This option champions the university's traditional purpose to provide everyone equal opportunity to a broad education which emphasizes the ability to question, to think, to speculate. A broad education shapes the whole person, rather than simply preparing us for a specific job. Exploring our and others' communities nurtures us as individuals and also our culture and democracy. We must teach, not just train. Unemployment is the root of so many of our social problems and it is irresponsible to push everyone into college when many would be better served in a training program.
People can read and find information on their own.
Certainly there is no easy answer, no one choice which will solve all our problems. Perhaps it is therefore reassuring to hear a report from the front line which emphasizes some peoples' appreciation for and understanding of our work. They see the value of research though would like to have more faculty teaching than doing research. The public's support is very broad but its depth has not been plumbed. The consequences of not providing proper access to quality education is heard in their concern about being prepared for a future that all expect to be more complicated, faster tracked, and full of change.