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<p class=MsoNormal>Another old item - a letter concerning Oregon State's
reduction of foreign language classes, in the school's paper, The Barometer.
Has there been anything more on this story?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Letters to the Editor<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Issue date: 5/23/08 Section: Forum<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://media.barometer.orst.edu/media/storage/paper854/news/2008/05/23/Forum/Letters.To.The.Editor-3375215.shtml">http://media.barometer.orst.edu/media/storage/paper854/news/2008/05/23/Forum/Letters.To.The.Editor-3375215.shtml</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Foreign Language and Literatures classes<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Pressured to reduce class offerings<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>As you might know if you caught our Tower of Babble
installation in the MU Lounge on Tuesday, May 13, this year was designated by
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as
the International Year of Languages.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Yet, at this time when the needs for international
cooperation and multilingualism are stronger than ever, OSU's Department of
Foreign Languages and Literatures is pressured to dramatically reduce its class
offerings for next fall. Because of inadequate funding, we have to close
sections in all languages, and it appears that first-year Italian will be
eliminated, despite its enormous popularity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Students will find it increasingly difficult to register for
language classes, a situation which deeply upsets the whole faculty and staff
of this department.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Furthermore, since most language classes are offered in
sequence and only once a year, underfunding will make it even harder for
students who need to complete foreign language requirements to graduate on
time. It also means larger class sizes and less personal attention, factors
that are especially detrimental to learning languages.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>This situation is all the more absurd since the Department
of Foreign Languages and Literatures makes money for the university. Under a
budgeting model where tuition dollars follow the students, we see that Foreign
Languages' finances are completely in order: we generate more money than we
need to operate at current capacity. Instead of which, through the use of an
unfair budget model, we find ourselves with a deficit of $250,000 and
threatened with job losses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>We simply ask for the funds to complete our public service
mission of teaching languages to students, as mandated by the Oregon
Legislature. So are foreign languages important at OSU or is it just a
pretense? Is this the International Year of Languages or is it the year we get
cut?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Signed by the following Foreign Languages and Literatures
faculty members:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Faiza Al-Saaidi, Christopher Baldridge, Anuncia Escala,
Kayla Garcia, Kathy Girsch, Karim Hamdy, Armelle Hofer, Alan Kalter, Brenda
McCullough, Setsuko Nakajima, Fumiko Nakamura, Erika Nava, Angela Palacios,
Lucia Robelo, Julieta Vitullo, Ana Warren, Dawn Westbrook, Guy Wood.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>**************************** Disclaimer
******************************<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code
Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and
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permission from the copyright owner.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the
accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of
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<p class=MsoNormal>**********************************************************************<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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