STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW HISTORICAL CONTEXT

 

Further to the request in the Alumni Gazette about suggestions for Founder’s Day, I wish to say first that this is an excellent idea and should be both continued and extended.

 

Of course, it does reinforce our connection to Western. But I believe it strikes other equally important notes. Today’s students have never been more in need of historical context, the context that is essential in these tumultuous times. The students have a hunger for this historical background. As a professor of economics, I see this in my own classroom.

 

Moreover, we can use the Founder’s theme to highlight other founding accomplishments of Western’s alumni and faculty - founders of companies, charities, public policy initiatives and so on.

 

Now more than ever, we need to nurture the “founding mentality” in our students. In today’s environment, Western’s grads need to rise to higher challenges and none are higher than to found a business, institution or major initiative.

 

This could be a very robust theme and would relate to other elements of Western’s present direction.

LARRY SMITH, DIPED’69 (ALTHOUSE) ADJUNCT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO