It's about the Arts, stupid...

I've been reading the coverage on the new stimulus bill, which is now in the Senate, with a mixture of anticipation and dread. On the one hand, I'm amazed at the amount of hand holding Obama's been doing with the Republicans. I'm sure that we can all agree that the current financial crisis is certainly equivalent to the crisis of 9/11, and in that aftermath, Bush most certainly did not reach out to the Democrats -- let alone the Republicans. Do we really think the Senate minority will filibuster what is most likely the most necessary piece of legislation in recent history? No, I do not -- I think that they are trying to score cheap points now, which they can cash in later down the road when they're running for re-election.

One of their whipping boys is, of course, funding for the arts. This particular topic is highly sensitive around Boston these days -- see the Brandeis threat* to close and sell off $350 million worth of art to cover a budget shortfall -- and, in particular, with me. The horrible economy has finally trickled down to my (admittedly small) rung of the ladder. I'm now heading into the second semester of my graduate years, of which there have been many, that I have not been hired to teach either as an adjunct or an instructor.

This brings me back to my original point: why would anyone cut funding for the arts? There are examples too numerous to recount here in total, but suffice to say that the flowering of Rome, Florence, Vienna, Paris and London all had their attending artistic movements.** Now, whether those movements were funded directly by the government is not the point; people spend money on the arts, and that is precisely we need.

I'm not arguing that the Arts Alone Will Save Us (worst action movie, ever!). So, why don't we hit the problem where it started, with the houses. Allegedly, we have scores of houses just rotting out in neighborhoods across the country...the longer these houses sit, the harder it is to sell them, and the local government collects even less taxes, and the local schools get hit harder than before so that they have to cut music and art classes -- look at how easy that was cut arts funding!

Here's my solution: why don't we take 3 million (or billion) dollars, which we're doling out like candy anyway, and pay small teams of men -- and women -- to rehabilitate these houses: mow the lawn; clean the property; paint the front doors...not only do we prepare the houses to sell, which generates local taxes, but also we spread some income throughout these teams of workers out painting/cleaning & mowing.

Just my two cents...



* I'm including the latest letter from our President in its entirety to see if you can parse his meaning.

Dear Members of the Brandeis community:

The past ten days have been extremely difficult for all of us. I have heard from many of you and listened carefully to your criticisms and constructive suggestions. I have read every message on the faculty list serve, and the thoughtful letter sent to me by a group of faculty last night. I have also heard from students, staff, alumni, university presidents and complete strangers about my statements regarding the vote by the Board of Trustees concerning the Rose Art Museum.

In retrospect, I wish I had handled the initial statements I made in a far more direct way. Unfortunately, those statements did not accurately reflect the Board’s decision authorizing the administration to conduct “an orderly sale or other disposition of works from the university’s collection.” The statements gave the misleading impression that we were selling the entire collection immediately, which is not true. The University may have the option, subject to applicable legal requirements and procedures, to sell some artworks if necessary, but I assure you that other options will also be considered. The Museum will remain open, but in accordance with the Board’s vote, it will be more fully integrated into the University’s central educational mission. We will meet with all affected University constituencies to explore together how this can best be done.

I regret as well that I did not find a more inclusive and open way to engage the Brandeis community in the deliberations that led to the Board’s decision.

I take full responsibility for causing pain and embarrassment in both of these matters. To quote President Obama, “I screwed up.”

Having learned from this experience, I will do my best, as will the entire administration, to work together with all of you in a collaborative manner. We must cooperate as we move forward to confront our financial crisis. But we also have to take bold steps. Obviously, we have many tasks ahead of us regarding the curriculum and the budget.

In meetings with members of the faculty and with students in the past few days, I have been heartened by the enormous reservoir of good will, imagination and willingness to work hard to guarantee that Brandeis will continue to thrive as a first-rate institution of higher learning.

Sincerely,

Jehuda Reinharz

** I also think the correlative works too: the last eight years saw the rise in pretty crappy entertainment -- i.e., the proliferation of reality TV -- and a similar nadir in public service/government.