Video: Terminated UNI Programs Mourned at Funeral For Academics

About 100 people, many clad in black, marched across the campus today before gathering at the base of the Campanile to mourn the demise of 58 academic programs slated for closure.

Faculty and students gave eulogies expressing their grief at what was being lost.

"I don't believe anybody here today is ready to say goodbye to our beloved professors and programs," Nicole Shepard, a senior financing major, said.

Black and purple balloons, weighted down with books, surrounded the crowd, as well as "tombstones" with the names of and a bunch of red roses.

A tombstone for was broken and cast aside to demonstrate fighting for their school.

History graduate student Christopher Shackelford read poetry about the university by local poet James Hearst.

"I think it was really important for this to happen," he said after the ceremony. "It's the human aspect that's the most important."

At the end of the event, history graduate student Kelly Rouchka played "Taps" to the silent crowd as balloons were released into the sky.