Miami — Florida International University Tuesday accepted a gift from the Dalai Lama to save its Religious Studies Department scheduled to close due to budget cuts.
The Miami Herald reported the $100,000 gift alone will not rescue the department, the closure of which would save the university $600,000 per year. FIU’s total budget is $642 million.
”In our deeply interconnected world, understanding and appreciation of diversity of religions is critical in fostering a culture of genuine tolerance and peaceful coexistence,” the Dalai Lama wrote to FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. “If the department were to close down, it will not be easy to rebuild it.”
”I’m astounded,” said religious studies Professor Nathan Katz, who has had a long-standing friendship with the Dalai Lama. Katz contacted the exiled Tibetan religious and political leader in April to help the school.
The Dalai Lama visited the school in 1999 and in 2004 when he received an honorary doctorate of divinity from FLU.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International
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posted May 26, 2009 at 7:46 pm
The Miami Herald reported the $100,000 gift alone would not rescue the Dept. It’s not plain what the 648,000 covers for this U. Are they talking of one dept.? or all the depts.? If the gift isn’t going to save the dept. I hope they will give it back to the D.L.
posted May 27, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I believe the D.L’s gift was for the religion dept only. I think he gave it as a way to motivate others to give too. All of the FL colleges are cutting back and religion is one of the areas they are all jettisoning. Even expressly religious schools are having trouble. Ave Maria Univ. is not growing at the pace the founder (Monaghan of Domino Pizza fame) expected. In fact the first pizza place in the college town of the same name is not one of his -there are not yet not enough people for a franchise. I don’t take this as a slap at religion, it is simply one of the realities of education. In this land of tourism and water activities, the Univ of Fl is even cutting out SCUBA as a course!
posted May 27, 2009 at 3:29 pm
What about Underwater Basket Weaving?
posted May 27, 2009 at 11:32 pm
nnmns,
If the tourists will buy it, it is an economic necessity here in the Someshine State (rainy weather is here at last!). So underwater basket weaving (a.k.a. Gymp 101,lanyards; Gymp 201, baskets; Gymp 301, patio furniture) will forever be a part of our collegiate curriculum.