Mary Dauterman

Idea of a University

Newman says it is important “to enlarge the range of studies which a University professes, even for the sake of the students; and, though they cannot pursue every subject which is open to them, they will be the gainers by living among those and under those who represent the whole circle,” (309) A University is this whole circle. The students, the teachers, the buildings, the classes—all make up what we perceive as a place of learning and growth.

Why are we here? Newman speaks of “an assemblage of learned men, zealous for their own sciences” (309), who are brought together to form a university. Therefore, the goal of a university is not solely to better one’s individual self, to become selfish and concentrate on personal gains, but to form relationships with others and to learn how to build communities. Subsequently, the individual’s ambition should be to broaden his mind rather than focus on his own goals. By intermixing his passions with “the great outlines of knowledge” (Newman, 309), the student is equipped with a liberal education. The goal of the university is the same goal of the individual: “the culture of the intellect—and that liberal education is the cultivation of the intellect” (Flawn, 306).

I, like many others, was at first wary of pursing a liberal arts education. But during my senior year in my European history class we learned about the Renaissance, a time in which a well-rounded education was the general goal; this made me take a second look at a liberal arts major. Like Megan, I too think of Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man when I think of the liberal arts education. Who wouldn’t want to posses wisdom in every subject, to be well balanced and knowledgeable in case of any challenge that might present itself? We may be here a little longer and we hay have to work a little harder, but true seekers of knowledge are willing to pursue the goal of becoming modern Vitruvian men and women.