Strong opinions and serious faces dominated last night’s discussion of the state of the honors program and the direction in which students think it should move.

A panel composed of Martha Garland, vice provost and dean for Undergraduate Studies; Linda Harlow, interim associate provost and director for the Honors and Scholars Program; and Eddie Pauline, Undergraduate Student Government president, addressed specific issues pertaining to the honors program and gave students an opportunity to respond.

Priority scheduling was high on the agenda of Garland and many students.

Pauline said he would like to see Ohio State “cut the honors program to 10 percent and streamline the program so faculty resources can be used to open up regular classes for students who are being blocked out of classes.”

Garland said the problem of seniors being shut out of classes is now getting better, although it is not fixed. The Office of the Registrar is conducting a study of the numbers of fourth-year students who are shut out of classes by honors freshmen.

Some students expressed disappointment in not benefiting as much from the honors program as they had first hoped when they became involved.

Harlow mentioned the many opportunities made available to the honors students — the success series, distinguished speakers, fireside chats and living-learning programs.

Anne Knapke, a sophomore in agricultural communications, was the only non-honors student who attended the forum.

“I am so jealous. You have so many opportunities, and I would expect more requirements for students in the honors program,” Knapke said. “You have all these things laid out on a platter. You better be taking advantage of them.”

Students also expressed concern about certain honors privileges being removed during the program improvement.

“It’s not the threat of taking anything away. It’s about making the program better,” Garland said.

The question of whether honors students are being challenged enough was raised, and if only giving certain opportunities to honors students was unfair to non-honors students.

Garland said all students have the option and availability to do research projects, but honors students who choose to do so are recognized with a title of distinction.

The external and internal advisory committees will address many of the same issues discussed last night.

“The internal advisory committee has become more active, working on the concept of what an honors contract means, the concept of research, and what is an honors class,” Harlow said.

Garland said she is concerned about the 80 percent of non-honors students as well as the 20 percent of honors students and said she thinks making the honors program better will be valuable to all OSU students.