2008 Woodie Awards
Elimination of German Program?
Letter to the Editor
Craig Kurumada
Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
It is my understanding that the German program at Humboldt State is in danger of elimination. As an employee of Humboldt State and a holder of a Bachelor of Arts in both German and linguistics, I feel this would be a strategic mistake. Far more preferable would be reductions such as a hiring freeze or cuts to budgets distributed over several programs. My belief is that, in better economic times, it would be easier to restore active programs to their full funding or unfreeze hiring than to restart an entire program. Also, exchange programs such as the one with Halle, Germany, would have to be moth-balled, perhaps never to be revived. If so, it would require yet more work and energy devoted to re-inventing a wheel.
In principle, the elimination of any language program is a serious mistake in the long-term planning of the education of our national work force. With the unspoken understanding that Germany, Austria and Switzerland constitute the major economic force within the European Union, it is erroneous to limit language access by our graduates to this force. In general, citizens of the United States are notorious for having little or no foreign language experience or knowledge. Elimination of the German program advances this negative trait.
I urge Dean Robert Snyder of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences to please consider options other than eliminating the German program.
Craig Kurumada
Arcata, CA
In principle, the elimination of any language program is a serious mistake in the long-term planning of the education of our national work force. With the unspoken understanding that Germany, Austria and Switzerland constitute the major economic force within the European Union, it is erroneous to limit language access by our graduates to this force. In general, citizens of the United States are notorious for having little or no foreign language experience or knowledge. Elimination of the German program advances this negative trait.
I urge Dean Robert Snyder of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences to please consider options other than eliminating the German program.
Craig Kurumada
Arcata, CA
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
MasDL
Mason Long
posted 5/02/07 @ 5:58 PM PST
I agree. As a German major, I am saddened that people like myself, who may have never considered German as a major before attending HSU, may lose the opportunity to study such a rich and beautiful language that has changed my life in so many ways. (Continued…)
cesar rivera-angel
posted 5/02/07 @ 6:29 PM PST
Before coming to Humboldt State, i never in my wildest dreams did i ever think i would go to Germany. Last summer in 2006, i went on the trip to Halle, Germany. (Continued…)
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