As the reporter who attended the faculty senate meetings in which senators decided not to reinstate the linked QS 112 course, I was fairly surprised by the decision.

One argument at the faculty senate meeting was that the students in the Math and Science Department had a hard time balancing the classes in their major and the six hours required during the second semester of their freshman year in the Quest program.

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Now, I’m not a science or math major so maybe I can’t fully understand the hardships that these students go through when it comes to keeping up with the linked courses. But I can say that as a Baker student, I enjoy the Quest system and revel in the idea that I’m getting more of a two-fold education than just a list of required general education classes.

Any college requires students to take classes outside their major, but Baker tries hard to make it a learning experience that teaches students more than meets the eye with general education.

In my mind, it seems a little bizarre that we would completely take away the link just so their course load is a little easier. I believe that the students who are majoring in math and science are smarter than me and know that their college years are going to be harder than that of everyone else. We can’t forgo the liberal arts education in favor of ease.

College isn’t about getting in and out after four years anymore. It’s about “developing confident, competent and responsible contributors to society,” or so the Baker mission statement says.

The discussion in the senate meeting seemed more like it was humanities department vs. science department, rather than an encompassing conversation about what it means to have a liberal arts education.

While sometimes Quest classes flounder when it comes to incorporating the linked course, I think I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each one I’ve been in, mainly because it’s something different than my mass media courses. Therefore, I think faculty senate missed its mark when it decided not to reinstate the link.

Although the Quest program might have a few flaws, we can’t just forget the goals Baker has for its students and its standards for a liberal arts education, just because it’s too hard to figure out a resolution.

I think faculty senate needs to take a step back and figure out a solution that benefits all students, not just a few.