By Jennifer Deigan,
Staff Writer

This past year was a year of major changes for the Honors Program, according to John M. Atherton, professor of philosophy and head of the Honors Program. Before the changes, an honors student would have to take core classes plus the extra courses from the Honors Program. “People were dropping out of the program like crazy,” said Atherton. Now the honors students take the core classes as honors courses so that they do not have to take extra credits.

JOHN ATHERTON

This year the honors students in Atherton’s Introduction to Philosophy class studied outdoors by kayaking on the Connemaugh River.

“The kayaking trip was fun but it was disappointing that the other three activities that were planned [for our philosophy class] were cancelled,” said Meredith Harber, freshman.

“I’m trying to show the students that they can learn in many different aspects of life other than the classroom. All I’m doing is opening up the walls for them to acquire knowledge in order to become better, more well-rounded individuals,” said Atherton.

Presently, there are 44 students in the Honors Program, which was started in 1930.

“I feel like there [are] a lot more ways that the students could be involved in different activities. So far [the program is] going well and everyone seems to be having a good attitude about it. It’s different from anything I’ve ever done before. I also think that Atherton’s methods of education are very open-minded,” said Janette Kristich, freshman.

“When someone hears the word ‘honors,’ they usually think of the word ‘elitism.’ I do not think that this is true. The people in the Honors Program have special needs just as anyone else who has special needs is in a separate program. [The honors students] are usually the ones in class who have their hand up the whole time and answer every question.

Since they are not really being challenged, the Honors Program puts them with other people who have the same special need. It gets their brain working…and allows them to work towards reaching the possibility of being very outstanding citizens,” said Atherton.

A college student who has completed at least 15 university credits can apply to the Honors Program in the fall semester by October 1 and the spring semester by February 1.

They must provide a petition letter to the director of the Honors Program, have a 3.5 grade point average, and supply a letter of recommendation from a faculty member after 24 credits have been obtained, but not later than 45 credits.

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