October 30, 2009

MANSFIELD -- Mansfield University students voice their opposition to a planned moratorium on two foreign language majors.  They say the powers-that-be are "ruining diversity."
     “It's not possible to have a liberal arts institution without having languages,” said Mansfield student Jessical Lohmann.
     Lohmann is double-majoring in psychology and French.  She'll graduate with those degrees, but university leaders are in the process of putting a moratorium on future French and German majors, due to very low graduation rates.
     “It’s heart wrenching to have to make these decisions at these times,” said M.U. president Maravene Loeschke.
     Loeschke says the university has to cut $2.3 million from its budget as soon as possible.  She says a moratorium, rather than flat out cancellation, is a better way of handling the issue.
     “So that we have the ability to shift if things start to change,” Loeschke explained.
     “If you look at the Latin roots of 'moratorium,' it's 'death,’” said Lohmann.  “A moratorium is only a way to phase out the graduating students, and then shut down the program."
     Very few of the students at the protest Friday were actually working on a major in French and German, but they wonder if the university puts a moratorium on those two degrees -- what's next?
     “How far does this go?  In five years from now, am I going to have a degree from a university with a program that doesn't even exist anymore?” said M.U. student Jessica Cheddar.
     University leaders are working with the state system of higher education to look at other opportunities.
     “What is the reality out there in terms of the skills that are grounded in the Liberal Arts?  What skills are really needed out in the world these days?” explained Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education chancellor, Dr. John Cavanaugh.
     President Loeschke insists no other majors face moratorium right now, and the university will continue to offer introductory French and German classes.