Are students a university’s customers? Is a “business model” the best way to construe a university’s function? Should university professors be in the business of generating customer satisfaction? Should a university serve the same set of values as Honest Al’s Used Cars?

Such ideas are popular among certain elements of the political fringe. For instance, they are promulgated by the Texas Public Policy Center, a politically-connected, far-right “think” tank, that has the ear of our governor and many state legislators.

But the idea is loony. A university professor has the job of educating students, not making them happy. The customer is always right.  Students are not always right. When students do inadequate work professors have the job of telling them so. Like a minister, priest, or rabbi, a professor has to hold his or her charges to a high standard, and admonish them when they fall short. Continue Reading

Dear Editor:

We would like to address The Signal and the student body at large concerning the issue of concealed handguns on campus.  This important piece of Texas legislation is currently pending before the public safety committee in the House. The Senate also has the bill appropriated in committee.  While a majority of state representatives have expressed an opinion in favor of this bill, it has not yet come to a vote on the floor of either body. Continue Reading