Parent asks for considerationHow sad I was about the news I heard on the closing of the ETSU Craft Shop.
Please reconsider as I feel the shop was not just a “Crafting corner.”
It gives many students a chance to vent after a long day of studies, not to mention all the sales that have turned into years of gift giving.
My children talked more about working in the craft shop than their other classes while they were in school.
Now working adults, they continue to pursue their crafts and art, only because of the ETSU Craft Shop.
They often talked how it supported itself and was a positive event in their stay at ETSU.
Thank you and please reconsider the closing.
Janice Miller

Arts offers relief from stress, helps ETSU community

Our day-to-day lives in current times can be very stressful for college students, staff, faculty and working adults.
There aren’t too many places that non-athletic, non-musical individuals can go to work off steam and life’s pressures. Fortunately, ETSU has a place you might call a haven for individuals to do just that.
Unfortunately, because of the budget-belt tightening, ETSU is now considering closing the doors to that place.
Many people, young and old alike, will be adversely effected. Please don’t let this happen.
Arts and crafts are so important to all aspects of life.
In the January 23 East Tennessean there was an article about the Craft Shop and how wonderful it was. I agree totally with the article other than to say I don’t believe it gave full justice to the Craft Shop. I hope I won’t be reading a future article about the shop’s demise.
Has anyone ever had a bad day but after playing a musical instrument, exercising or playing a sport felt better? I am sure the answer would be yes. But, what if you are not musically talented or do not have the physical capabilities to exercise or play a sport?
The Craft Shop affords that feeling to those individuals and everyone else for that matter. It lends itself to one and all.
The Craft Shop affords the community and the ETSU campus population a gathering place which supplies the environment to participate in creative and stress-relieving projects, bringing out the artistic ability and peacefulness to those who otherwise would not have the opportunity to do so.
It supplies much-needed campus jobs to students on financial aid. It draws in the community to participate in ETSU activities, thus adding to the campuswide support. These student workers better relate to those around them by assisting others – faculty, staff and the community – with their own creative projects. There are not too many other places on campus that can boast that.
It provides instruction in Appalachian crafts – something that many students would otherwise be unaware of nor would learn how to do.
The Craft Shop is a safe, healthy, secure “home” to many students where they can earn money towards their college expenses, meet friends, hang out with coworkers and “get away” from books, projects, studying and tests.
Student workers also make items for resale in the Craft Gift Shop which helps with the shop’s own financial support – it doesn’t just spend ETSU’s budget money.
Having the Craft Shop is a “win-win” situation for everyone.
Please don’t let the budget “crunch” away the ETSU Craft Shop.
Let the campus leaders know they should keep the ETSU Craft Shop open and right where it is! Don’t let them take away these arts and crafts opportunities.
Remember the old cliche: “Leave well enough alone.”
H. A. and Teresa N. Bennett

Staff member commends shop

May I take just a moment of your time to support the Craft Shop. Please do not eliminate this extremely worthwhile program.
I, as a staff member, use the Craft Shop for therapeutic reasons. Everytime I’ve been in the Craft Shop it is full of students, enjoying a craft, such as, beading, quilting, basket-making, ceramics, stained glass, floral decorations, etc.
All these crafts are a part of our Appalachian heritage and should be continued. Not to mention the fact that students are there doing crafts, being productive, building self-esteem and skills – and are not out on the streets.
Doris Hayes is to be commended. I’ve even said to her that “she must live there.” She is devoted to the students!
Our faculty, staff and visitors come to the craft classes as a complete “get away” from busy, hectic lives. Please take another look – go see for yourself, the accomplishments of the Craft Shop.
Thank you for your time, and any consideration you may give in support of the Craft Shop.
Connie Lewis

Student worker credits shop to her scholastic excelleration

I am very saddened to hear about the strong possibility of the Craft Shop closing.
I am a student worker there. It has helped me tremendously with several things.
First of all, it has given me encouragement. I always thought that I had some artistic ability, but was not good enough to make desirable pieces. I have learned otherwise while working in the shop. It has shown me my potential as well as taught me how to be more creative and artistic.
The Craft Shop has encouraged me to aim higher and enrich my major of computer science by supplementing it with a more creative area in Digital Media.
I am quite sure that the shop not only affects the student workers, but is also inspirational to anyone who comes to do crafts in the Craft Shop. It is an excellent learning environment.
Secondly, it has given me a time to wind down and relieve stress.
This is the best job that I have ever had, and it is the best job on the ETSU campus in my opinion.
It is necessary for the students (and faculty for that matter) to have something to relieve stress.
Within the school year, at some point, just about everyone experiences stress. Without some way to deal with this stress, it can cause great havoc to grades and to many other things, including health. The Craft Shop is an excellent way to at least lessen the stress and bring satisfaction to the person by doing crafts.
Thirdly, the Craft Shop is something that is unique about ETSU. It gives character and makes ETSU stand out.
I was impressed with what ETSU had to offer and the Craft Shop was one of the excellent things which made me wanted to attend school here.
It is a place where students can go to talk to others in a friendly environment while being creative. Things like that are necessary in a student’s education.
In addition, the student workers will have to find another placement somewhere. They will still have to be paid.
There should be some way to work this out so that the Craft Shop can remain a part of ETSU. It has been a part of campus for more than 25 years, and is still doing great. The shop has made some of its best sales this past year.
It is obvious that we are currently going through some budget cuts; however, I hope that another way can be found. I hope that you know how much the Craft Shop means to the students, faculty and to prospective students.
It is not just for art students. Students from all majors enjoy the Craft Shop and finds it quite educational and encouraging. It would be a terrible mistake to close the Craft Shop.
Laura Brindisi

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