Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: Opinion

In response to "Heart and Brain," there are two major flaws in this argument. First, if the conservatism that inspires our traditions doesn't matter, then why choose A&M? Take t.u. for example, they have almost as many traditions as we do. Under the argument presented in the column, that would mean there is little difference between us as far as traditions go. But our traditions are very different because they are backed by different values; A&M's are conservative military traditions while t.u.'s are liberal and clichéd. Second, the column argues, wrongly, that conservative values are diametrically opposed to open-minded research. One example that the author mentions is embryonic stem cell research. It is rightly pointed out that conservative Aggies would oppose it, but it is also true that liberals push such research despite the fact that there is a legitimate debate over whether other sources of stem cells are just as promising. The closed-minded argument cuts both ways. In conclusion, liberal institutions dominate academia, there needs to be somewhere that a conservative can safely express views, and A&M is that place. These values give us a unique niche we will lose if we abandon them.

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