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[watermarkup]

SUNY humanities programs get axed, and regular CHE columnist cheers.

[dellaroux]

Is this the one they're calling a nincompoop on that other thread?

Hmmm....

[madhatter]

Olson's article seems very reasonable to me.

[merce]

I think it is time to just hold a good wake.
The fight is over.
The love of the trivium on college campuses is a thing of the past.
Of course, the love of all things linguistic will be found elsewhere.
Les Belles Lettres are dead! Long live the Belles Lettres!

[parispundit]

so, is there a linguistic connection between trivium and trivia? This could be important - I hear Trivial Pursuit is still popular.

[magistra]

Yes, it means "three paths".  Quadrivium is "four paths" -- via you'll recognize in both words.  A trivium in classical Latin meant a crossroads and hence public square where you would stop to gossip, i.e. exchange trivia.  "Trivial", meaning common or everyday, influenced the modern meaning, but apparently it comes from "trivium", since those were the artes you'd use on a daily basis.

[merce]

..."trivium", since those were the artes you'd use on a daily basis.

Hence the importance of the movers and shakers of the world to have a basis in the trivium.
It isn't supposed to be all superfluous, elitist, finery.

Le Sigh.