Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Editorial

The decision given at the April faculty meeting to remove the Russian Studies major has come after months of debate and last minute efforts on behalf of the program. Monday's decision, therefore, will certainly come as a disappointment to some students, many of whom have expressed their support for the major in the pages of this newspaper throughout the semester. While any decrease in the variety of majors of study offered at DePauw is a disappointment, we encourage students to view this decision from all angles.

This decision is an opportunity to revitalize the program. Those students interested in Russian Studies should not give up hope, but rather, try to promote the program to other students. While the student support came a little too late to prevent it's termination, it shows that there is a strong base of support. We suggest throwing that support into the strengthening of the Russian Studies minor. If the minor can be strengthened and a larger number of students express interest in the program, we believe that the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning will respond accordingly and review the program again.

Students who want Russian Studies to be the focus of their DePauw experience are still able to build their own major. Several students are currently taking this route, one specifically with a Russian Studies emphasis.

We also hope students look at CAPP's decision as warning for those programs with waning interest. With the last minute surge of support for the Russian Studies program proving to be too little too late, we hope students in less popular programs take the opportunity to strengthen and promote their fields of study. DePauw's strength as a liberal arts school lies in the variety of subjects offered. We hope the diversity in the University's curriculum is maintained, but this can only occur with continued student support.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools