Higher education is something that should — for obvious reasons — be important to all of us. It is the key to future success, and overall, college is undoubtedly a life-changing experience. There are many differing views as to the pursuit of education; many on this campus see access and affordability without regard to diminishing quality to be of the highest priority. Others believe quality at any cost is the only conceivable way to approach learning at this university.
Affordable education is implicitly a positive thing; the benefits of an educated society are clear. Economic and social well-being can be directly correlated to the education level of any community, which means the more people who can obtain an education, the better. However, unfettered access to the highest quality of education is just not possible, thus the laudable notion of all-access higher education must be tempered with the reality of logistical exigencies.
Despite the importance society assigns to education, many students take this opportunity for betterment as a simple happening, a rite of passage. Higher education is not a right; it is a privilege and must be approached as such. With this in mind, there are three major tenets which should be observed in order to successfully navigate a college career.
First, students must understand the need for diversity in education.
To be sure, this is not a reference to the overly simplified popular version of diversity which has been bandied about on this campus. Racial and cultural variance has an integral place in the overall diversity of a community; this is not, however, the most important aspect of a diversified education. Exposure to ideological differences is by far the best way to maximize an educational experience. Coming into constant contact with opposing beliefs is the best way for a person to shape and hone their own beliefs.
The widely embraced idea of diversity on this campus is incomplete — there is more to a diverse atmosphere than race. Two white kids from Nebraska may have wildly different political views, but discussion between the two could have a profound effect on the knowledge of both, all without racial difference. Critically examining the beliefs of others is the root of any education.
The second tenet essential to a complete education has a more ethereal quality; it is the use of a principled foundation, a moral compass to decide the rightness of what is being learned. With so much information being absorbed, it is important to wade through the garbage and use deep-seated beliefs as a sounding board. Every well-intentioned idea espoused is not accretive to the development of an open mind; it is crucial to know what is truth and what is not. This requires an appreciation of the fact that there are moral absolutes. Without the standard of an absolute somewhere within a worldview, it is impossible to regard something as truth with any conviction.
The last and most outwardly perceivable tenet of education must be activism. The talent a person possesses dictates in what way they apply intellect to the surrounding community. But regardless of personal strengths, it is a significant boost to the vitality of any society to have students work towards specific goals. Writing a letter to the editor, joining a student group, having a role in student government — anything that aids in advocating a belief also aids the overall strength of an education.
Social movements may not be as easily defined today as in previous generations, but the personal impact a student can experience through taking part in some form of activism is nevertheless enormous.
A real education is more difficult to obtain than attending class daily and getting good grades in class. A successful education requires a person to continuously come in contact with a diverse body of opinions, assess those opinions based on their moral background, and finally use their knowledge in a way to bring about change.
Each part is needed for a complete edification. On this campus, there are many student groups who feel they are right and speak out on their chosen issue at every opportunity, but they do not take time to really listen to dissenting opinions, which nullifies everything for which they work.
James P. Kent ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in economics and business management.
