U. of Texas Abandons Controversial Foreign Language Plan

The University of Texas at Austin has abandoned a controversial plan to cut the foreign language requirement in its College of Liberal Arts from 16 to 12 credits. In an e-mail sent this week to the faculty, Randy Diehl, the dean of the college, noted that at a faculty meeting to discuss the idea, "[i]n three and a half hours of give and take, not one audience member spoke in favor of the proposal.... In view of the overwhelming negative reaction to the proposal, I have decided to withdraw it from further consideration."