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• Language: unknown
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Norway; Pacific; Vian; Iceland
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16921coll4/id/8763

news Slicing the heart and roots by half Cuts in Scandinavian Studies/Norwegian department hinder student opportunities The Concoidia logo with flag? of the Nordic countries: Norway Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. BY MARIE KURTH AND KARA COOK For the past month the Scandinavian de-partment has been feverishly trying to rally students and alumni to reverse the admin-istration's decision to cut the deparment by 50 percent. The cuts, scheduled to begin fall 2006, will reduce the Scandinavian department to one facility member responsible for devel-oping and maintaining programs and cours-es for Norwegian, and Scandinavian Studies minors, and Scandinavian Studies majors. Instead of offering the 12 courses shown in the catalog, six will" now be available each year—all of which are introductory Norwe-gian language courses. All Scandinavian Studies courses, including Nordic Myth, Scandinavian Folklore and The Age of Ibsen, will need to be taken as independent study. All majors will possibly be required to attend Hedmark College in Norway to take introductory courses taught in English about Norwegian culture. Dean of Concordia Mark Krejci said cuts were made in several departments in order to make the new curriculum changes work. Since Scandinavian Studies has shown a recent decrease in the number of majors and minors (the department currently has 21 majors and minors), it seemed realistic to cut. Krejci said student numbers have been declining steadily over the past decades but hopes program changes will work to improve student involvement. By encour-aging a study abroad option and making Norwegian 211 more of a global studies course examining modern Scandinavia, Krejci feels more students will participate in the department The Scandinavian department and students involved in the department disagree. Chair and Associate Professor of Scandinavian Studies and Norwegian Rune Engebretsen feels such drastic cuts will be detrimental to a quality program dedicated to cultural awareness. He said tearing down a program in order to make it better doesn't make sense. "It amazes me that the college wants to cut a solid liberal arts program that reflects and promotes the heartbeat of the college motto and is so central to the roots of our college history," Engebretsen said. "Every year that goes by will weaken the program." He doesn't know how Concordia will be able to compete for students considering a Scandinavian degree when institutions like St. Olaf, Gustavus Adolphus and Pacific Lu-theran continue to supporting and promote excellent programs. "Well be offering degree assurances that just can't be fulfilled," Engebretsen said. "Sure, a Scandinavian major might be theo-retically possible, but not feasible." Engebretsen worries about the course options Scandinavian minors and majors will have. Already the history and philoso-phy departments have indefinitely removed their Scandinavian courses regarding immigration, settlement and Kierkegaard and he doesn't feel students should be forced to study abroad, especially when the department isn't convinced that the courses offered are appropriate. The new cuts will also remove the most popular and well-at-tended Scandinavian courses and make multiple independent studies necessary for a major, which Engebretsen considers a "pedagogically absurd and irresponsible" move on the part of the administration. Junior linnea Duffiis is a Scandinavian Studies minor and feels slighted by the administration's resort to this easy-way-out approach to classes. "I have never had an actual Scandina-vian Studies class: I*ve had to fulfill all the requirements through independent study because they weren't offered as a class," Duffus said. "I feel like I would gain a better understanding of what I'm learning through an actual class setting." The lack of class variety and availabil-ity also worries Junior Sarah Wassberg, a Scandinavian Studies major. "It jeopardizes my ability to finish my major," she said. "The reason I chose Concordia was because of the Scan studies program. If I had known the program was in decline I would have gone to St Olaf." Engebretsen, as well as students, believe revamping some of the current courses to focus on modern Scandinavian culture would help revitalize student interest, as would cross-listing the courses to count in other majors depending on the topic of the course. The overall lack of communication and discussion has been very disappointing to the department and students, who feel that for a college built on ideals, ideas and dialogue, little has been done to promote understanding and discourse on the topic. "I have not been a part of this process," Engebretsen said. "No faculty committee has discussed it, nor has the Scandinavian department been involved in discussions." The uncertainty of the Scandinavian Studies program's future has left many wondering how important and appreci-ated our Norwegian history really is, not to mention how vital the administration feels discussion is to resolving issues directly affecting students. "It feels like Concordia doesn't fully understand the importance of Scandinavian Studies," Wassberg said, "in terms of both a global world view and as a part of the college's heritage." CECILY HEWES Planning to quit smoking after college? The odds are against you Research shows most students who say they'll quit smoking right after college.can't. For help, call (888) 354-PLAN