DECEMBER 6, 2016

HUMANITIES APPRECIATION DAY

OPEN MIC. TO SHOWCASE THE HUMANITIES

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PRJECT PROPOSAL

PRESENTED BY: NICHOLAS W. KAUFMAN
COM 495-01 SENIOR SEMINAR
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE
Humanities Appreciation Day December 6, 2017

THE HUMANITIES ARE FADING

Each year, students in college

are asking themselves, How am I

going to be able to pay for my
education. It is this question that has
been causing a major shift in
academics. A place where we really see
this question being asked is from
students that are pursuing degree in
"We don't read and write poetry
because it's cute. We read and write
poetry because we are members of
the human race. And the human race
is filled with passion. And medicine,
law, business, engineering, these are
noble pursuits and necessary to
sustain life. But poetry, beauty,
romance, love, these are what we
stay alive for."

the liberal arts. (Williams, 1989)

Fifty years ago, 14% of college degrees were given to students who studied in the

humanities. In 2013, that dove down to 7% (Brooks, 2013). At Stanford University, near 45% of

the faculty teach in the humanities field while only around 15% of the students study this field.

The difference in these statistics is terrifying, but noticeable. Something over the last few

decades has changed the way the younger generation is viewing the liberal arts. One of the

main reasons for this shift in view is the importance placed on STEM which stands for science,

technology, engineering, and math. These have been some of the fastest growing majors over

recent years because these are being taught to be the most critical and rewarding areas out in

the work field (Lewin, 2013). Just because these areas are rewarding, that does not mean that

they will fulfill the intellectual capacities that separate us as human beings from the test of the

world. What will separate us is indulging ourselves in the rich experiences of the humanities.

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Humanities Appreciation Day December 6, 2017

HUMANITIES APPRECIATION DAY: THE SOLUTION

To spread awareness that this event is coming up, fliers will be created and hung up

around campus a month in advance. To help spread the word, tables will be reserved in the

Heritage Center to help spread word about the event and allow students to sign up in person to

showcase their talent. After that, the order of the performances will be organized, and an email

will be sent out to all participants to remind them of the date, time, location, and order that

they will present. This will all take place on December 4th on the Knapp Stage in the Heritage

Center at 7:30 pm.

The main goal of hosting a

day to appreciate the humanities

is to spark an interest in the

students here at the University

of Dubuque by organizing a

talent show. This event will not

change perspectives globally or

substantially for that matter. It

will however, show the

importance of the humanities

when the participants join to

showcase what they appreciate.

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 Task Personel Date

Approval Get approval from the

Office of Student Erika Miller October 17th
Activities

Get approval from the

office of Multicultural James Sizer October 17th
Student Affairs

Advertise Create fliers for the

event and get them Mary Kruser October 30th
approved

Reserve tables in
Heritage Center to Tracy Less October 30th
recruit performers

Final Preperation Contact the Tech.

department to reserve Mike Willis November 20th
equipment

Commence Set up and put on the James Sizer,

December 4th
event Kahla Rosenfeld
Humanities Appreciation Day December 6, 2017

REFERENCES
Brooks, D. (2013, June 20). The Humanist Vocation.
Lewin, T. (2013, October 30). As Interest Fades in the Humanites, Colleges Worry.
Williams, R. (1989). Dead Poets Society.

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