BYU students rally to save social work major

Between 30 and 45 students upset by an announcement from Brigham Young University that the school would be phasing out the Bachelor of Social Work program held a quiet demonstration Wednesday. They made sure they were off campus on the sidewalk on the east side of 900 East in Provo.

Students wanted to demonstrate on campus earlier this month, but their request was denied by the school because the students did not have a faculty advisor. Students were given a chance to meet with David Magleby, Dean of the College of Family Home and Social Sciences, regarding the issue.

Protestors tied bandannas and paper towels around their mouths as gags to demonstrate that when it comes to the administration they feel they are voiceless. They also carried signs supporting social work and criticizing the school with phrases like "Social Work is Love" and "134 Letters, 250 signatures, No answers." Each student signed a blue and yellow banner that they hoped to present to the administration.

The demonstration started at Kiwanis Park in Provo, then students marched down Birch Lane and made a left onto 900 East. They stayed on the sidewalk four about 40 minutes as motorists honked their horns. Then the students walked back to the park.

Susie Salisbury, a sophomore in BYU's American Studies program, said she came with her friend who is a social work student.

"It (the decision) kind of upset me too," Salisbury said. "I'm for options at BYU. I'm for people having a voice, and if the voice is there, I think it should be heard."

Each protestor signed the banner. Salisbury signed it, "Eliminating voice is eliminating the American dream."

Social work professionals aren't happy with BYU's decision either.

"I think it's a mistake. It will be a loss and hurt the community," said Marty Matheson, program manager for Wasatch Mental Health. Matheson did not hold a demonstration sign. He said that many students at BYU do not go on to get a master's degree in social work. A degree in sociology or a degree in psychology will not serve them as well as the BSW would, he said.

"Clearly there is no comparison. Students are better prepared for clinical studies," Matheson said.

During a program of songs and speeches, Cole Hooley, a senior in the BSW program and president of the BSW student association, quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and called social work a "calling."

"We're still crazy enough to think we can change the world," Hooley said. He said the students weren't going to let the cancelation of the major derail their efforts.

"It's not just for us that we're doing it. We're doing it for other programs as well," said Melissa Stone a senior in the BSW program.

Students are upset about the way the decision was made. They said they feel they didn't have a voice in the matter and the university was heavy-handed. They're hoping that they can affect policy changes so another group of students doesn't go voiceless.

"I think the way that it was done was brutal and disrespectful," said Marc Gilchrist a student working on a master's degree in social work.

The announcement of the cancelation was made on Oct. 31, the day before prospective BSW students were to turn in their applications to be admitted to the major. Earlier this week, students received an announcement that the BSW program would admit a final cohort of students to begin the program in January. Applications are due Dec. 12.

"The timing of this was such that it just seemed to be the fair thing to do," Magleby said. "The timing of this was unfortunate. It was driven by other administrative concerns."

Students were grateful that one more group will be admitted to the program.

"A little part of our voices had been heard," said pre-BSW student Natalie Merritt.

Magleby said the decision to cut the bachelor's program was not a jab at the profession, or anything but a necessity. He said the school will be unable to maintain the program because there is a dearth of qualified social work faculty with the education necessary to keep the program running for the long hall.

"We are not confident that we can retain the school (of social work)," Magleby said. "Therefore we had to reduce something, so we reduced the less important degree . . . not unimportant. It's just less important."

Magleby said there are no short term plans to make changes to the master's work program. The entering class will remain 40 students a year.

Even if the BSW program is not re-instated in full, students said they felt like the demonstration was still worthwhile.

"I personally think that we're a success regardless of the outcome," Hooley said.

• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at blusk@heraldextra.com.