Portuguese minor cut
Along with other programs, the Portuguese minor program is being cut, but it is not due to a lack of popularity.
Recent statistics show that currently 224 students are declared Portuguese minors, yet it has been announced that the Portuguese minor program will be suspended, effective Spring Semester 2004, due to budget cuts.
“Our reason for doing so is entirely pedagogic,” said Charlie Huenemann, department head of languages and philosophy.
Huenemann explained that there are nearly as many Portuguese minors as Spanish minors. However, he said Spanish must take priority.
“If we had the faculty to staff more upper division classes in Portuguese, we would have a very robust program indeed,” he said. “But we do not have this faculty. The very few faculty members who can teach Portuguese are devoted to handling the bottle-necks in Spanish.”
The Portuguese program currently has more declared minors than all other foreign languages combined, excluding Spanish. That includes French, German, Japanese, Russian and Chinese.
This fall’s schedule was reduced from three Portuguese classes to one, making it a bottle-neck class itself. Registration for this semester was increased for that one section to seat 45 students. An additional 35 students put their names on a waiting list.
“We get anywhere from 50 to 75 students coming in every semester wanting to get credits and take classes in Portuguese,” Suzann Winn, secretary in the department of languages and philosophy said. “Our department would love to build the program, but have not been able to because of budget cuts.”
Students have expressed their concern for this program and their desire to pursue their education in it.
“The student interest has gathered momentum faster than any of us has expected,” Huenemann said.
Kristen Stringham, senior in management and human resources said, “I was surprised [that the program was being dropped]. I was really disappointed because it’s important to have it at Utah State for those that want it. It’s a great opportunity to use a language and make it useful.”
Clay Brown, freshman in business administration, agreed.
“With all of the people interested, they should keep the program,” Brown said.
A group of students discussed their hopes Tuesday to maintain or build, not drop, the program at USU.
Marcus Winn, senior in business administration said, “The concern is for future students.”
Jason Campbell, senior in graphic design, said, “We want to save the Portuguese program.”
Gabe White, student senator of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, said, “One thing I’ve noticed to be helpful are concerned students being willing to contact administration.”
Campbell explained that for several years various faculty and students have expressed a similar desire.
“We’d like to start a Latin American Studies program to incorporate Portuguese and Spanish without having to eliminate one, and it would also increase interest in the Portuguese program,” Campbell said.
The group discussed the viability of such a program and the necessity of Brazilian studies and the Portuguese language as being essential in gaining a thorough understanding of every aspect of Latin American society.
“We are doing everything we can to accommodate students’ interests in obtaining their minor, and to channel their interests in Portuguese in constructive directions,” Huenemann said.
The department of languages and philosophy will continue to grant the minor to students who declared their Portuguese minor prior to Spring Semester 2004, and – as exceptional cases – also to any student who takes Portuguese 3040 in the spring.
-julia@cc.usu.edu