As a graduate student at Penn State, I am compelled for the first time in my life to become truly immersed in a cause. The University Future Committee and the Future Committee of the College of Health and Human Development have decided to eliminate the department of communication disorders. I find this decision completely unfathomable considering the history of the department and the outstanding reputation of its world-renowned faculty, not to mention the valuable services these professionals provide, and the constantly increasing need for health care services in this nation.

The department, the third oldest in the country, began 64 years ago. Since then, the department and the field have grown immensely. Penn State is one of a handful of schools in Pennsylvania certified by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. To maintain certification, students receive a first-rate education as professionals. The National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association began at Penn State to bring students in the field closer together.

The faculty here, both historically and currently, have been experts in their fields, developing tools for the profession, researching issues central to our field and publishing and presenting their findings in national and worldwide journals and conferences. Currently, one faculty member is working on a quarter of a million dollar grant to develop intervention programs for persons who use augmentative and alternative communication systems. Obviously, our faculty is not lacking in recognition, research, publications or funding. Speech pathologists perform invaluable services in our school systems, acute-care hospitals and rehabilitation centers, not to mention to the Centre County community and Penn State. Services provided include the identification and treatment of speech and language disorders in children and adults, assessment and treatment of voice and fluency disorders and the prescription of augmentative and alternative communication devices for those so severely handicapped that they cannot communicate via speech. Traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can cause loss of speech and/or language function, is a major disabler of young adults between the ages of 23 and 35 and often necessitates intervention by speech language pathologists. As well, increasing life-expectancies have caused the American population to live longer, creating a greater need for professionals trained in treating stroke victims and other speech and language impairments associated with aging. The University Speech and Hearing Clinic, located in Moore Building, provides all of these services to University students, faculty and staff, as well as the Centre County community. How can we afford to lose this program?

The numbers seem to say it all: There is a nationwide vacancy rate of 24 percent for speech pathologists and a vacancy rate in Pennsylvania of 21 percent. Graduates of Penn State make up 50 percent of the current licensed speech pathologists in Pennsylvania. This illustrates the continuing need for educated professionals in the state and the nation, as well as a crying need for high-quality training programs such as the one at Penn State.

I urge you to seriously consider the consequences of this decision to the state, our community and our campus.

If you are as outraged and disturbed about this decision as I am, I urge you to write letters to University President Joab Thomas; Executive Vice President and Provost John Brighton; Chair of the Faculty Senate James Smith and President of the Board of Trustees William Schreyer. Addresses for any of the above may be obtained by calling University information. Thank you.