Spring Break
Basilians support current core
Fathers express concern regarding removal of theology, philosophy minimums
Abby Haun
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Front Page
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Although a proposal by the Core Curriculum Reform Committee has not yet been made, the letter was posted in early April because the CCRC encouraged open and public debate on the issue, and because the University community was curious about the Basilians' opinion, Barringer said in an e-mail. The Basilian fathers declined to comment further.
A draft proposal of a revised core curriculum will be presented to the University community May 5, according to an e-mail sent by President Robert Ivany on April 17. Although the official presentation of a proposal to the UST board of directors was set for its June 26 meeting, it has been pushed back until the Oct. 24 meeting at the request of Vice President of Academic Affairs John Hittinger and Dean of Arts and Sciences Dominic Aquila, the e-mail said.
Members of the CCRC declined to comment.
According to their letter, the Basilian fathers believe that "the best" theology and philosophy are required for leaders of faith and character to navigate the secular world, and that, to reduce the hours currently required, would change the nature of the University from "an institution that combines liberal arts with preparing students for professional careers to an institution that prepares students for professional careers and adds a weakened core curriculum that cannot achieve the very important goal for which it exists."
The letter emphasizes the importance of the humanities in the core, and that further unity and integration among all core courses is required to more closely follow the ideal curriculum described by pope John Paul II in Ex corde ecclesiae, the 1990 document that describes his vision of what a Catholic university should encompass.