It's a shame to think that Core, as we know it today, could possibly be erased from the Arts and Letters curriculum. I, like many of my fellow sophomore classmates, dreaded the year-long University requirement deemed to be a "waste of time." As this semester has passed by, however, Core has become my favorite class. It is the epitome of a liberal arts education, and when taught properly, can transform a class of strangers into a forum of purposeful discussion. I love how our class has no distinct path and how the books differ in their themes and ideas. It is a reflection of the type of education we were all drawn to when we came to Notre Dame. This will all be lost if Core is refocused to center on a single major or genre of writing. The faculty should welcome this broad teaching style and accept the frightening possibility that they might lack knowledge in a certain field. The Core discussion format allows the professor to learn along with the students, and places the professor in the unfamiliar position of listener and observer. All too often, I hear the moans of Core students and their loathing of required readings, but there is a common acceptance underneath the pages and papers. We all know that our views and opinions on religion, poverty, love and, ultimately, life have somehow been influenced by something we've read or discussed in Core. The changes that the Core faculty council could make will not affect our present classes, but I would hate to see future students denied the same opportunity to grow in an atmosphere free of limits.
Lauren GebauersophomoreFarley HallDec. 3
