Op-Ed On Private Greatness For William and Mary

This Blog is inspired by President Gene Nichol's recent call for a conversation within the William and Mary Community (students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, etc.) about what it means for William and Mary to be both "Public" and "Great." The Blog will no doubt touch upon other issues of importance to the William and Mary Community. Feel free to participate, regardless of your agreement or disagreement with the ideas expressed herein.

Here is an Op-ed I recently published in the William and Mary Flat Hat contending that there are no positive attributes of public universities not also present at many private schools. Thus, there is no quitessential (positive) distinction between William and Mary and its private peers. The piece suggests that privatization would enhance the academic program here without detracting from whatever public purposes we wish to pursue. Feel free to comment, pro or con.

http://flathat.wm.edu/story.php?issue=2005-09-09&type=2&aid=3