As Washington State University Vancouver continues to grow and further entrench itself into the culture and economy of Southwest Washington, it is necessary to consider the role of higher education in the United States.
That role does not have universal support; in fact, it is facing what could be considered an unprecedented attack. A poll last year from Pew Research Center found that a majority of Americans who identify as Republicans said colleges and universities have a negative effect on the country. In 2010, polling found that 58 percent of Republicans believed colleges have a positive impact; by last year, 58 percent said that impact was negative. Among Democrats, those who said colleges are beneficial grew from 65 percent in 2010 to 72 percent in 2017.
As David A. Graham wrote for The Atlantic last July: “Conservative media has focused heavily on campus protests, free-speech clashes, and debates over (for example) whether offering ethnic food in dining halls constitutes cultural appropriation.” Indeed, colleges have become a focal point of this nation’s culture wars and, in the process, have become a frequent punching bag for dogma-driven politicization.
But thinking of universities as having a negative impact upon the nation is an absurd rejection of education, threatening one of this nation’s greatest strengths. Following World War II, increased access to higher education (largely through the G.I. Bill) was essential to building the American middle class and establishing the 20th century as The American Century. Strong universities, both public and private, have made the United States worldwide leaders in learning that attract students from around the globe. And research at U.S. colleges has led to countless innovations that impact our lives on a daily basis — in a positive way.
