The ax came down on the philosophy major at University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) this past Friday.

The decision followed a public discussion in which professors, students, and alumni urged the Nebraska Board of Regents not to cut the major, which was being targeted for elimination owing to low enrollment and graduation numbers, which may have been due to changes to the general education requirements and course poaching by other departments.

According to The Kearney Hub, UNK graduate Matthew Duffy, a teacher, was one of the people to speak in support of the philosophy major:

I’m here because an institution that has done me incalculable good is being threatened with destruction. Smother the philosophy department at UNK, and you smother an institution that has brought and continues to bring purpose, direction and illumination to people’s lives. The work carried on in this department is rare and it is precious.

There will still be philosophy courses and a philosophy minor at UNK.