PLS major celebrates 50 years of learning
By NATASHA GRANT
News Writer
Celebrating its 50th year, the Program of Liberal Studies (PLS) plans to continue honoring the program's success through the semester.
"We've had events running from [the] last academic year," says Michael Crowe, a Cavanaugh professor in PLS. Crowe and Nicholas Ayo, a CSC professor, are in charge of the year-long celebration.
The history of the major goes back to the 1950s, when Father Cavanaugh was president of the University.
"They were trying to bring the world back to its roots and Father Cavanaugh brought [PLS] here and presented a Catholic version. The program struggled in the beginning, but it eventually found steady ground," Ayo said.
The goal of the program is to create a curriculum that heavily relies on reading.
"It's an integrated course somewhat similar to Core, but a little more contemporary. PLS often reaches out to great books which is close to what they do in University seminars, except that seminar books are uniquely chosen by one professor while the great books are argued among many," said Ayo.
Crowe and Ayo are part of the major's continuing controversy.
"Over the centuries, there's generally a kind of recognition that certain books have, a lasting quality," Crowe said. "We don't agree with all of them but they raise the right questions even of the answers that are hard to come about, for example, justice, and the meaning of life."
Ayo agreed.
"Books that have been in print a long time are a sign that it's a good book. Also, books that are cited by other authors are usually great books, for this entails passing on a tradition," said Crowe.
Crowe described students who major in PLS as "people who don't want to confine themselves to a specialization early."
"They want a broad liberal education," continued Crowe, adding that PLS is good preparation for graduate work because it sharpens skills necessary for competitive fields.
" People would like to have a common experience of being in the same class with the same people year to year. In these small-knit communities, students are known by name," Ayo said.
A fair number PLS majors enter law school after graduation because the major teaches them to defend, read and write quickly, while fostering a broad sense of humanity appealing to law schools.
In addition to the reading and discussion courses, PLS also offers courses in natural science, social science, theology, history and literature. Because of the amount of work involved, the program usually loses a few people every year, but Crowe sees the program as an overall success.
"Over the years it's been very successful. PLS attracts some of the brightest students genuinely interested in learning," Crowe said.
Ayo agreed.
"PLS is time consuming so students would have to want to read. They would anticipate good and bad. It's not for everyone, but those that stay are very happy," he said.
All News Stories for Tuesday, October 10, 2000
