Sometimes a step back is a step in the right direction.

The College of Liberal Arts decided this week not to change the Women's Studies 1 class format from small discussion groups to a lecture setting as proposed --and students and faculty said the decision is good for the program.

"I think it goes to show that activism works," said Shannon Coulter, Womyn's Concerns co-director, who organized a demonstration last month protesting the planned changes.

The college decided to retain the current format based on several factors, said Kathy Foster, Women's Studies administrative assistant.

"It was a combination of the rally and the fact that students wanted the classes smaller . . . and the faculty and staff also," Foster said, adding that the biggest problem the program faced was that students had already scheduled the larger classes when the decision was reversed.

When women's studies faculty determined that smaller sections could be implemented without disrupting students' schedules, Lynne Goodstein, program director, met with Susan Welch, dean of the college, to discuss additional funding, Foster said.

"It was really a departmental decision," Welch said, adding that although additional funds were requested, the college is still waiting to find out how much money will be available.

The shift back to small discussion sections will enable the program to accommodate more students, Foster said. Next semester, 45 students will attend each of five sections, in addition to two previously scheduled sections of 50 students.

Krista Eilhardt (senior-mass communication), a women's studies minor, said the decision will benefit future students.

"I can't express enough how much Women's Studies 1 made me the person I am today," Eilhardt said. "I'm just glad other students will have the chance to be affected by it."

Coulter submitted a petition with more than 600 signatures protesting the changes to Welch. But the students who signed it "never dreamed this spring would be changed," Coulter said.

The decision to keep small classes shows faculty and administrators care about the way students learn, Coulter said.

"I'm very encouraged that Women's Studies 1 is going to remain a small class," she said.