Students respond to potential economics split
By NATASHA GRANT
News Writer
Students across the economics major have differing opinions on whether or not the potential split in Notre Dame's economics department would be beneficial or disadvantageous, while others said they are choosing to reserve judgment until more information is available.
The economics department as a whole has not informed students of any imminent changes and sophomore major Stephanie Hill said that she would hold off on forming an opinion until more information became available.
"I don't think that enough has been said either way," she said.
Hill said that students should have some input, but even more importantly, the opinions of the faculty should also be considered.
"Professors should have some input as well," she said. "If they're against it, it will not go very well."
While Hill believes that the split and the name change would cause students to look first at the new Department of Economics before considering a major in Economics Thought and Policy, she said that the there would not be an even distribution between the two majors.
Junior Derrick Evans, who supports the split, said that he thinks the name change would be appropriate. He said that he does not believe that the change will deter students from continuing to major in economics, by whatever name it is called.
Evans said that although he does not know all that the split entails, he believes that it would be positive and give students a better framework for getting their degree.
"I don't think that it will diminish the department," he said. "For the state that they are in and the faculty that they have, I think that the split would be beneficial."
While Evans said he believes that the final decision should rest with the department, he thinks that students should have some input as well.
Junior Eliot Poindexter, who is against the split, agreed that students should have a say in the final decision. Poindexter said he feels that the split would raise many concerns that are not easily resolvable.
"I think there's a need for both types of major of studies but the fact that the [Department of Economics Thought and Policy] will not be recognized is a concern of mine," he said.
Poindexter also voiced concerns about the distribution of funding and said that he was worried that both departments would not receive equal funding. He said he also worries about the University's reasons for pushing for the split and said he believes the University's main reason for making the change would be a boost in rankings.
Poindexter said that he does not believe that students initially came to Notre Dame because of the national ranking of its economics department.
Moreover, Poindexter is afraid that the split would set a precedent for more of its kind.
"If this could happen to the economic department, what's to stop the University from doing this to other departments?" said Poindexter.
All News Stories for Tuesday, February 11, 2003
