Attacking the elites : what critics get wrong--and right--about America's leading universities / Derek Bok.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bok, Derek Curtis, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Universities and colleges--United States.

Universities and colleges.

Education, Higher--United States.

Education, Higher.

Elite (Social sciences)--United States.

Elite (Social sciences).

Physical Description:

ix, 234 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New Haven ; London : Yale University Press, [2024]

Summary:

"Elite American universities, such as Yale, Harvard, and Princeton, are admired throughout the world. They attract highly qualified applicants, and most of their graduates go on to lead successful lives. Scholars and researchers at elite universities contribute to knowledge that benefits the public in countless ways, from the discovery of ancient texts to breakthroughs at the forefront of medical technology. These same elite institutions, however, are beset by criticism from both sides of America's ideological divide. Liberals press them to enroll more low-income students and to use their reputations and endowments to induce corporations to adopt more just, equitable, and environmentally sound policies. Conservative politicians accuse the universities' predominantly liberal faculty of indoctrinating students. The Supreme Court has recently prohibited universities from giving preference to Black and Hispanic applicants for admission, sparking a wider debate over the policies of elite universities in choosing their student body. Drawing on over fifty years of experience as a student, professor, dean, and president of Harvard University, Derek Bok examines the current disputes involving admissions, diversity, academic freedom and political correctness, curriculum and teaching, and even athletics in order to determine which complaints are unsubstantiated, which are valid, and how elite universities can best respond to their critics."--Publisher.

Contents:

Part I. The role of elite universities in America. Why have our leading universities been so succesful, and what responsibilities do they owe in return?

A view from the bridge : why elite presidents are proud of their universities

Part II. The liberal critique. Choosing whom to admit to elite universities in an age of extreme inequality

Student protests and the role of elite universities in combating evil and injustice in the world

Reparations : the bitter legacy of slavery and an attempt to repair the damage

Part III. The conservative critique. Are college students being indoctrinated by liberal professors?

The campaign against racial preferences as elite universities seek to diversify their student bodies

Have elite universities sacrificed freedom of speech in their effort to provide a supportive environment for all students?

Part IV. Beyond the ideological divide. Should our leading universities do more to improve the quality of education?

The many sins of intercollegiate athletics

Dire thoughts before daybreak about the future of elite universities

Conclusion. What elite universities could do.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780300273601

0300273606

OCLC:

1395422371