Another reason

Submitted by Barbara Runkel (Germany), Jan 31, 2003 at 04:56

Hi. While I certainly agree that more can be done at American universities to make them the open forum that they are meant to be, I can also think of a very practical reason for the administrations reacting the way they do. University education costs money, most of which still comes out of Mom and Dad's pocket, be it in payment of fees or having a fully adult offspring consuming from but not contributing to the family budget. How many parents would willingly pay money to send the kids to a place where the furniture is smashed or even buildings burned over political issues that (most Americans think) actually exist 3,000 miles away? I can see the university administrators thinking along these lines and wondering what rock star they can lure on campus for a concert instead.
Of course, the whole point is to tell people that the issue isn't "out there", but right at our front door. but how many Americans - or Europeans for that matter - are willing to hear it?

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