MSU says reports of the music department's demise were greatly exaggerated.As News 12's Erick Lind reports, while the University is still looking for ways to save money, cutting the entire department is not in the works."Rumors started spreading around saying what's going to happen? Are we going to get cut?What are we going to do if it gets cut? People started freaking out and it became more and more of a big deal."That's freshman Evan Collins' account of the atmosphere in the MSU music department late last week when a report came out that the entire department was going to be cut for budget purposes.Department chair Karen Boubel says that isn't the case.The Masters programs will remain intact, as well as two Bachelor of Science degrees including music education and music industry.Boubel says, "We are healthy. We are strong. We are here. We will be here, so we are in the reduction mode as a possibility, but in no way do I want to use the word elimination."While some programs are in the clear, music performance undergraduate degrees may still be on the chopping block, but that's something that falls flat with the students.Music Major Eric Horn says, "We have an amazing wind ensemble here. We feed hundreds of students into the wind ensemble and symphonic bands, so I don't see how the university could rationalize cutting those programs."Graduate student Sarita Magno says, "As far as minimum/maximum in the department...there really isn't one area that can be cut with ease or not with ease."The different performance groups would be a loss of around 12-thousand students and audience members a year if cut.The good news for Collins is that he was looking at taking music education as a second major, so at least he knows he won't have to change schools.Collins adds, "It's a big sigh of relief, and I think people are starting to be more confident in this program."A program Collins feel is instrumental to the University.In Mankato, Erick Lind, News 12.