on our school’s many social medias- I never see posters about events that may be happening.” says Madison Wheeler 27’, an Environmental Studies major and vice president of U.N.E.’s art club.  

The arts are integral for U.N.E’s campus because they offer new ways for critical thinking that ‘typical’ classes give directly in their lessons. With the university’s small art major populace, students are able to receive a lot of hands-on attention from teachers that a bigger college wouldn’t be able to cater to. Because of this, art at U/N.E. takes a form of hands-on interpretation and community. The university needs more art to accommodate the growing humanities majors that the new A.C.A.S.- Alfonse Center for Arts and Sciences, previously A.C.H.S.- allows for. It’s not just a major; art is alive with culture- culture that U.N.E. is lacking in. 

Even with a wide variety of art classes to choose from, U.N.E doesn’t take nearly enough action to include art as a culture on its campus. The university has a lot of classes- ceramics, photography, and printmaking barely scratch the surface- so why doesn’t U.N.E. have much to add in terms of events, funding, or displays? 

Compared to a college like Wheaton with a similar populace, student art breathes life into every hallway, plays are constantly being advertised, and some student band or another is always up for playing local. But this is a stark contrast from U.N.E.’s art culture. The art building is quite an annoying turf- often two to four classes are shoved into the small white house riddled with Wi-Fi issues and noise complaints because of thin walls with multiple classes going on at once, and loud tables being moved around with little office space for the teachers.  

Madison Wheeler explained how last year’s pumpkin painting was the biggest turnout for the art club, but that frequenters have been rare since. She went on to describe Professor Burt’s student-lead art gallery last December, “a permanent exhibit for student artwork would be more appropriate- not a fleeting mural or showcase that stays in the corners of the library for a couple weeks every semester.” She says.  

“Part of further developing art culture on campus depends upon there being student art to even look at- they get inspired to create their own.” Says Claire Fecteau-Volk 26’, who participated in Professor Burt’s art gallery held by students of the ART395 class. They reflect most of the student body as a Marine Science major, but their passion for art could never be superseded by their passion for marine science. “Considering and creating art in the everyday life is imperative to creating a well-rounded mindset.”  

With the growing number of humanities students and the new addition of our very own A.C.H.S. now becoming a humanities building under the name A.C.A.S., the spotlight moves to a Professor Ramey. The humanities professor put on a play in 2024, where he had been shoved into a small room to play out “Anonymous” by Kevin O’Leary. He’d looked all over campus for a room to be able to perform in over the three-day showing, and when he finally found one, he had little coverage on the play occurring. With the new A.C.A.S. promised to be a humanities building, students found themselves confused at the lack of a stage for plays and musicals.  

The disappointment in U.N.E. for not following through with a new stage for plays in A.C.A.S. is also a big issue that Fecteau-Volk brought up, as well. “Finding refurbished space in the new building would be invaluable to our school’s arts students and my own culture beside them- especially with [A.C.A.S.] being in the center of campus alongside other majors.” 

Art gives people ways to communicate in ways that science places limits within. As both students interviewed talk about, art gets you working with your hands and comfortable within the uncomfortable. “I view it as a window to my own identity… our university should be supporting my identity. We should be creating a space where students like me can be seen through our art.” Wheeler says.