knowledge and civic virtues necessary for the challenges of self-government, informed civic participation, and reasonable disagreement across divergent views.

The protests only confirm this concern. Again, the student interest in larger moral purpose and civic participation cannot redeem the dark, illiberal core of the demonstrations. The basic truth is that too many students—and faculty and administrators—are too susceptible to extreme, anti-academic practices that undermine the reasonable discourse and civil disagreement that should define higher education, and which in turn prepares students to lead and contribute in a healthy American civic life.

Educators, trustees, alumni, and donors must connect this campus dysfunction to the larger problem of America’s angry polarization—itself caused in part by higher education’s abandonment of traditional civic education..."

I found political life thrilling. Every day was an opportunity to learn something new, and the subjects to be explored were wide-ranging..."