Af-Am 10 Student Enrollment Numbers Surge

According to preliminary course enrollment statistics released by the Office of the Registrar, students are flocking to the usual lecture classes that perenially attract large numbers of undergraduates. Jumping to second place in enrollment this year, however, is Afro-American Studies 10: “Introduction to Afro-American Studies.”

With Fletcher University Professor Cornel R. West ’74 back at the helm of the course after a leave of absence, Af-Am 10 attendance jumped from 316 to 599 students this year.

The surge has forced the class to move from its original home of Lowell Lecture Hall to Sanders Theatre, home to the College’s largest classes.

Some students said that West’s teaching style is what attracted them to the class.

“Professor West’s lectures are really interesting, as he is very expressive, and gets really involved in his lectures,” Hassan M. Sultan ’05 said.

Sultan also pointed out another reason to take Af-Am 10—the class now counts toward the Historical Studies A requirement.

The most popular class this semester, however, remains Social Analysis 10: “Principles of Economics,” the largest class for the past few years.

More commonly known as Ec 10, the class has 737 students enrolled for the fall semester this year. Af-Am 10 takes second place, while General Eduction 105: “The Literature of Social Reflection,” is third with 549 enrolled.

According to Baker Professor of Economics Martin S. Feldstein ’61, the reason behind Ec 10’s popularity is that the economy affects everyone, and thus students want to understand how it works and is affected by government policies.

“This course is particularly interesting now because the economy appears to be sliding into recession,” Feldstein wrote in an e-mail. “Ec 10 also looks at questions about the environment, health care, welfare reform, and other subjects that I think must be understood by anyone who wants to be a good citizen.”

Ec 10 teaching fellow Mihir S. Sharma said that the course’s large size is often deceptive, as most of the actual teaching is done in sections of about 20 students.

Nina Singh ’05, who is currently enrolled in Ec 10, said the enthusiastic TFs who teach the sections make the classes interesting and much more personal.

Rounding out the top five classes this semester are Literature and Arts B-51: “First Nights: Five Performance Premieres,” and Literature and Arts C-42: “Constructing the Samurai.”