The time is now to take specific action to support the effort to save the music therapy program.

UPDATE: Individual MSU administrative staff, including Dean Forger from the MSU College of Music, set forth actions that resulted in a moratorium on music therapy student admissions this summer. Prior to the moratorium the College of Music systematically began turning away prospective music therapy students and cancelling auditions. The administration is pushing through the formal disbandment of the program.

We need you to choose one or more tasks to act upon immediately! The first Music Therapy degree program in the world (est. 1944) must not be disbanded.

  1. ALL MTs need to contact the MSU Board of Trustee members (at least 3), Provost Wilcox, and President Simon (click here to contact the MSU administration) with strong statements calling for the preservation of the MSU MT Program, questioning the moratorium and the proposed disbandment at a time when sound music therapy by properly trained professionals is in demand in medicine, education, geriatric care, Hospice, wellness, etc.
  2. MSU Alumni call and email at least 3 MSU Board of Trustees, the Provost, and President to tell them they are disappointed and ashamed to be an alumni of MSU, that they will stop their personal financial support for the College of Music and the University, and that they want the moratorium lifted immediately.
  3. ALL MT’s recruit family, friends, MT consumers/client family members to express their disapproval to the Trustees, Provost, & President immediately! Tell them not to hesitate.
  4. ALL supporters contact at least 3 media sources (click here to contact the media) via phone and email. State how disappointed they are in how MSU has handled this situation (alumni state how embarrassed and ashamed they are of MSU) and how short-sighted their vision is of the future needs of our citizens.

NEXT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29th & 30TH

  1. Attend the RALLY to SAVE THE MSU Music Therapy Program 8:30-6:00p.m. at the MSU Administration Building. PRIME TIMES ARE 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. to greet the Trustees as they enter their pre-board meeting planning session & 4:00 – 6:00p.m. WE NEED EVERY HOUR COVERED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. (See the Save the MSU Music Therapy Program Facebook page for more details). The media will be present!
  1. Recruit 1 to 3 client/client family members, citizens, etc. to ATTEND THE RALLY. WE HAVE PLACED A PRIORITY ON RECRUITING THE LARGEST CROWD FOR THIS RALLY.
  1. ATTEND THE MSU Board of Trustee Meeting Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 from 9:00a.m. to Noon. We are hoping to get ON their agenda and we’re lining up people to speak. We need supporters to flood the room! Recruit clients/client family members and other supporters to join us!!

MSU must not abandon their leadership responsibilities!

For immediate questions contact Jody Wilfong jodylynn2@charter.net 810 836-1564, Ginny Anderson flute_music422@hotmail.com 517 214-2716, Rebecca West rebecca.west.mtbc@gmail.com 248 909-3675 or Angie Snell snell@chartermi.net 734 693-2763