MCC Daily Tribune

Dr. Scanlon's Article: "Ivory Tower or Town Square? Anti-Elitism and the Civic Purposes of Higher Education"

Political scientist and Professor Joe Scanlon, and two other scholars recently published a written interview in the Kettering Foundation’s Higher Education Exchange periodical. The discussion, titled “Ivory Tower or Town Square? Anti-Elitism and the Civic Purposes of Higher Education,” focuses on the connection between higher education and civic education and democracy. “Three scholars reflect on the civic purposes of higher education, suggesting that, despite the emergence of a civic engagement movement in academia, the disconnect between citizens and professionals persists and has intensified. They propose that institutions of higher education make a more visible and concerted effort to address political polarization on their campuses and in their communities, which would include engaging with those who are most skeptical and critical of higher education and the professionals whom it trains and credentials.” 

The full interview can be found here: Higher Education Exchange 2022: Anti-Elitism and the Civic Purposes of Higher Education | Kettering Foundation

Nayda Pares-Kane
Anthrop/History/Poli. Science/Sociology
09/13/2022