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Editorial ColumnsCelebrating the People's University
Graham B. Spanier
February 22, 2005 The idea was daring and financially risky. In 1855, rural Centre County was chosen as the site for a new school that would serve the working class. It was a school that would combat widespread illiteracy and put knowledge in the hands of farmers and tradesmen. The school would eventually become The Pennsylvania State University. It was a time when the United States population was more than 80 percent rural. Most of the West was wilderness. College was strictly for the wealthy. To some, the notion of providing opportunity for everyone to be educated, no matter one's social standing, was nothing short of impossible. To others, the idea of educating commoners and bringing science and discovery to America's farms was visionary. The founding of Penn State on this day 150 years ago is a monumental moment not only in the University's history, but in the history of our nation as well. The creation of a school that would be "accessible to the sons of toil" signified a marked shift in ideas about education and how America would pursue its new-found democratic ideals. The idea that knowledge in the hands of the people was key to our nation's survival and success was a profound suggestion that would propel America forward. Today's celebration of Penn State's history -- complete with a birthday cake and ringing of Old Main's bells -- provides an opportunity to recognize education's continuing role in American life and to take stock of the progress made. It also allows us to consider our growing responsibilities for not only educating citizens and leaders for a democratic society, but also for improving the world through research and service. As Pennsylvania's sole land-grant university, a designation that occurred seven years after its founding, Penn State upholds a three-part mission of teaching, research, and service. That lofty sounding undertaking has been Penn State's mission since its founding, but what exactly does it mean? It means that over the past 150 years, Penn State has been the source of unimagined scientific discoveries, major improvements in human health, countless agricultural innovations, stunning breakthroughs in information technology, vital improvements in education at all levels, expertise on global issues, and answers to a host of urgent social needs. As Penn State's land-grant heritage prescribes, the University and its people have put knowledge to work for society -- not only through its nearly $607 million research enterprise, but also through the high quality education it offers, its cultural assets, and its vast number of programs and partnerships across the state. In a recent economic impact study released by the firm Tripp Umbach and Associates, Penn State was found to be the single largest contributor to Pennsylvania's economy, generating $6.14 billion annually in direct economic impact to the state. The University also indirectly affects activities such as research commercialization, having a total economic impact on the Commonwealth of more than $13 billion a year. I firmly believe there is no other American enterprise that offers such enormous potential for improving the quality of life. There is no greater contributor to economic development, no better place to encourage innovation or discovery, no endeavor that plays a more pivotal role in influencing generations of leaders, no enterprise more closely linked to our future success, and no place superior in its commitment to the common good. Land-grant institutions like Penn State are extraordinary in their ability to touch every sector of society. On February 22, 150 years ago, a group of pioneering individuals initiated the story of Penn State and in doing so opened a remarkable chapter in American higher education. Those far-sighted men knew what education could accomplish and the many benefits it would bestow on Pennsylvania and the nation. Their powerful vision is reinvigorated every day by the people and students who are part of Penn State's 24 campuses. At Penn State, we are proud of our heritage as one of the "people's universities," as Abraham Lincoln aptly called land-grant colleges. On this anniversary of Penn State's founding, I ask everyone in our community to please join me in celebrating the University's contributions, its enduring legacy, and its promise of an even more remarkable future rooted in public purpose. At 150 years young, Penn State is exceptionally prepared to educate more citizens and to tackle the most perplexing societal issues raised in this century and beyond. Happy Birthday Dear Old State! |
