Hints for research issues The freshman, on entering the university, is faced with the dizzying experience of a highly diversified environment with multiple options: various fields of knowledge, people, places, ideas, beliefs, etc. She soon acquires a broader vision of life, and breaks with her previous narrow college perspective. This is because she sees universality in all its dimensions in the university life.
Pope Benedict XVI, in one of his discourses directed at university students, said that this panorama presented by the University finds its harmony and meaning in the desire for knowledge which is proper to man; the desire to know the things that surround him, and to seek the truth. However, the university is not solely dedicated to speculation, because truth is not only theoretical; it also includes a practical dimension. Saint Augustine said that if a person only perceives the events of the world superficially, he may end up losing hope, but if he goes on to search for the truth, he ends up actively seeking his personal good and the good of society.
The university is – and ought to be – an autonomous institution, free from religious and political influence. The university ought to be a point of reference for the ideas which form society: the protector of the dignity of the human person, and a firm guide in the formation of the youth, the promotion of social justice, culture and science. However, this autonomy should not isolate it from the society within which it exists; on the contrary, it should make it more capable of acting as a guide, in the service of society.
The university is quite often subjected to the demands of the labour market, dedicating itself solely to the technical preparation of future workers. As a result, it seldom has the primary objective of forming persons who can live fully integrated into society and serve it as a whole. This frequently results in the impoverishment of the academic studies within the university.
The fall of the great ideologies of the contemporary age, (e.g. materialism, idealism, etc), and the religious vacuum in academic circles have also had their effects. Disillusionment, the fear of taking a stand and proclaiming objective truths predominate. This leads to scepticism, indifferentism, relativism, individualism, etc, and consequently, a lack of ideas and absence of dialogue. More often than not, this is the scenario university students are faced with and seems to be what makes them adopt the attitude of “merely passing through” the university as a necessary prerequisite to start out on a professional career.
The UNIV 2009 theme focuses on the role of university students in society. The following ideas may aid a deeper reflection on the theme:
Confidence in the Reason
The authentic university student ought to believe in the capacity of the Reason to attain the knowledge of the Truth, and not resign herself to relativist doctrines.
University education should not be reduced to mere “apprenticeship” in a given profession; rather, in pursuing it, one should aspire to acquire an all-round education, so as to be able to face the different situations which may arise in both her social and professional environment. Also, the formation of the university student ought to help her develop a clear and correct concept of God, man, the world, morals, art, religion, etc.
Integral Formation
Some of the courses of study offered at the university leave gaps in the formation of the students. Many times, this is due to excessive specialization, (focusing only on specific areas within a given field of study), or the perception of university studies as a stepping-stone toward a future career. These gaps can be filled up by following a thorough plan of formation, which may include reading and extracurricular activities. One could think of possible projects and formative activities which complement the academic aspect of university life so as to attain a more integral education.
Rest
The university student who constantly seeks to improve her intellectual capacity ought to see rest and leisure as a change of activity, rather than a period within which to suspend the use of her intellect. This should lead her to consider her weekend activities, vacations, journeys, etc as additional occasions for personal enrichment. To rest is not necessarily to go on a mental holiday; rest can also be an opportunity to grow in human and intellectual habits. Paradoxically, this is the only remedy against boredom, a common ailment of the youth worldwide.
Human Tone
Culture, being the cultivation of all the traits proper to the human person, also includes courtesy and good manners. How can we promote courteous behaviour among colleagues in the university?
At the same time, how can we avoid excessive familiarities in an environment given to little distinction between the sexes, and sympathetic toward the gay culture?
It would be interesting to reflect on how one can uphold the dignity of the woman, emphasizing her special capacity to take care of human details within the environment
Friendship and Dialogue
Friendship plays a key role within the university. Solitude goes against the university spirit. Knowledge serves to lead man forward on his way toward fulfilment, a fulfilment rooted in love: to love and to be loved. For this reason, it is important to reflect on the role of true friendship in the university setting; a friendship which excludes all forms of rivalry and unhealthy competition, but which is aimed at the good of the other person, at her development and well-being; a friendship that helps to foster solidarity within society.
It is necessary to rediscover the value of dialogue. This should be practiced in all spheres of life: educational disciplines, culture, religion, etc. This implies being open to the others and knowing how to learn from their lives. It could be helpful to try to learn from famous university figures, both present and past, who have been able to incarnate this university spirit, and transmit it to others through their words and works.
A life of Virtues
The acquisition of culture within the university demands a lot of dedication: discipline, study, constancy. This requires a well-formed and stable character, and a life of virtues. This will help the university student learn how to serve society through her future profession, and make her capable of facing the other social demands in her life.
Faith and Reason
Lastly, Faith ought to be recognized as true and certain knowledge. Pope Benedict XVI says that the Christian Faith is a purifying force for the Reason, and helps it to be more rational. The Christian message, due to its Origin – Truth- ought to move one toward the truth: a strong force which protects us against the powers and personal interests of individuals or groups in society. The cultivation of faith in the university is thus a primary task.
We encourage you to present your projects in an attractive and optimistic way. Due to this year’s theme, it may be difficult to avoid a nostalgic tone but this should be avoided as much as possible. Our aim is not simply to dwell on the past, or to lament the present situation; rather, we intend to seek ways of enriching our present-day universities with new and innovative ideas, while at the same time, upholding all the traditional ideas which remain relevant to today’s society. In the course of these projects, we will make use of all the great contributions of the university to society in the intellectual, scientific, and technological spheres.
