Page 18 - Considering College

Vincent J. Cannato outlines the push and pull of home ownership in a National Affairs essay, “A
Home of One’s Own,” a piece that doesn’t distinguish clearly between thoughtful and thoughtless
homeownership. President Harry Truman glued together homeownership and higher education

as key components of the G.I. Bill that would resettle and energize a nation coming home from
war. Universities can ill afford to neglect the impact of over borrowing in pursuit of the American

dream.
During my visit to Canyon High School, I suggested to the students, “If you have to borrow money
to attend WT as a freshman or sophomore, please don’t come here, but graduate debt-free from a

community college.”

One local leader in Canyon asked me if I feared firing for suggesting that students should not
attend WT but go to a lower-priced community college. My simple-minded response: “For telling

the truth?” The leadership of Chancellor John Sharp and the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M
University System is rigorously focused on honest, forthright communication. Truthfulness and

transparency are foundational burdens of effective service in a republic.

Panhandle pragmatism rules in Canyon, Texas. Education is both a value

proposition and a valued proposition. Dollars and good sense work
together where land, natural resources and agriculture are woven into an

economy that cannot thrive without thoughtful utilization of

all resources and the opportunities provided by them.

A local banker praised the position saying he too frequently had to deny mortgage loans to families
due to over indebtedness from education loans. Being transparent is critical in gaining the trust of
future students. Wherever their aspirations take them, their perception of our university’s

integrity and honesty is paramount. I am betting my professional career that such relationships
will prevail.

Panhandle pragmatism rules in Canyon, Texas. Education is both a value proposition and a valued

proposition. Dollars and good sense work together where land, natural resources and agriculture
are woven into an economy that cannot thrive without thoughtful utilization of all resources and

the opportunities provided by them.

Seek a university that appreciates the fullness of the American Dream and sees a university

education, when it is desired and earned, as only one element of that aspiration.