The rigid education of his Yale undergraduate study served as the lie if one was going to prepare to be useful to society. Knowledge taught at the University was to be non-sectarian. White and Cornell wanted instruction to be separate from religious dogma and belief. Requiring students to learn religious values did not promote reverence. The education at a denominational college was too limited and too safe.
Humans desire to know practical applications of the professions.
Students seek and benefit from communication with teachers, and students benefit from suggestions and remarks from teachers. The freedom of choice is important. Humans are free to choose their destiny and therefore free to choose a course of study. White and Cornell thought that human potential was limited by limited opportunities for admission to higher education. The University was open to men and women regardless of financial status or race.