<p>Windslicer - you state that you love how Chicago is, and that’s great, but do you really not see that there are certain areas where Chicago definitely needs to improve? </p>
<p>I certainly think that the U of C’s relation with the city should get better. Chicago still seems aloof and distant - and its relations with Hyde Park and the greater city of Chicago have been icy at times. In part, this comes from Chicago’s elitist, sorta erudite and inaccessible reputation, and I can’t see why we would want to keep this going. Michelle Obama often talked about her early impressions of the U of C as being negative, and she made strides during her time their to improve Chicago’s connection to the city. </p>
<p>I absolutely think this should continue, and our reputation for being a cold and distant place from the city of Chicago does us no favors. There’s no reason for this sort of tension to exist. Many other top major urban universities have far less frosty relations with their respective cities. There’s no reason Chicago should not follow suit on this front. </p>
<p>In terms of broadening Chicago’s goal beyond simply being “the teacher of teachers,” I see no problem with this. By virtue of being a meritocratic, intense, and scholarly place, Chicago will always produce the next generation of scholars. At the same time, a Chicago background can prepare students for success in myriad fields - and that’s exactly what a liberal arts education is supposed to do. Contending that the best use of a broad, expansive liberal arts curriculum is academia is too narrow of a goal.</p>