COLLOQUY

THE QUESTION

RESPONSES

BACKGROUND

Many went to school, especially graduate school, for different reasons. The one who put most of his/her energy in study is extremely fragile if he/she did not fulfill that dream in return. I believe that most graduated students went to school not because of money, but because of "idealism." Based on this ground he/she can keep the dream... but when reality "bites" himself/herself... graduate school or academic career becomes the "battle ground" of mind-game players. An academic career seems not to be as respectable as it was in the old days.

Now I read this news (I hope I'm still awake!) that events also occur at the most prestigious universities like Harvard. I felt that humanity has collapsed. I wonder what is wrong with education at that high level. Did graduate students need the labor unions (like blue collar workers) to protect their interests? If they do, the intellectual sense is gone forever. Did we need to change the education system? Yes! But how? While graduate students worked like dogs to get a Ph.D. degree, and assistant professors worked like dogs to get tenured. All the young minds have been wasted for political games instead of intellectual idealism.

-- post-graduate physics, UT (posted 11/8, 10:20 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)

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