Latin Honors changed back

After weeks of petition and protests, the students of the class of May 2009 have achieved their goal.

“In the end, I have decided to err on the side of compassion for our students.  For the May 2009 graduating class, we apply the Latin Honors criteria published in the 2005 University Catalog,” a letter sent out Wednesday on behalf of acting provost Kate Denniston said.

Students Mike Hollis and Khalid Srour led the student movement, creating a Facebook group and gathering signatures on a petition.

The students were prepared to protest graduation if necessary, but the result ended Wednesday afternoon following Denniston’s consultation with the University Senate, the University Council of Chairpersons, the Provost’s Council and the President’s Council.

According to the letter sent out to administration, faculty and students, Denniston heard many valid, reasoned arguments to keep the 10 percent standard or to delay its application.

“Without rehashing the issue, let me just point out that this decision holds harmless students who in good faith followed what they had every reason to believe was the University’s Latinate Honors policy that they came in on,” Richard Vatz, mass communication and communication studies professor and University Senate member said in an e-mail to the other members.

Vatz went on to praise the quality of students and said that if this ended in students feeling betrayed by the University, it could result in lifetime recriminations.

“The benefits of stubbornly adhering to an unfairly-timed new policy would be minimal,” Vatz said in the e-mail. “Good decision by the acting provost.”
 
Following the decision, Hollis’ Facebook profile has been flooded with positive feedback from students regarding the decision.

“Congrats! All your hard work paid off, and you really made a difference for your class. You should be very proud of yourself,” Towson student Tiana Krum posted Wednesday evening.
 

Comments

1 comments

alumnus

Mon May 18 2009 11:17

congrats on voicing your opinion and getting it changed! keep up the good work.

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