The Gadfly 06 !"#$%&'(&)*+%*+,"*-!"./0&'(&)12*3&*4$"&*5"++"/ !"#$%&'$('))'*$+,-(./&'"$&'*'$./$0$/)0)'1'2)$34$532/'2/,/$"'6'(3+'"$4*31$/),"'2)/7$02"$*'5'2)$8*0",9 0)'/7$*'/+32/'/$)3$)&'$/,*6':$;<=>$?'-*02".28#$!.8&)$@3.2)/$34$>325'*2AB$02"$)3$02$'0*(.'*$/,*6':$ C*.))'2$-:$D0,*0$>('6'(02"$EF7GHIJ$%&'$('))'*$C0/$C*.))'2$53((0-3*0).6'(:$02"$*'6./'"$36'*$)&'$53,*/'$ 34$0$4'C$C''K/A$)3$50+),*'$531132$*'/+32/'/$)3$'05&$+*3+3/0(A$02"$)3$+*36."'$/31'$0()'*20).6'$02"$ 0"".).320($/,88'/).32/$43*$)&'$>3(('8'7/$10*K').28J %&'$/),"'2)/$02"$*'5'2)$8*0"/$C&3$532)*.-,)'"$)3$)&'$('))'*$.25(,"'$>&'(/'0$F"01/$EF7GLIA$D,./$F(-0$ M060**3$E&'2$E3,*/':$E&*./$P0)*0K./$E(0:$EF7GLIA$ X(3*.0$U5X.(('2$EQJ Members of SJC Classes 2011-2016 T o St. John’s College Board of Visitors and Governors, confidence in marketing. In the following group responses to Presidents Nelson and Peters, Vice Presidents Goyette and Siegelvision’s proposals, we believe we are also speaking for Mora, Deans Kraus and Sterling, and other members of the these students. College-wide committee collaborating with Siegelvision: As members of St. John’s College Classes of 2011-2016, we The College should drop its emphasis on “books” and instead emmatriculated in a period of economic hardship and popular phasize “ideas.” criticism of American higher education. Many schools have begun to see declines in applications and enrollment, and we Books—not textbooks or professors—are the vehicle for the regret the impact this trend has had on St. John’s. It indicates ideas discussed in most St. John’s classes. This distinctive apthat the College must better promote its mission and the value proach appeals to young people who are intellectually indeof its education, and we appreciate your efforts to accomplish pendent and curious, and who enjoy reading. Many people this. share these qualities—the type of students who would thrive We understand that Siegelvision’s staff is working with you in a growing relationship to the Program over four years. St. to implement several changes to the ColJohn’s attracts them by confidently aclege’s marketing, which are intended to knowledging the role books play in its We believe new marketreach more students who would succeed in students’ learning and conversation. Dethe Program and find themselves at home ing can make a significant emphasizing books in favor of ideas would in the polity. As current students and recent obscure one of the most important features contribution, but only if graduates of St. John’s, we have a great deal of the curriculum and culture of St. John’s, it also allows members in common with these potential applicants, and would risk losing the attention of the of the existing St. John’s and we believe it is important that we make College’s audience. ourselves heard more clearly as you work to community to recognize address this group of our peers. Each of us The College must drop the term “liberal and admire the College has his or her own topmost concerns about arts” and differentiate itself from other “libas we have known it. what we understand Siegelvision has proeral arts” colleges. Public perception of what posed, but we recognize the importance of is meant by this phrase is far from what we one another’s thoughts. Together, we are writing you to give mean by it, and it has become a distraction. voice to the ideas and reservations that are shared by many among us. We will leave our personal thoughts to individual Schools that have strayed from the mission of liberal educaletters and conversation: tion might be wise to shed the term, but St. John’s has purThe College’s recent marketing has important strengths that sued this work consistently for more than 75 years. It is the should not be shed for its weaknesses. Many of us can clearly only undergraduate program the College offers. Despite cost, recall how it grabbed our attention and helped lead us to St. and because of value, the term “liberal arts” maintains many John’s. Our impressions began to develop through meaning- positive connotations among our generation—of small classes, ful elements of the College brand—for instance, a seal studded dedicated faculty, academic excellence, and attention to lasting with seven texts and a Latin phrase, an announcement about qualities and skills. The College’s pure approach to the liberal “The Following Teachers,” and an iconic stack of books. They arts provides these things, but it also goes further toward the clearly suggested the spirit of the Program and the interests original meaning of the term: the pursuit of a good life through of the College community as we know them. Today, these el- freedom of mind. St. John’s brings this endeavor into focus for ements must be balanced with content that better addresses four years and then sends its alumni into the world to continue, students’ and parents’ practical concerns. But to subtly over- for themselves and others, through whatever they choose to haul these essentials would obscure the real value of St. John’s do. St. John’s should embrace the liberal arts for these riches and the identity of its community. This approach risks alienat- and work harder to improve itself in the areas where the term ing our like-minded peers, who are moved by authenticity and rings hollow. “

The Gadfly, Vol. XXXV, Issue 2