Music is said to be food for the soul, but students in the Music Therapy department spoke at the Student Senate meeting Monday to say music is also good for the school.

President of the Student Organization for Music Therapy, senior Rachel Benz spoke during the meeting’s Open Forum in defense of the major, asking the senate to support funding the program.

She said even though there are only 18 music therapy majors at UW-Eau Claire they are still a strong presence on campus and even more so in the Eau Claire community.

“We came here tonight to support the major because it’s not about us, it’s about the community,” she said. “It’s about all the people we reach because music therapy can make such a difference.”

Members of the community came to the meeting to show their support by sharing stories of how the program and music has become a therapeutic force in their lives.

A professor in the music department Tim Lane spoke at the meeting and said the major helps to integrate the university into the community and the healthy power of music is not underestimated.

“The music therapy is a real gem at the university because of what it represents,” he said. “We’d like to continue the 40 years of history and being able to graduate more people from the program means more outreach into the community.”

Lane said the reason for not keeping the program is strictly a money issue and hopes the Student Senate will be able to use Blugold Commitment funds to provide funding for an additional faculty position.

The last student to be included in the program, junior Amber Tappe, said just getting into the program was difficult but said the importance of the program outweighs the trouble.

“I just have such a passion for the program,” she said. “And to get people to go out and comfort those who need help and do it with music, is powerful.”

Student Senate president Dylan Jambrek said he was proud of the large turnout and the obvious support from students and the community.

“I thought the program was incorrectly cut and now we have the Blugold Commitment which has the capability to reinstate it,” he said. “Which is good because it (the Music Therapy program) is something that makes Eau Claire unique.”