I can empathize with University Professors Program students (“The mystery honors program,” Oct. 30, p. 4). This year, my major, rehabilitation and human services, was discontinued rather abruptly. In my class year, just seven of us graduated from the program. While I’m sad my major is gone, I know that the funds and faculty previously available to just a handful of students are now being dispersed to a larger student population, ensuring that the opportunities I had are available to a greater number of Boston University students. I’m at peace with that decision.

BU consists of more than 16,000 undergraduate students, approximately 120 of whom are enrolled in UNI. It was a wonderful program with talented and respected faculty, but its benefits were only available to 0.7 percent of the student body. I know it’s harsh logic, grounded in cold hard numbers, but really, only 0.7 percent of the undergraduate population had access to these resources. Making these opportunities an option for a wider student population is an admirable effort. Should students be involved in shaping the new honors program? Absolutely. All students should have the opportunity to provide input and feedback on a potential honors program, not just those previously enrolled in UNI. Do BU administrators really want an honors program that is developed quickly, without serious thought and consideration? I doubt it. Lack of provided information does not necessarily indicate lack of strategy.

As an aside, I entered the university in 1999, and I can say without doubt that the current administration is much more transparent and student-focused than its predecessors. (Also, we walked uphill in the snow both ways every day to work out at Case Gym, and we did not have cable.) Change is hard. It requires making tough choices, and rarely does an outcome satisfy everyone involved. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and an honors program for a large university won’t be, either.

Julie Holt

SAR ’03, SPH ’06