The unfortunate demise of IU journalism

When I first heard about the proposed merger of the School of Journalism into the College of Arts and Sciences, I wanted to wait before crafting a response lest I come off sounding rash or stupid.

However, I’ve come to realize both of those traits would make me highly qualified for the positions of IU president or provost, so I’ll wait no longer.

Simply put, the reputation of IU’s journalism program is what made me come from out of state to become a Hoosier.

I was far from the only one — attending classes at Ernie Pyle Hall and working for the IDS brought me in contact with people from all over the country and the world who were attracted to the same thing.

The School of Journalism’s appeal was not just in its independence, but its intimacy.

I felt comfortable walking into the dean’s office as that of any professor because I was more than a number.

Having that sense of community was crucial to my development as a journalist and a college student in general.

Unfortunately, that will be the No. 1 thing that is lost as journalism becomes just another department lost in the hubbub of COAS.

I’m extremely grateful for my experience in IU’s School of Journalism, and it comforts me to know it will always exist on my diploma even when Robel and McRobbie’s machinations make it fade from its rightful place on campus.

No matter how much uproar is raised by the journalism alumni community, it is clear their decisions on this subject were made long ago and nothing will change their minds.

McRobbie has disrespectfully stated of a nationally ranked program, “There’s no point in saving a school that trains people to manage fleets of horses if the motorcar has taken over horse-drawn transportation.”

When that’s the position of the school’s president, how does journalism at Indiana have a chance?

As much as it pains me to say, I cannot recommend any aspiring high school journalist follow in my footsteps to Indiana in the future.

Go to Missouri. Go to Syracuse. Go to Kansas. Go to Northwestern. Go any place where they still value the craft you wish to learn.

Indiana’s administration has made it clear that it does not, and the feeling should be mutual.

­— Alex Hickey,
Class of 2004