A new university, one that does not conform to far-left wokeism, was announced on Monday.
The founding of the University of Austin is to be welcomed. Our colleges and universities have gone from being beacons of free speech, research, and curiosity to propaganda arms of political correctness. Marxism, bigotry, and intolerance have come to define institutions that should be beholden to no ideology — no ideology except, that is, the pursuit of reason and inquiry.
Sometimes fixing problems requires doing so within the system. But when the system is beyond repair, new organizational thinking is required. Otherwise, we must put up with the absurd. In recent years, we’ve seen thinkers and public figures whose invitations to speak at universities were canceled or who come under threat simply for speaking. We’ve seen certain groups unjustly prioritized over others. We’ve seen Jewish students face increasing antisemitism on campuses.
UATX doesn’t stand for those things. Instead, the new university’s principles are clear. According to its website:
- “Universities devoted to the unfettered pursuit of truth are the cornerstone of a free and flourishing democratic society.”
- “For universities to serve their purpose, they must be fully committed to freedom of inquiry, freedom of conscience and civil discourse.”
- “In order to maintain these principles, UATX will be fiercely independent — financially, intellectually and politically.”
How refreshing.
The institution will include prominent minds such as Bari Weiss, Arthur Brooks, Larry Summers, Niall Ferguson, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Andrew Sullivan, and Sohrab Ahmari. If only other colleges and universities offered this kind of serious ideological diversity.
Building anew is never easy. Still, complaining about the problems in higher education is not the same as finding a solution to those problems. If UATX is successful, similar institutions will pop up. And while this may be wishful thinking, existing higher educational institutions may take note.
Jackson Richman is a journalist in Washington, D.C. Follow him @jacksonrichman.
