Lacking in love for STEM

Dear University President Wallace Loh and Provost Ann Wylie: There is no higher calling for science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related education today; the need for STEM majors in America is more critical than ever.

In 2009, President Barack Obama launched “Educate to Innovate,” a campaign to train the next generation of American scientists, engineers and technical innovators. This issue is of utmost importance if America is going to retain its technical and innovative edge in the areas of STEM.

I’m truly speechless at this point. I see you two justifying why a tuition increase should be given to STEM-related majors in a number of  strange ways. The fact that a proposal to increase tuition for STEM majors is even being entertained and advocated is shocking. You know what, I’ll be blunt and tell it like it is: This is deplorable, despicable and asinine.

I hate the fact that education and learning has to be tied with money. I’m in school because I love to learn; learning is an intrinsically beautiful experience of a subliminal nature. By associating money with education, the intrinsic beauty of learning is polluted and degraded. It’s true: Instead of focusing on how best to learn the material, you’re left wondering how you can even make it through the next semester, given the heartaches at home (parental job loss, change of income, etc.).

For you, Loh, I read in a Diamondback article you believe it’s morally justified to raise the tuition of STEM majors, because they make more money. Where is the justification? It’s true that STEM majors earn more in their lifetime, but even STEM majors struggle to find jobs in today’s feeble economy. If you are seeking any sort of large donation from an alumnus who makes it big in the future, what sort of message are you sending them when you increase their educational expenses? And by the way, some kid is going to make it big. The next big thing is going to be the person who has the skills to do something innovative. That person is going to look back on his or her school experience at this university with disdain if such a proposal is enacted.

Is this university committed to excellence in STEM when we look at Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley as our rivals? Find some other way – but don’t perpetuate the fallacy that more money from the students will raise the overall quality of our programs. No disrespect, but this letter is written like I see it. I’m sure you two are nice people, but I have a say in this, too.

YINGQUAN LI

SOPHOMORE

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING