The Laf

Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Lauren Levi

Lafayette's newly established Unity Team plans to create a discussion group of students, professors and administrators to determine what lies behind the concept of liberal arts at Lafayette College and to question the values of academic excellence on which our educational institution was built.

In other words: this group is all about discussing course requirements and whether or not they really work.

Officially known as Lafayette College's Educational club, the Unity Team was formed at the end of the 2008-2009 school year primarily by Brent Hoagland '12 and Jared Katz '12. Both students had interests in learning more about improving Lafayette's academic system through working with "teachers …[to] learn more about educational policies and practices," said Hoagland.

According to Hoagland, the group initially formed to act like a, "professional club for people interested in moving towards education as their field," but the goals of the group shifted slightly this year.

Garrett Rice '12, and Stephanie Rodriguez '12 began discussing the different ideals of education and the liberal arts values. "We thought there needed to be a place where people interested in education can come and begin to network with others, learn more, and explore the field and its variety," Hoagland said.

Upon realizing their shared collective interests, the idea of a larger, more organized project arose, providing the inspiration that led to the establishment of the Unity Team.

Hoping that the, "Unity Team can provide a dynamic group of students the opportunities to explore the educational field and realize the role education plays in everything," Hoagland said that the goal of the team is, "for this discussion to inspire dialogue across campus and to reconnect with Lafayette's liberal arts values."

Step one of the team's plan is to create a "white paper," or an overview of opinions about Lafayette's curriculum. This document also will address topics like values of Liberal Arts, whether or not Lafayette's curriculum matches those values, and how can students can make changes.

These opinions will come from a culmination of notes taken throughout meetings.

The Unity Team will partner with Lafayette Intercultural Networking Council (LINC), Lafayette Student Initiative (LSI), Student Government and others in order to procure participants who will be encouraged to and responsible for contributing to the academic conversation centered on our educational system.

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