John Henry Newman, in 1852, rendered his opinion regarding the purpose of a university as follows:The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Washington State University, seeking to combine these functions, has equipped its chief diversity officer with a full-time staff of 55 and a $3 million annual budget.
“A university training aims at raising the intellectual tone of society. … It is the education which gives (people) a clear, conscious view of their own opinions and judgements, a truth in developing them, an eloquence in expressing them, and a force in urging them.”
Quite to the contrary, states a recent National Review commentary, the function of a modern university is, first, to provide administrative employment for legions of bureaucrats, and second, to promote “diversity.”
Recently the College Republicans, a campus fringe group, attempted to introduce into the culture of the WSU campus, by means of a peaceful demonstration, an element of diversity assiduously ignored by every university diversity officer in the United States, namely, diversity of political viewpoint.
The reaction of liberals to this tentative expression of conservative thought was completely to be expected. Trashing informational displays and screaming vile invectives are their customary tactics.
I’ve seen more than one attempt by left-wingers to shout down prominent public figures invited to speak at a midwestern university, to drown out their words and prohibit their speaking, followed by a silent chorus of non-condemnation and inaction by university adminvertebrates.
The purpose of a university, indeed.
Leonard C. Johnson, Moscow
1 comment:
That's a great letter. Pretty well sums it up.
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