My friend and I met someone new the other day. After brief introductions, I asked our new acquaintance what her major was. “Art History,” she replied. My friend burst out laughing. He is a biochemistry major.

This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced war between the sciences and humanities in my time in the College. Based on my semester and a half of experience, I notice a difference in the respect students assign to various disciplines. But the humanities always seem to fall on the bottom half of this respect gap.

Dr. Ponzy Lu, director of the Vagelos Programfor students who double major in two sciences, seemed surprised at my assessment. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “Our society is way too materialistic and envious of physical appearance and athletic ability which people don’t associate with people in my position.”

While he didn’t believe that scientifically minded majors inherently deserved more respect, he did feel that, “a student who completes the Vagelos program is far more motivated as a scholar or student than most people on campus, faculty included.”

Dr. Lothar Haselberger, undergraduate chair of the History of Art Department, also seemed surprised at my observation. “One thing is for sure,” he said. “I have never experienced, on the part of my colleagues [in the College of Arts and Sciences], anything close to making me think about this perception gap.”

While Dr. Haselberger acknowledged that some people carry a negative attitude towards art history, he calls it unjustified. “It’s a misunderstanding on both sides,” he said. “Comparing ‘traditional’ art history to cutting edge sciences just isn’t fair.”

Dr. Haselberger is a prime example of interdisciplinary learning. Growing up with an interest in both art and mathematics, he received his undergraduate degree in architecture. He then came “through that love of inquiry to art.”

Ever since talking to both professors, my thoughts have turned to maturity. As undergraduates, I think we will all out grow the petty “scientist versus hippie” mindset. But until then, we should strive to realize that we’re here to study what truly interests us.

“Respect doesn’t overlap with what people associate with becoming successful,” Dr. Ponzy Lu told me. “I’m motivated by making people happy.”

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