diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index 8aeafba8bc316..34c8f5b82ba5c 100644
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ gem 'compass',        '0.11.5'
 gem 'daemons',        '1.1.0'
 gem 'diff-lcs',       '1.1.2',  :require => 'diff/lcs'
 gem 'erubis',         '2.7.0'
-gem 'fastercsv',      '1.5.3'
 gem 'hairtrigger',    '0.1.11'
 gem 'haml',           '3.1.2'
 gem 'hashery',        '1.3.0',  :require => 'hashery/dictionary'
@@ -105,6 +104,10 @@ if WINDOWS
   end
 end
 
+if !ONE_NINE
+  gem 'fastercsv', '1.5.3'
+end
+
 # Non-standard Canvas extension to Bundler behavior -- load the Gemfiles from
 # plugins.
 Dir[File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__),'vendor/plugins/*/Gemfile')].each do |g|
diff --git a/config/initializers/ruby_version_compat.rb b/config/initializers/ruby_version_compat.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..7a1d5c83751b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/initializers/ruby_version_compat.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# 1.9 has a built-in equivalent to fastercsv
+if RUBY_VERSION > "1.9."
+  require 'csv'
+  FasterCSV = CSV
+else
+  require 'fastercsv'
+end
diff --git a/lib/ext/array.rb b/lib/ext/array.rb
index bf2a1842edfa9..01639a74357c3 100644
--- a/lib/ext/array.rb
+++ b/lib/ext/array.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 #
 
 class Array
-  require "fastercsv"
   def to_csv(options = {})
     if all? { |e| e.respond_to?(:to_row) }
       header_row = first.export_columns(options[:format]).to_csv
diff --git a/lib/gradebook_csv_parser.rb b/lib/gradebook_csv_parser.rb
index 1500c5e90f97f..5a4cb0d855263 100644
--- a/lib/gradebook_csv_parser.rb
+++ b/lib/gradebook_csv_parser.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 #
 
 # This is used for the GradebookImporter
-require 'fastercsv'
 require 'ostruct'
 
 class CSVParser
diff --git a/lib/sis/csv/import.rb b/lib/sis/csv/import.rb
index f9a80b8a99f0e..41d9fd15c03ba 100644
--- a/lib/sis/csv/import.rb
+++ b/lib/sis/csv/import.rb
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 # with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-require 'faster_csv'
 require 'zip/zip'
 
 module SIS
diff --git a/lib/tasks/rspec.rake b/lib/tasks/rspec.rake
index 457a5799ff2c5..443dbf96de34b 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/rspec.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/rspec.rake
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-gem 'test-unit', '1.2.3' if RUBY_VERSION.to_f >= 1.9
-
 # Don't load rspec if running "rake gems:*"
 unless ARGV.any? {|a| a =~ /\Agems/}