I am disgusted at the behavior of the Economics Department administration. First, although this is not what makes me the most upset, creating a new department requires a great amount of money. This is a time when extra funds are not available as other important projects wait to be completed.

Secondly, a split would essentially be breaking the department into two different schools of thought. What makes our economics department unique is its gifted economists, both neoclassical and heterodox, who have a common flame of compassion for the entire human race. With a split, we lose that uniqueness.

Moreover, we say to the country and to the world that as a top university we cannot maturely handle a difference of opinion. People will forever differ in their opinions. It is people of true intelligence who realize how wonderful and important diversity is. What sort of university are we if we deny the existence of that diversity?

Many other universities with esteemed economics departments include individuals of both schools of thought. I don't see why ours should be any exception. If there are issues between personnel, as rumors suggest, it seems to me all that is at hand is a management problem.

Finally, there are two additional things that really upset me. First, the inattention paid to what should be the primary goal of the University: a strong undergraduate program. Clearly, it is not teaching one point of view that produces intelligent individuals; it is teaching many views and letting the mind be opened.

Second, the students are not even being consulted as to their thoughts on the issue. Instead, the school is content to let Dean Mark Roche make the final decision, one that seems to require the least amount of teamwork and compromise — in other words, the easy way out.

Mary Ursu

freshman

Cavanaugh Hall

Feb. 4

• Discrimination in the heart of our town
  
• Abortion is an immoral choice
  
• Economics split unfair
  
• Title IX isn't about equal opportunity
  
• A eulogy for the Boat Club