A former Miss America has disagreed with an Arkansas politician after he publicly criticized University of Arkansas at Little Rock for putting up a billboard touting its dance program.
Sen. Bart Hester wrote on Twitter: ‘Why higher ed does NOT need increase funding. They lease a sign to encourage computer science degrees or math teachers? No they push for dance majors. Lots of hardworking Arkansans subsidizing this! Not ok @UALR.’
Savvy Shields, who danced to jazz music on her way to the 2017 Miss America title, was less than impressed and fired back at the real estate businessman arguing that society needs both entertainers and engineers to move forward.
Miss America Savvy Shields, a University of Arkansas art major pictured here in September 2016, disagreed with an Arkansas politician after he publicly criticized University of Arkansas at Little Rock for putting up a billboard touting its dance program
Shields wondered why the state had to choose. ‘In the Renaissance, we had the growth of both the sciences and the arts,’ she said in an interview Thursday night.
Hester, a Republican from Cave Springs, said arts programs are important but shouldn’t deter from developing highly skilled professionals.
‘We are starving for an educated workforce,’ Hester said. ‘A state school should be supporting the needs of the state on a priority basis.’
Sen. Bart Hester publicly criticized University of Arkansas at Little Rock for putting up a billboard touting its dance program by posting a photo on Twitter (picture here)
Savvy Shields, who danced to jazz music on her way to the 2017 Miss America title, was less than impressed and fired back at the real estate businessman arguing that society needs both entertainers and engineers to move forward
College advertising sprouts every midwinter, as schools hope to attract high school seniors. UALR’s series of billboards include one showing a dancer and the words ‘Dance Major’ and ‘Unlimited pathways. Close to home.’
Shields, an art major at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, said investments in the arts run to the millions of dollars. At the time the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in 2011 – eight miles from Hester’s home town – it was revealed that the Walton Family Foundation had set up $800 million in endowments.
‘The arts influence everything without you realizing it – advertising, graphic design, marketing, the clothes you pick out,’ she said. Even telephones, once they’re engineered, are fine-tuned for their aesthetics, she said.
Savvy Shields, a University of Arkansas art major, is pictured here dancing at the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, N.J. in September 2016
Hester, who played baseball for the University of Arkansas, said he hadn’t seen any number of billboards that promote public college sporting events.
‘At the end of the day, the universities can spend their money how they want to,’ he said. ‘They’re saying they don’t have enough money, but they want to spend it on things that are not clearly a priority for the state right now. … As legislators, we debate on what a priority for spending is.’
Arkansas legislators will begin work Monday on next year’s budget.
Arkansas state Sen. Bart Hester is pictured here at the state Capitol in Little Rock in February 2015