By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News | Photo Courtesy of Utah State University

The effects of HB265 have reached Castle Country. The bill – which seeks to cut $60.5 million from the budgets of the state’s universities – has had its first casualties at Utah State University Eastern with the proposed cut of the Theatre Department at the Price Campus.

The first round of cuts came after the university merged five colleges into two. Of the initial 14 cuts, the Theatre Department is the only program impacted at the Eastern Campus. This comes as the state legislature looks to reduce what it describes as “administrative bloat.”

“We just want some answers. Why us? Why theater?” Shared Associate Professor of Theatre Design and Technology Brent Innes,” With the legacy of theater in Carbon County with USU Eastern dating back to 1939 from Carbon College days, theater is one of the original offerings outside of general education going back to early Carbon College days. So there’s a very strong legacy, and it does affect the community.”

As a whole, USU must make a total of $17.3 million in cuts, $12.6 million from HB265 and $4.7 million from previous legislative action.

A letter sent out by USU Interim President Alan L. Smith explained that these cuts were made based on different data points the legislature asked schools to consider. These include graduation rate, wage outcomes and program costs.

“This came as a surprise. Everybody on the email list, we found out at the same time from the top down to me,” said Innes. “So, after the initial gut punch and reeling from the shock of that, I was able to talk to the department head in Logan, the dean of Caine College in Logan, and Doug Miller here on campus as our associate vice president. And they all assured me that we will teach out the current degree cycle.”

This means that students in the current theater class at USUE will be able to complete their degrees at the Price Campus.

However, Questions remain about what the college will do with the theater assets. “The likely assumption is that USU Logan will take the costumes, props, furniture and other various equipment,” explained Innes. “But then we have a beautiful black box in the CIB that will just sit empty. The Geary will still get some use with community events and dance and choir and other things on campus, which is great. But what a blow.

HB265 is the largest education budget cut in a decade for the state. Entering the 2025 session of the Utah State Legislature, higher education was a primary focus of many legislators. Senate President Stuart Adams said,” We need to reallocate and rethink what we can do best in Utah and where the demands are. This is an opportunity to sit back, reevaluate and then try to refocus on high-demand areas with high-paying jobs that our employers are asking for.”

Smith’s letter concludes,” I recognize that our process is moving at a fast pace and that we often are unable to fully answer questions of a specific or logistical nature. Together, we will remain committed to navigating these changes with a focus on our students’ needs and the long-term health of USU.” He also pleads with faculty to “assume the best intentions of decision-makers.”

“Thank you for your continued support. We’ll still be here next year,” stated Innes. “And right now, we’re seeing where we can go and what we can do. And we appreciate your support.”

This is a still developing story, updates may be provided as they become available.