Word: ulam
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Barry Bosworth. Economics Frank Freidel, History Geological Sciences, Bryan Patterson, MCZ Adam Ulam, Government
Violence and social protest seem out of place in the hushed domain of the scholar. Professor Ulam argues that the university itself must reestablish some form of authority or "face the prospect of outside imposition." The real question is: what form should the new authority take? Institutions can usually eliminate the violence of a minority by becoming more democratic. Political reform-at the university and national level-would do the most to "depoliticize" the university...
...Ulam himself opposes further expansion of higher education. He clearly prefers an impoverished, modest Little Ivy to the lavishly financed modern institutions. Expansion will intensify, nevertheless, as government continues to pay more of the cost. In that event, it would be wiser to plan even more welfare activities and applied research projects for the benefit of urban neighbors. "The social wrongs that may be committed by the university." Professor Hughes protests, "are not to be corrected by turning it into a social service institution." Though social service is not now a function of the university, it will sooner or later...
Political activism does thrive on campus and doubtless makes teaching more difficult. It is possible, though, to mistake for "activism" what is only malaise. As Professor Ulam points out, few young people have the patience and temperament for four years of liberal education. Social pressures (not just the draft) are sending more students than ever to colleges and creating more and more unhappy ones...
Though society has overhauled the university in this and other ways, the university must not turn its back on society. It has come too far to retreat to the concept of Little Ivy espoused by Professor Ulam. Shutting out political controversy and the mania for "relevance" might indeed bring forth a tranquil university. A tranquil university, though, would also be a dead...