In the midst of the partisan baloney going on in Washington, DC, America has embraced the one step forward, fifty years back mentality that will doom us as a nation for years to come. Not even the “anti-establishment” Messiahs, Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders, can save us at this point. After completing the college application and selection process, I’ll put it this way: America is the premier “Rah-rah” university of the world.
“But wait, America is number one!? We are the best country on the face of the earth!? He is just a crazy liberal!”
Let me prove it. America looks great on the college pamphlet it distributes across the country, beautiful campus, great school spirit, and the obligatory picture of an asian, an african american, and a white kid collaborating on a project. On paper, America can do no wrong, diversity, great alumni, fascinating history, and a stellar alumni network. America is the number one college on the list, and after months of begging, parents pack up the car and head to take a tour.
After a few hours on campus, it becomes apparent that maybe “USA University” is just a mirage with deep undertones of intolerance and bigotry on both sides of the political spectrum. In addition, the school’s academics are severely lacking, priorities aren’t straight, and while the school may be diverse, racial tensions are almost as strong as the disparity between the wealthy students and the ones attending on federal aid. Perhaps ,even the school’s drug policy is “one strike and you are out”.
Uhile the American bureaucracy and government is indeed more complicated than running a university, there is no excuse for the current condition of the “Greatest Country on the Face of the Earth”.
USA University would rather pass laws that allow for students to discriminate against other students than to fix the budget issues that will crumble the school in both the short run.
This isn’t about partisan issues, this is about giving every student an equal opportunity to not only just “squeak by” and graduate in four years, but to leave school with a 4.0 and money in their pocket.
While there may be a presidential election for “USA U” in November, the truth of the matter is that the students votes don’t matter- plain and simple. The wealthy alumni who have their name engraved in the buildings have taken control of the college, leaving students stuck at the Soros Library, Robert Mercer Science Lab, or the Koch Performing Arts Center with no say in their own future.
That isn’t to say that USA University can’t be the next Harvard or Princeton, the funding and potential are there, but it seems that for now at least, the students and faculty are too caught up in past glory and successes. It makes about as much sense as professing a business acumen that is unrivaled while sitting on a business degree from Trump University.
