This first part is slightly troubling to me because on the one hand I agree with the fact that French is an important language to teach when dealing with the pursuit of the sciences, but there are also other equally important languages as well. Yes the Enlightenment largely took place in France and was lead by many French scientists and philosophers, the Golden Age of Islam also gave way to some of the earliest scientific breakthroughs. There was a time when Arabic was the language of science. It was even during this time that physicist Ibn al-Haytham discovered the scientific method! Although French is rich in a similar way, there is no one language of intercourse in the world. We should continue to foster the learning of all languages to create an even more globally connected society.

It is interesting to read the document that outlined what the original UVA student should expect to learn while enrolled at the University. These days you hardly hear somebody say, "Oh I want to improve my morals and faculties by reading." Instead they talk about how they want to be a doctor or a stock broker or start their own small business. It is rather refreshing to read that once upon a time it was the norm for institutions of higher education to put emphasis on how to be a good, ethical citizen rather than on how to find the integral of a polynomial. It is apparent that the University saw civic engagement as a crucial component of a UVA education. Knowing how to interact with coworkers/neighbors/bosses is sometimes a more important skill than one would think.

Self-governance has been at the core of the University of Virginia ever since its founding. It is remarkable to see that the spirit of honor and responsibility is still so active in the community. Students truly do take this attitude to heart. From the very start, students have shaped the ideals of their community at the University. Although the administration plays one role or another in almost every other sector of student life, they have left self-governance up to us. From the honor society to student council, we are in control. The real world is shaped by those who put in the effort to make it a better place. What better way to begin this initiative than at the collegiate level?

It is interesting to read that the founders of the University viewed civic engagement as something expected of all graduates. By receiving a multifaceted education, students were entrusted with a sense of responsibility to serve the community. This is rather unsurprising since many of the founders of the University were also founders of the nation. Leading others and engaging politically was something they viewed as a given. I am enthused to read these lines because I happen to share the same views. The founders saw education as the key to a politically engaged and active society.