Language department merger likely to happen

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The merging of two language departments to create one Romance Language department might be more than just possible. It’s probable, some faculty members said.

Among a list of potential department reorganizations announced at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting last month, Provost Kim Wilcox included the combination of the departments of French, Classics and Italian with Spanish and Portuguese in the College of Arts and Letters.

The recommendations represent the university’s effort to deal with shrinking funds while supporting activities that enhance the university’s future, according to MSU’s Shaping the Future Web site. The university must confront a $50 million — or 15 percent to 20 percent reduction — in its operating budget during the next three years.

Douglas Noverr, the acting chairperson of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, said it is likely the recommendation to unite the two departments will become a reality.

“When they were presented by the provost, of course (they) were possibilities verging on probabilities,” he said. “It’s highly probable that this will take place.”

Anna Norris, the acting chairperson of the Department of French, Classics and Italian, said she does not expect jobs to be lost in the merger.

The faculty are not discussing the possibility of job losses and the merger discussions could continue for months, Noverr said.

“If the probability of a merger pushes to the inevitability of a merger, the question is, how can we get it done … to both departments’ advantage?” he said.

The different procedures and policies of the two departments might make a merger more difficult, Noverr said.

“Re-merging two departments that have been apart … going into seven years, of course has all kinds of challenges to it,” he said.

James Madison College freshman Ashley Austin is considering a minor in French, depending on the major she chooses. The idea to merge departments might be a good one, but could present some challenges, she said.

“The languages are different and I think they should be taught differently. … Merging them might not be very effective,” Austin said. “If I minor in that, I feel like I would be taught differently if we merged.”

Norris said although the merger might be a lot of work, it makes sense.

“It’s great,” she said. “It’s a natural fit. We’ve always worked together; we have a lot of commonalities.”

Many colleges and universities across the country have Romance Language departments, Norris said.

“Romance departments (are) pretty much the standard throughout the country,” she said.

Social work junior Linda Venema is taking a Portuguese class now and said she is not worried about the class in light of a possible merger.

“We’re not learning Spanish (in this class); we’re learning Portuguese. So I don’t think it’s going to matter whether or not we combine the departments,” she said.

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