Word: ulam
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...University Should Mind Its Own Business." Adam Ulam, professor of Government, deplores the meddling of the university in political and social issues. He also regrets the rapid expansion of higher education, making the ivory tower resemble the Tower of Babel. A return is urged to "the essential function of the colleges and universities, that of teaching and propagating learning...
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...
Professor Ulam also contends that the university should refuse attempts "to solve directly the political and social problems of the society at large or its own community." This formula would exclude those political and social problems which the university itself created. As a major urban property owner, for example, the university will frequently find itself in conflict with the urban poor. The university must begin to think of itself as a social service institution...
...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...