Yesterday the White House appointed Jim Leach to head the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The NEH is the nation's largest funding body for the humanities. The New York Times article that reported the appointment quotes Leach stating his support for the NEH.
Leach is described as a liberal Republican. He teaches at Princeton.
The Chronicle of Higher Education suggests that Obama's choice of a Republican will likely help push through his proposal to increase NEH funding from $155 million to $171 million. If that proposal is approved, it would reverse the decades-long trend of real terms budget erosion for the NEH.
When I was an undergraduate in philosophy ('94-'99) and a Master's student in English ('02-'04), the outlook for people in the Humanities was bleak at best. People didn't talk about a lack of growth - they talked about how fast the discipline was shrinking. This appointment doesn't make all that go away, but it is pleasant to see those in power renew their appreciation for what people in the humanities have to offer.
1 comment:
i just learned that "comparative religion" is one of many "humanities" as defined by the NEH. now i want to know what "comparative religion" is because it sounds rad.
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