As I read excerpts of Paul Mirengoff of Powerlineblog’s recent speech to some Dartmouth students
I couldn’t help but think of Pope Center for Higher Education Policy
Director George Leef’s presentation at yesterday’s Shaftesbury Society
luncheon, “Is Higher Education Being Oversold?” It seems that
Mirengoff’s view of what the college experience should be is exactly
George’s:
To conclude, I trust that this talk has given you one alumni?s view of
the essence of Dartmouth tradition. For me, it?s not about beanies.
It?s about a place where serious traditional subjects and works are
treated seriously by professors who don?t succumb to fads. It?s about a
place where all views, not just politically correct ones, can be aired
without fear of reprisal because someone might take offense. It?s about
a place where professors and administrators don?t obsess (like parents
watching their kids play in a sandbox) about the feelings of some
categories of students, while viewing other categories — athletes,
fraternity members and conservatives — in crude stereotypical terms.
It?s a place where students who find themselves in trouble are given
the presumption of innocence. It?s also a place where, if proven
guilty, such students (whether radical activists or athletes) are dealt
with harshly but (within reason) given the chance to redeem themselves,
as I was.
