If you have not heard, the Center for Black Music Research (CBMR) at Columbia College in Chicago may be eliminated because of lack of funding.
If you click on the link below, you will find a statement providing more details. At the end of the statement, there is a sample letter that individuals can use they would like to send communication to Columbia College administrators requesting that they find ways to save CBMR.
http://www.soul4sale.org/2012/
For additional information, please read the following:
-----Original Message-----
From: Nelson-Strauss, Brenda [mailto:bnelsons@INDIANA.EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2012 11:18 AM
Subject: Chicago's Center for Black Music Research targeted for elimination
Yesterday the Chicago Tribune ran an article by Howard Reich, "A Blow to Black Music in Chicago," outlining Columbia College Interim Provost Louise Love's recommendations to eliminate a number of programs, including the Center for Black Music Research and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Another report was released yesterday by Columbia College:
http://columbiachronicle.com/i
As Reich points out, "No other institution on the planet studies, archives, documents, disseminates, records and performs music from the vast diaspora of African-American culture as comprehensively as the Center for Black Music Research. And precious few ensembles in America regularly perform jazz orchestral works - historic and brand new - as brilliantly or innovatively as the Chicago Jazz Ensemble." In addition to archival holdings and many fine publications, the CBMR has also hosted conferences in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, St. Louis, and Trinidad and Tobago, and recently organized symposiums on Michael Jackson and Ray Charles.
Part of the problem seems to lie in Columbia College's administrative structure- the CBMR and CJE fall under the Office of Academic Research, rather than the Music Department. Perhaps saner minds will prevail now that the report has been made public, and the programs will be folded into the Music Department. Meanwhile, anyone wishing to write letters in support of the CBMR can address them to:
Louise Love, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs/Interim Provost llove@colum.edu<mailto:llove@c
Eliza Nichols, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Fine & Performing Arts
enichols@colum.edu<mailto:enic
And here is the link to the main CBMR website: http://www.colum.edu/CBMR//ind
Brenda Nelson-Strauss
Archives of African American Music & Culture Indiana University
2805 E. 10th Street, Suite 180
Bloomington, IN 47408
www.blackgrooves.org<http://ww
http://www.indiana.edu/~aaamc/
bnelsons@indiana.edu<mailto:bn