May 26, 2009 7:10 pm US/Eastern
FIU Religious Program Survives Faculty Senate Vote
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The victory won in a fluorescently-lit FIU classroom gives hope to students and faculty from the Department of Religious Studies there. It gives them hope that their entire program will not become a budget cut.
"The Department of Religious Studies is the only program of its kind at a public institution in South Florida and that's why it should be kept open, " said Erik Larson, Director of the Undergraduate Program.
The FIU Faculty Senate- an elected group representing professors across the University voted unanimously Tuesday afternoon, against cutting the program. They will urge the University's Board of Trustees to keep the Department.
Budget cuts at Florida International University have put the Religious Studies Department in danger of being shut down. But, one of the world's foremost spiritual leaders is stepped in to help save it. CBS4's news partners at the Miami Herald broke the story.
Late last week, the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, faxed a letter to FIU's President imploring him to keep the Department open. Through his secretary, He wrote, "In our deeply interconnected world, understanding and appreciation of diversity of religions is critical in fostering a culture of genuine tolerance and peaceful coexistence. If the Department were to close down, it will not be easy to rebuild it."
"His Holiness would like to request you if possible to reconsider or find ways of looking for funds from elsewhere." He also offered a donation of $100,000 and his help to raise more money.
Dr. Nathan Katz has devoted his life to studying religion. He helped create FIU's Department of Religious Studies more than a decade ago. The program's Alumni have gone on to help our military understand Islam to better fight terrorism, others work with international companies to help them relate to China.
"If we want to understand the world at all, what motivates people, why people do what they do, we have to understand religions," Dr. Katz told
CBS4 News Reporter Natalia Zea.
When Dr. Katz discovered his program was on the University Board of Trustee's list of budget cuts, first he felt sick. "I think it's a very wrong decision."
Dr. Katz was thrilled to have the Dalai Lama's support. "This is totally, totally unprecedented. This has never happened before." Religious Studies Grad Student Jonathan Koschezki was floored, too. "That's so cool; I think it just speaks volumes about our department."
Dr. Katz estimates the Department needs to raise $600,000 a year to stay open. He is hoping the Dalai Lama will schedule a third visit to FIU to help raise funds. The University's Board of Trustees will vote on the budget June 12.
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