When urging students to develop a more worldly perspective during their years at TCU, the university’s efforts might fall flat on their face before they can gain any traction.But this cannot be said of TCU officials in their pursuit of a more diverse college experience, especially when an Italian minor is close to being finalized.

The move to make Italian available as a minor is a step in the right direction in order to help solidify the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures as a viable and valuable part of the university.

Opportunities made available to those requiring adequate communication skills in a language other than English are only expanding, and it is a sign of the times.

In having university officials that are able to recognize that students fluent in multiple languages will benefit from this whenever they leave the classroom, the university is serving the best interests of its student body.

For a lack of a better description, that is pretty awesome.

Implementing Italian as a minor also gives a much-needed dose of culture and diversity to a campus that is sometimes considered otherwise.

Sure, studying abroad is an experience that cannot be duplicated in Fort Worth. But what about students who do not have the funding to experience that kind of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

Reed Hall classrooms might not be the same as a summer or semester at the Universita di Perugia, but the inspiration, dedication and motivation displayed in these classes give students a less expensive avenue to have an eye-opening experience.

This kind of forward-thinking and willingness to put a greater emphasis on languages and literatures as important parts of a student’s learning experience should have students saying, “Grazie, TCU.”

Sports editor Tim Bella for the editorial board.