<p>As I was reading the article, I thought, well, I don’t agree with everything he is saying, but I can understand his angst watching the cherished tradition and culture he long nurtured and has been part of turning into something he may no longer be able to recognize… Then, I noticed, he is a member of the class of 2012. He is only a sophomore, and there, he lost all credibility. </p>
<p>It’s one thing for somebody who has been part of the community for a long time, has a first hand experience with the overall atmosphere, the sacred tradition and all that to lament over the changes. As a 2012’er, he have no first hand personal experience that enables him to say “woe is me, my beloved U Chicago as I have known is no more”. So, he is personally experiencing the changing tide at Chicago after only one year, without any real, personal experience that enables him to do “before and after” comparison? Or, is he just repeating what others told him about U Chicago well before he ever came to the place without any critical thinking and evaluation of his own -does not sound like a serious intellectual to me.</p>
<p>The whole article sounded rather like a quasi, half baked, “the young people these days are no good” type lament that was found on a 4000 year old clay Mesopotamian tablet. </p>
<p>By the way, why are we continuing to think that pre-professionalism is incompatible with an intellectual pursuit? Where is it written that profound thoughts are only to be found among those with an empty stomach or those who only occasionally peak out of the academic hideouts? </p>
<p>I DO want to see Chicago remain true to its mantra of the life of the mind - that’s why we are paying through the nose for our son (2013)'s education there. I want U Chicago to educate the next generation of business leaders, political leaders, thought leaders, artists and so on who have a serious intellectual fire power and the the mindset of looking at the problems we are all facing with a nuanced understanding of the world’s history, culture, and diversity. </p>
<p>I am hoping for a president who would never say things like “Crusade” when he is dealing with the Middle Eastern powers with a 10 tone historical baggage dating bake 1000 years. I am hoping that my Wall Street bound son will have a much greater understanding of the entire ecosystem - cultural, economical, political -he is operating in. </p>
<p>Education for this, I firmly believe, is much more likely to be found at U Chicago than other top universities. So far, he is far exceeding my expectation. His growth at Chicago has been so satisfying for me to watch.</p>