What Is A University?

Editor's Introduction to Issue 1

Dear reader,

Welcome to The Austin Beacon, an independent student publication committed to presenting well-argued, insightful, and diverse discussions of topics and issues concerning American college students. We have been building this student publication from the ground up all summer and the work is coming to fruition in this inaugural issue! This all started as an idea between two future classmates (Kellen Clark and Caterina Erlinger), and then through conversation and collaboration it grew as people joined to work as writers, editors, designers, journalists, video producers, and overall support. 

The Austin Beacon is inspired by the same organizing spirit of the University of Austin, a spirit we know is present but perhaps dormant around the country. When so many are driven apart from fear, we are joined by a common excitement. Instead of silence and self-censorship, here there is an eager, unhindered sparring of ideas to produce honest and valuable work. Indeed, it has been work, but out of it there can be true childlike gratitude of having found others to play with.

We had to work together, be generous with our skills and knowledge, choose humility for the bigger goal to advance, make mistakes and learn at each step, and in the process we made something that we are really proud of. We as the lead editors of the Austin Beacon present to you our first ever issue!

What Is A University?

This is our theme of exploration by which we have gathered companions to work it out. We muck about, but we take our mucking very seriously. We are wandering into walls, warning each other of sharp corners - from logical fallacies to pernicious assumptions, and trying to communicate them to each other. By the way, that is why we write, because we see corners and we see treasure and we are trying to tell each other about both. Before us lies the next frontier of our learning adventure, University. Read on and join us as we begin to find the edges of our home for the next four years.

We start out on our university adventure for various reasons, and so it is important to learn who our companions are and where they come from. That is why we took the time to create Profiles From the Class of 2028.

The interests, hopes, and dreams that drive educational pursuits are surely diverse. However, the vision for what a university as a whole ought be directs the outcome of all who participate. Perhaps Universities Must Return To Their Purpose.

Some students come fleeing dark caves of shadows, some come starving. Many are malnourished, fed comic book versions of Frankenstein and breakfast cereal classics. Emma Shay-Tannas mourns her high school education filled with plastic swords play time. In her pursuit of a true liberal education she urges us to instead Read 1984 Like You Read The Bible.

We must ask ourselves if university is worth it. The road to career seems to often force us to weigh trade-offs and judge our options with wisdom. Even when paths are chosen, decisions are not always final and new opportunities can present themselves. Sayer Baca was a filmmaker who initially saw no value in going to university but ultimately decided that Artists Need College Too.

William Posey reminds us of the social and cultural importance of university, the power it has in shaping our elites and our society. In his piece, he speaks directly to the American right, taking head-on the calls to abandon the universities. His insistence is clear, Seize The Day.

Pull up a chair, all of you, we want to hear what you have to say. We do not just tolerate talk, we want to hear you out. That is the case McKenna makes in her feature. In order to Revive La Dissedence we need to actively promote pluralism by choosing to join in conversation with people despite and particularly when they deeply disagree.

Fortunately, we are guided by those much wiser than ourselves. We would be remiss to ignore the insight of long time university heroes. That is why we are grateful for the Talks With the Men Leading UATX. The students of this brand new school, and by extension this publication, owes a debt of gratitude to all the men and women who have adventured before us.

We hope you will join in the adventure, read our work and tell us what you think! 

Best regards,
The Editorial Team