University of Iowa should restore Hancher funding

We hope the University of Iowa will revisit and reverse its decision to eliminate all general education funding from Hancher Auditorium. (The Gazette July 10).

Hancher's evolution to become the "University's largest classroom laboratory" for the performance of creative work arises from and returns to a fundamental and distinguishing part of Iowa's educational mission.

Temporary reduction in Hancher support, along with other units, to meet the exigencies of a crisis was understandable. Permanent removal of all institutional support would cut the legs from historic understandings underpinning millions of federal and private dollars awarded to restore Hancher as a vital part of the university's arts campus following the 2008 flood.

These funds did not come to an isolated community performance venue, but to the State University of Iowa, known to have raised up and celebrated creative work as a high ideal of its educational mission. In the aftermath of the Great Depression, Iowa became the nation's first to accept creative work in lieu of a thesis. In so doing, it broke ground for an entirely new educational field and degree recognition.

Hancher brings irreplaceable national and international recognition in this tradition. Going forward, clear and consistent institutional funding would provide the necessary financial stability, to be multiplied many times over through foundation, individual donor and public support.

We hope the University will rethink and begin to restore Hancher's institutional funding.

Derek and Pam Willard

Iowa City