As a major American research university, Princeton ought to draw a clear lesson from this: Faced with a government that rightly or wrongly prioritizes direct and tangible benefits over visionary but less practical scientific pursuits, academics must ensure that a place exists for the pursuit of bigger projects. It is the job of the Princeton community - students, alumni, faculty and administrators - to push for projects like the LHC and to convince the world of their value. It should be noted that there are Princeton scientists in Switzerland this week. But when President Tilghman is asked by a Congress that rejected the SSC why Princeton needs its huge endowment, she should remind them that Princeton is not just in the business of providing a great education and great financial aid - it's in the business of sometimes pushing those "big things" that the government and the private sector won't do.
It is true that massive projects in the scientific and humanistic arenas - even those dwarfed by the LHC - are not only very expensive but don't necessarily have direct effects on the day-to-day or year-to-year business of our university. But after all, to set our aspirations based solely on such metrics as yield, financial aid distributed and admissions rate is to miss the point.
Defending funding for another major particle accelerator before Congress, physicist Robert Wilson was asked by a senator if the expensive project would have any value to our country's defense. "No sir," he responded, "I don't believe so. It has only to do with the respect with which we regard one another, the dignity of people, our love of culture. It has to do with are we good painters, good sculptors, great poets. I mean all the things we really venerate in our country and are patriotic about. It has nothing to do directly with defending our country except make it worth defending." It is with this outlook that we should take on the great and visionary endeavors often proposed at Princeton: not only as means to support our university, but rather to make it worth supporting in the first place.
Want to be a member of the Daily Princetonian's editorial board? Visit the Opinion section's online application center today! Applications are due Sept. 25.
Read More
Why can’t lecturers win the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching?
Jerry ZhuLet’s acknowledge those who make “boutique teaching” possible, those who work tirelessly to make our rigorous curricula more accessible, and those who dedicate their time to advising and guiding us through all the challenges we face at this University. Lecturers should be eligible for the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Let’s acknowledge those who make “boutique teaching” possible, those who work tirelessly to make our rigorous curricula more accessible, and those who dedicate their time to advising and guiding us through all the challenges we face at this University. Lecturers should be eligible for the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Princeton’s administration of justice is Trumpian
Frances BroganThe disparity between the University’s approach to Giberson and its approach to pro-Palestinian protestors reflects a concerning trend of appeasing an increasingly emboldened right rather than resisting the threat it poses to academic freedom and the wellbeing of Princeton students.
Secular Opening Exercises? Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water
Frank StrasburgerThe secular makes no room for the spiritual. What Opening Exercises are meant to convey is the spirit of the institution so that it may be kept alive from generation to generation.
The secular makes no room for the spiritual. What Opening Exercises are meant to convey is the spirit of the institution so that it may be kept alive from generation to generation.
