You've seen our shirts, you've signed our petition, and you've watched our video (and if you haven’t, you can watch right here.)And you know what's up - due to budget cuts, the College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences (CAES) is highly considering the closure of the Division of Textiles & Clothing (TXC).
First of all, they are NOT closing the major -- they plan on closing the Division. What does this mean? Well, when our faculty (only five professors and one amazing lecturer/adviser) retire, CAES will not put in the resources to hire new faculty. If there are no faculty or lecturers, who will teach our classes and sustain the major?
TXC students and alumni have voiced their concerns and written to Dean Van Alfen, Provost Lavernia, and Vice Provost Pat Turner, but we all received the same response that “closing the department is not the same as closing the major.” We understand, but we still don’t want it to be closed! Clearly, we needed to do more to get our point across.
ASUCD Senators Shawdee Rouhafza and Trevor Taylor have numerous friends in the major, and wanted to help us out. After reaching out and collaborating with Ely Estoesta and myself, Senator Taylor and Senator Rouhafza authored ASUCD Senate Resolution #10, which opposes the proposed removal of the Division of Textiles & Clothing.
The Academic Affairs Commission passed it unanimously, and afterwards we presented it before the ASUCD Senate. Senator Taylor first introduced the resolution, stating that "this is a really unique program - it provides more than a Design degree or a business degree can give alone." Subsequently, I presented my reasons* for sustaining this program.
So, why should Textiles & Clothing be saved? Contrary to others' beliefs, we are not a “frivolous division.” If you haven’t noticed, our need for clothing won’t be diminishing any time soon. Textiles surround us regularly - When you wonder why our firefighters can enter a fire without being burned or why your clothes continue to perform under stress – it’s because of textiles. California has the largest apparel industry and is the second largest cotton producer in the nation, and UC Davis has the only TXC program within the UC system (as well as the only textile research institution in the state) to support the apparel industry.
Our major is unique and combines the physical and social sciences. Our faculty has different focuses of study, but that’s what makes TXC so inter-disciplinary. We are the perfect blend of fashion meeting science, and of theory combining with application. After graduation, our students are prepared to thrive in any part of the apparel industry.
Our alumni come back to network and teach us about the industry, and for those of us who are still undergrads, we plan on doing the same. But if this Division and ultimately our major does not exist, how can we do that? What value does our degree possess if Textiles & Clothing is no longer around?
The ASUCD Senate not only passed the resolution, but their ensuing comments demonstrated that they understood our major and our purpose. Passing the resolution does not mean that the Division will be sustained, but we have documentation and the support of the student government for a cause so close to our hearts. They get it!
Update: There’s still hope. The bottom of the resolution stated that copies of it would be sent to numerous individuals, including Bob Powell, chair of the Academic Senate. I followed up via email, and Dr. Kaiser and I will be meeting with him to discuss the future of the program. He won’t be able to decide on the future of the Division, but any support is better than no support.
*Credit to Dr. Susan Kaiser, Samantha Pinnock, and Luis Legaspi who collaborated with me on my argument.