At last night’s Senate meeting, the Student Government Association discussed augmenting the Honors curriculum.Alcie Maxwell, arts and sciences senator, promoted a resolution to suggest each department add one 200 level and two 100 level courses.
Maxwell said the intention of the resolution is to help the University meet the academic needs of its students.
Some members of the Senate and executive board, however, expressed reservations.
“If I was in a program and just so happened to be the only honors student in mass communication, why would they put in a 200 level class?” Ben Landry, director of public relations, said.
“But, see, as the program progresses, more students are going to come in here,” Maxwell said.
“It’s not like we’re going to say, `Here’s the requirement, get a class.’ There’s no time limit on the resolution, but as the classes are needed, they are going to get filled,” he said.
Tom Terrell, arts and sciences senator, said there are already many courses in the bulletin that are rarely, if ever, offered due to lack of interest.
President Scott Duplantis said he was concerned about the wording of the resolution.
“The way it’s stated it’s like you want it done now,” he said.
Duplantis suggested a rewording of the resolution to say that implementation was not expected immediately.
Jaret Hubbell, College of Education Senator, said the honors program does not always accommodate upper level students.
“Case in point: the performing arts department itself. For performing arts majors like music majors, music education, things like that, there are no honors classes beyond music appreciation.
“Nobody majoring in that has to take music appreciation because they have to go into a more detailed study.”
Maxwell added that he thought suggesting an addition of classes as needed would be insulting to the administration because it was something they would probably do anyway.
Duplantis said the Senate overreacted to his suggestion.
“I mean, really. I just made a suggestion. Y’all don’t have to take it. Y’all are killing me,” Duplantis said.
In other business, Duplantis spoke of the problems experienced by users of the Writing Assistance Centers.
“The WAC labs are seriously understaffed, and it looks like they may be even closed during the Mardi Gras break, which is right before midterm. We’re going to try to get it opened and help the students,” he said.
The Honors Council was allocated $250 to attend the Louisiana State Honors Conference at Grambling State University. The quiz bowl team will compete there.
“The Quiz Bowl did take home the state championship in its first year last year. It would be nice if they could go back and defend it,” Hubbell said.
Maxwell was the only nay voter; he said he was unsatisfied with the council’s fund raising efforts.
Duplantis announced the resignation of Life Sciences and Technology Senator Melissa Brunet.
Addie King, culinary arts senior from Thibodaux, was appointed John Folse Culinary Institute senator. Brennan Matherne, mass communication junior from Lockport, was appointed as senator at large.
