I want to thank The Chronicle for printing my opinion piece and providing a forum for this discussion. Over the past week, I received many emails and phone calls on the topic of intellectual life on college campuses. I also read the daily listing of comments in this colloquy and all of this has helped me refine my own views. First, I don't want to leave the impression that I think that students at all mainstream universities and colleges are coasting.
Many students are intellectually engaged and work hard.
They do so by choice and desire. That doesn't mean that they don't also enjoy a sunny day on the campus quad playing ultimate Frisbee or go out at night and party. But they do take their classes seriously. Intellectual achievement isn't restricted to those who wish to be lifelong intellectuals or professors. The students that I've enjoyed teaching have had a wide degree of professional aspirations, from being the next Michael Eisner to going back home and taking over the family farm.