Class Auditors Barred In Romance Languages

The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures has decided to bar auditors from all current first and second year language courses.

In the past, all language departments have allowed auditors to listen--but generally not to participate--at the discretion of the instructor.

This year, however, for the first time in recent years, Romance language students will be required to take the "A", "Ax" and "Ca-Cb" courses for credit--or not at all.

"We just had too many auditors this fall," Dwight L. Bollinger, coordinator of Romance language instruction, said last night. He attributed the increase both in regular enrollment and in auditors to a new program under which first-year courses meet five times per week. In the past such courses were held only three times weekly.

In addition, Bollinger pointed out, auditing is beter suited to courses where the emphasis is on content, not performance. "Auditing a language is like auditing a swimming course--it just doesn't make sense," he added.

But auditors may not lose out--in fact, they may even gain--from the change. Bollinger said that the Department was considering the establishment next year of language classes especially for auditors. The noncredit classes would be modelled on the present elementary courses, and would include the same material and assignments. They will probably be instituted if the Department can obtain an increase in its budget.

Other Departments Stand Pat

None of the other language departments are following the lead of the Romance Languages Department in barring auditors. All will continue to permit them to listen silently if there is enough room in the class.

The only exception is the Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, which encourages--even requires--auditors to participate in classroom activities.

"If they want to learn, I'm glad to have them," Daniel H. Ingalls '36, chairman of that Department, said last night. "But then there's not a hell of a lot of students taking Sanskrit."