Core Impact

Gareth Wiliams, Anthon Professor of Latin Language and Literature, speaks about the particular resonance of Literature Humanities, where for students, time slows down.

"The act of reading is not what it was 20 years ago. The Internet is a technological marvel in so many ways but it perhaps has had considerable consequences for traditional reading practices,” he says. “These books presuppose a thoughtfulness about life and self-reflection, which are challenged by the speed of information retrieval in the Internet age. The students are as bright and committed as they ever were but now are used to instant access to information and a sense of speed. Books are slow burners. The character development and time frames are much slower than what the students are often used to, and that requires a recalibration."

Enjoy the full  text "Faculty Find Lit Hum Challenging, Fulfilling" which originally appeared in the Spring 2013  issue of Columbia College Today.