Hatchet Staff Writer Eric Thibault wrote this report

The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences faculty voted to reduce the number of General Course Requirements this afternoon, a decision faculty members said would give CCAS students more responsibility in choosing their classes.

“It was a split decision but it passed well enough that it did not require a division of the house,” said Joe Cordes, professor of economics.

After a yearlong review of the GCR system, faculty members debated what purpose that GCRs should serve.

Cordes said the debate came down to those who wanted to decrease the requirements while making sure students still have a common unifying experience, and those who wanted to require particular skills in particular ways.

“I was in favor of reducing the GCRs but not as proposed,” said Diana Lipscomb, chair of the biological sciences department. “It was about reducing them without decreasing the skills and knowledge we want [students] to have.”

Cordes said that given the different perspectives it is now up to the students to delve into other areas that they are interested in.

The final draft of the report has not yet been made available. Check Monday’s edition of The Hatchet for the full story.