To the editor:

I was pleased to see the Journal-World editorial on April 2 regarding the disbanding of the Fine Arts Advisory Board coincident with the dismantling of the Kansas University School of Fine Arts. The members have been faithful and devoted to the various fine arts programs in the school. In addition to the functions pointed out in the editorial, the board deserves recognition for having originally lobbied successfully regarding the need for a performing arts hall at KU and for having subsequently played a major role in the planning and funding activities that led to the realization of the Lied Center.

It is not without irony that the Lied Center is being moved to the Office of the Provost, “in recognition of the center’s role as a universitywide asset,” since it was the outcome of the success of the school, its faculty and its students. One hopes that it fares better, and longer, in this new organizational environment than did the support for faculty/staff ticket discounts (J-W front page, April 2).

The editorial was also welcome as a recognition that these changes are taking place. Since the first official press release of six or more months ago, the silence has been deafening — not only regarding the loss of a school which has served the arts proudly for nearly 120 years, but also in support of the establishment of a new and, one hopes, successful School of Music. The arts in this community deserve more and better.