Last week, 27 students issued a petition to the Spanish department protesting the lack of space available in its popular Spanish reading course ? a class that fulfills Sacramento State?s oft criticized foreign language requirement. It?s time the requirement is reformed.

To say that the department should have added more sections of Spanish Reading Proficiency is stating the obvious, especially considering that several graduating seniors may have to wait another semester. Canceling three sections before the start of the semester only exacerbated the overcrowding problems that typically occur early in the spring and fall.

However, the students in the current predicament should realize that there are alternatives to satisfying the foreign language requirement. Listed as Spanish 7, the Spanish Reading Proficiency course is popular because, under the current General Education requirement, it allows students to forego the required second semester of Spanish. Students should understand that the standard two-semester course is the superior one under the university?s flawed policy. First, taking the standard two semesters offers students a variety of sections as opposed to the Spanish 7 option, where large numbers of students struggle to add the one class. Second, the two-semester option truly satisfies the university?s stated purpose: foreign language proficiency.

We regard the Spanish 7 option as a cop out, when compared with the standard nine unit requirement. The class requires only basic literacy in Spanish and is taught largely in English. This undermines the advantages that Sac States foreign language program offers. In a state with enormous diversity and a large percentage of Spanish speakers, it is important that General Education students receive the full benefits the foreign language program has to offer. That means a competent understanding in both written and oral Spanish.

The University should prove it is serious about foreign language by vastly expanding the requirements for the Spanish 7 course, or abandoning it in favor of the two semester requirement. Then students would get the message: foreign language is important.

Respond at [email protected].