Student Association Academics Adviser Colleen Halliman has a big job to tackle, maybe too big.

Halliman is continuing with plans to start a mandatory cultural pluralism class. This type of class is a needed one at all universities, and should be mandatory for people outside a university as well.

However, the prospects for the class look grim this year. The amount of faculty needed to teach the class is more than NIU can spare.

With only a 2 percent increase in faculty salaries this year, plus research mandated by the university and the regular teacher classload, there are few professors willing and able to carry an extra classload.

Perhaps Halliman’s committee and the NIU faculty could plan something together. If Halliman’s committee were to organize cultural awareness programs that would enhance a class’ subject matter, faculty could make one or more of the programs part of a class assignment.

Of course, this would not apply to all classes. Some are too specific and others, such as mathematics, might not follow a culturally aware curriculum. But beginning mandatory classes, like English 103, 104 or 105, might be easily incorporated into the awareness program.

Halliman will have to work hard at getting the cultural pluralism class to become a reality, and she will need the faculty’s help to accomplish it.