Faculty Approves New Core

c Volume 8, Number G College At Lincoln Center, Fordham University, New York November S-November 18, 1386 Faculty Approves New Core By Mary Kay Linge with Lisa Volpe separate sections for adult- and traditional-entry drawn up. One problem that was raised at a closed Philosophy." students. faculty meeting on October J4 was the lack of any Also, task force members say that the curricu- The CLC faculty has approved the proposed The curriculum was devised by the Mellon requirement for philosophy or religious studies. lum will be adapted to some demands as it is being core curriculum in a referendum, according to a Committee, later called the Core Curriculum Task "We're supposed to be the Jesuit College of New implemented. "It was presented to us as a work- York, and yet we have a core curriculum for liberal memorandum from CLC Dean William Tanksley. Force, a group made up of faculty representatives ing proposal," said Assistant Professor of Philos- from each division. "We were under great pressure arts that has no philosophy and no religious ophy Dr. Astrid O'Brien. "It's not going to be The vote was 52 in favor, eight opposed, with one to come up with a unified core," said Task Force studies," said Associate Professor of Sociology and carved in stone... I don't know if I'm satisfied with blank ballot. Twenty faculty members did not vote. Chairperson Dr. Leonard Nissim. According to Director of the Business Program Fr. Thomas it, but I'm willing to take a chance on it." McDonald. "Who are we kidding? It looks like The new curriculum, which now -must be Curriculum Committee Chairperson Dr. Stewart Although some faculty members expressed con- we're trying to set up secular humanism as a Jesuit approved by President Rev. Joseph A. O'Hare, Guthrie, who was not a member of the task force, fusion about the curriculum or said that they had tradition rather than liberal arts courses." S.J., and the Board of Trustees, would create a "I think [the faculty] recognized that the Adminis- felt excluded from the deliberations on it, others single entry program for all CLC students. The tration at Rose Hill was virtually demanding a Task force members, however, contend that said that there had been discussions on the core 52-credit core would include two interdisciplinary unified core curriculum.. .We didn't have a great these areas will be covered in the interdisciplinary within each division for months. "Every division courses, math, writing, and science requirements, deal of choice." and capstone seminars. "The capstone seminar had representatives on the committee whose job area requirements, and a final capstone seminar. Even though the curriculum passed by a wide deals in ethics," said task force member Dr. Barry it was to keep their colleagues informed," said Although the Excel Division would no longer margin, faculty members were not without objec- Goldberg, •". and the Language and Knowing Nissim. "No one was unaware that there was a Task exist, the first 28 credits of the core would have tion to the proposal and to the way in which it was course certainly draws upon people from continued on page 3 Council Prepares "Stage Two" O'Hare Speaks With Students For Strategic Planning By Lisa Volpe 1985. (For further breakdown, see chart.) Tanksley stressed the need for elections to the At the October 20th College Council meeting, Excel and Bridge Committees "as soon as possi- CLC Dean William Tanksley outlined the future ble if the [Core Curriculum] proposal is approved." of strategic planning at CLC, announcing plans for Tanksley said the elections would take place before increased student input. Final fall enrollment University President Rev. Joseph A. O'Hare and figures and the new.core curriculum administrative the Boara of Trustees formally approve the pro- structures were also discussed. posed curriculum. "We need to put the superstruc- Tanksley referred to the next step of the strategic ture in place," said Tanksley. "If they disapprove planning process as "Stage Two." During "Stage [the proposal], we can take U [the structure] down." Two," task force members will meet with Tanksley According to a memorandum distributed at the to discuss changes which the University can begin meeting, day student representative Sal Conte has to implement. "We're being encouraged to move vacated his seat on the Council. Since there was forward." Tanksley said, "rather than-wait for the no first runner-up from the "85-'87 election in rest of the University to catch up with CLC" •which Conte ran. the Council voted to fill the posi- According to Tanksley, the other colleges at tion with the '86-'88 runner-up, Luis Dizon. Ac- Fordham University do not expect to put together cording to Assistant Dean Ully Hirsch, Dizon will a preliminary draft on strategic planning "until next be completing Conte's term until 1987, when a new spring." representative will be elected. "It would be silly for us to 'sit on our hands' for There were few student representatives present a whole year," Tanksley said. at the meeting, prompting Humanities Division In response to a recent USG petition for in- Chairperson Rev. John J. Adam S.J. to ask, "Were Fr. O'Hare Displays Model Of CLC Dorm creased student input in the planning process, the students notified that there was a meeting to- Tanksley called for the task forces to "develop a day?" Fr. Adam went on to say that, due to the By Ian Baer and Jacqueline Hartman the biggest obstacle facing the construction of a plan to involve students.. .to help implement and absence of an agenda until the start of the meeting, residential hall for CLC is "the West Side com- make decisions" during "Stage Two." "It is in the students should not be penalized for their absence Father Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J. addressed the munity's concern with the density of development interests of the college, the students, and Univer- that day. The majority of the Council agreed, also CLC community in an Open Forum sponsored by in the Lincoln Center area." He noted that plans sity planning to involve the students," Tanksley stating that students would be reminded in advance the United Student Government on October 22. for Donald Trump's Television City project, as well said. "There's everything to be gained by it." about the meetings. When questioned by one student on CLC's as the Lincoln Center North building, have Tanksley also announced the 1986 fall enroll- enrollment decline. O'Hare said that while com- hindered chances for speedy approval of the dorm ment figures from the Registrar's Office. Total The next College Council meeting will be held petitors advertise "more aggressively and more at- proposal. Additionally, he said that as a result of enrollment for CLC as of September 16, 1986 is on Thursday, November 6th in the 12th Floor tractively," the problem of declining enrollment Lincoln Center's extension, the Urban Renewal Act 2,137 students-a drop of 116 students since Fall Faculty Lounge. among high school-entry students is one faced by has been changed, making it impossible for CLCs all New York colleges. He expressed particular dorms to be approved before a six-to-ten-month concern- with the drop in non-traditionally aged waiting period. students, and said that he hoped the new cur- As for an in-dorm infirmary. O'Hare said that riculum plans would attract more adults to CLC. while one would be provided (as required by law), While he said that construction of dormitories the extensiveness of the facility would be con- would greatly enrich the CLC community, he sidered in light of the proximity of St. Lukes- added that. "If we had a dormitory on this cam- Roosevelt Hospital. pus tomorrow., it would not solve the problem of In regard to the possibility of a theater being in- enrollment." corporated into the dorm. O'Hare said there are On the subject of dormitories. O'Hare said that continued on page 11 Curran vs. The Church: Will Fordham Feel The Effects? By Maria Brading keeping in mind Catholic tradition," claims that he Religious Studies William Cenkner. "You have to arguments should be "proposed as hypothesis" and has the right to disagree with the Church on cer- have a variety of opinion between theologians and not. as he sees Fr. Curran doing, "confidentlv The Roman Catholic Church in the United States tain issues, including abortion, divorce, and the Church" because it contributes to the "growth claiming that what the Catholic Church teaches is has often been criticized by the Vatican for being homosexuality, because these "are matters of or- and development of the Church." Questioning the erroneous." too liberal, but only recently has this criticism led dinary, non-infallible teaching, not matters of Church's teachings "is what university theology is Fr. Curran. a tenured professor, has been effec- to any real action. divine and Catholic faith." He believes that non- all about." he said. tively barred from teaching theology at Catholic infallible teachings must be respected but not Fordham University President Rev. Joseph A. University because the theology department at the This year a Professor of Moral Theology at the necessarily believed by Catholics because they arc O'Hare S.J. said, "in a Catholic University, school is under the direct authority of the Vatican, Catholic University of America. Rev. Charles E. subject to error. (Non-infallible (cachings arc those theologians have to respect the official teaching of which licenses professors of theology to "teach in Curran, was barred from teaching theology at the which arc considered authentic by the Church the name of the Catholic Church." Most American the Church, and in their criticism and interpreta- school for refusing to retract his views on sexual although they arc proven by human reason and not Catholic universities operate independently of the tion of it.

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