Late last week, the faculty of Mount St. Maryâ??s issued a letter to the schoolâ??s president, asking him to resign. Thus far, Newman has resisted such calls, and a survey commissioned by the student government actually revealed strong student support for the embattled president.
It would be easy to view this episode as a unique instance of a brash personality from the business world clashing with academics in the ivory tower. But to do so would be a mistake.
Rather, the incident represents a pivotal moment in the history of American higher education, and it portends future battles. At issue is nothing less than the purpose of a university in the 21st century, and whether the future landscape includes a place for religious colleges in the U.S.
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