To the Editor:

As an English major, I have been following the public debate about the possible elimination of several Liberal Arts majors at UW-SP.  Here are a few thoughts about the not-so-obvious benefits of social sciences/ humanities majors.

My name is Ray Nass.  I graduated from Regis College (now University), a Jesuit institution in Denver with a degree in English and double minors in History and Philosophy in 1958.  During my senior year, the Dean of Denver University’s Law School addressed our class concerning preferred undergraduate degrees in preparation for Law School.  His top three recommendations: English, English and English.  A powerful statement about the value of an English degree.

In 1959, I was awarded a graduate teaching assistantship in the Department of English at Marquette.  My career, however, took a necessary sharp turn away from academics into business.  I led my manufacturing company’s sales of healthcare capital equipment nationally for several years before being name Vice President of Sales.  Under public corporate ownership, I was named President of our division following the untimely death of my predecessor, a position I held for eighteen years, during which time we achieved the position of indisputable leadership in our market segment.  Our company was renown for innovation, quality and outstanding service.  Along the way, I was honored to have my name on several patents – not for mechanics or engineering, but for conceptualization.  I can honestly say that my English undergraduate studies, which challenged the student to evaluate multiple options and alternatives and to dream imaginatively were keys in our ability to create innovative solutions to customer problems.  My English education enabled me to plan formally, but also to effectively articulate plans and marketing strategies within and outside the company and to clearly and imaginatively explain product benefits to customers.

My son, Tim, has an English degree from Marquette.  For years, he led regional managers nationally for his company who manufactured high rise buildings and curtain wall systems.  More recently, he has served as V.P Sales for a sophisticated specialty glass manufacturing

company.  Under Tim’s watch, the company has more than quadrupled sales in a short period of time.  Tim feels the same way about what his English degree has done for him professionally as I do about mine.

Then there is the matter of respectful dialog, discourse and effective communication.  How often have we heard criticism about the inability of “techies” to communicate effectively and sensitively?  Or about the lack of courteous, civil debate among people with divergent viewpoints?  It seems to me, what is needed is more, not less, formal education in the areas of the humanities and social sciences.

Having been a longtime CEO, I understand full well that budget cuts require tough decisions.  I wonder, though, if the subjects of English and the other humanities are undervalued because they do not automatically represent occupations easily monetarily quantifiable while their not-so-obvious periphery and sophistication add those dimensions that really make a professional difference.

Here’s hoping UW-SP will find a way to salvage majors in the humanities and social sciences so the graduate will remain well-rounded technically, professionally and proficiently.

Ray Nass
Stevens Point