Drexel centennial panel discusses education

As part of their centennial celebration, Drexel University students, faculty and alumni crowded Drexel's Mandell Theater on Monday for a forum entitled, "The Frontiers of Education: Into the 21st Century." Six prominent educators discussed controversial topics in higher education at the Founder's Day panel moderated by longtime CBS newsman Walter Cronkite. The panel began by debating the pros and cons of political correctness. Mary Berry, a University history professor, said that PC is a positive trend because it causes change. Following a panelist's complaint that university curriculums are "Eurocentric," Berry added that she while she favors increased education on Western civilization, she would like to see "a new angle of vision" to include minority experience. Boston University President John Silber warned that many adherents of PC "go overboard" and that "advocates of PC become censors." To teach awareness to other people's sensitivities, Lincoln University President Niara Sudarkasa noted that many universities today talk of internationalizing their curriculum. "We are the most linguistically impoverished people on the globe," she added. Other panelists agreed that universities fail to equip students to gain cultural perspectives. However, Silber warned that foreign culture and values should be studied with caution. He said that that Western ideals should not be given up in the process of gaining perspective on others. For example, he said, "morals of Muslim countries are inconsistent with the liberation of women." "We don't have to accept nor adopt differences, but an educated person must understand these differences," he said. In answer to Cronkite's query of whether the U.S. remains on the cutting edge of industry, James Powell, the president of the Franklin Institute, proudly pointed to Drexel's program of expecting all freshmen to own computers. He explained that the U.S. is "on top" with computer use but said that Japan is catching up. Berry attributed the main problem of science education to a lack of funding. She blasted the federal government for not "making the kinds of contributions it should." The panel advocated a general liberal arts education. Education should prepare the student for lifelong learning, Sudarkasa explained. "When people [are] confronted with changing technology they can adapt" with a liberal arts education, she said. Regarding the discussion on gaining different perspectives at the university level, Drexel sophomore Tara Quay explained that while Drexel is diverse, "not many people here choose to take [advantage of] it." During the reception Cronkite said higher education is doing "a good job," but "lower education" is failing. "Perhaps lower education is failing because higher education is not helping [it] out," Cronkite added.

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