Information from the University Registrar indicates that the number of degrees awarded in the humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences has plummeted over the last five years. College administrators, though, point out that the number of humanities majors has grown steadily when viewed from decade to decade.

Prominent Shakespeare critic and Harvard Prof. Marjorie Garber, English and visual and environmental studies, said the humanities is often wrongly viewed as an accessory to education during a lecture Wednesday in the A.D. White House.

President Skorton's announcement that the University would construct a new humanities building demonstrated Cornell's commitment to the field at a time when many were beginning to have their doubts.

Amelia Brown takes on the new humanities building and proposes greater cohesion among Cornell's architecture.

Prof. Emeritus Don Randel, music, highlighted the importance of the humanities to the nation and Cornell at a meeting of the Board of Trustees Friday.

In response to a predicted decline in hiring for tenure-track positions in humanities, the Graduate School is preparing a new set of initiatives to better equip its humanities students for professional success outside of academia.

Professors in the embattled Department of Theatre, Film, and Dance ask for budgetary restoration in the wake of President Skorton's strong commitment to the humanities.

Cornell President David Skorton announced Friday his plan to launch a national campaign “in the next couple of months” to bolster investment in the arts and humanities, which have been underfunded over the past 16 years, he said.