University of Washington Table Topics

Table Topic questions are meant to stimulate family and classroom discussion.
Use the questions below after reading,"UW struggles to be strong"

Seattle's history of pride in the University of Washington reaches back to its founding in 1861. Looking back, this seems a rather remarkable ambition for a small, struggling settlement that didn't even have a public school. What does this tell you about the vision of the early settlers? Do you think the UW contributed to Seattle's emergence as the dominant city of the state? What economic, artistic and civic benefits does a university offer a city?
The problem of funding was a big issue for the UW in the '20s, and the source of political battles between activist UW President Henry Suzzallo, who campaigned for additional funds, and Gov. Roland Hartley, who proposed "more education for less." Does this funding debate continue today? Just how do we fund higher public education now? The university recently adjusted to lower revenues by eliminating some academic departments and cutting back on others. Can you recall the community response and any adjustments the University made? Did these changes affect the prestige of the institution?
Hartley eventually engineered the firing of Suzzallo, which resulted in student protests and the threat of a strike. A university campus is often at the center of social debate. What do you remember or know about the student protest marches, rallies and strikes of the late '60s and early '70s? How did they differ from the unrest of the '20s? Can you think of any issues today that might motivate student rebellion?
As a strong university booster, The Seattle Times promoted the recall of Hartley in rather inflammatory front-page editorials. Newspaper coverage has changed, beginning with the move of editorial content to the inside of the paper. In recent years, The Times has raised questions about athletic programs and challenged the university on its closed-door policy for selecting a new president. How has the relationship of the university and newspaper changed? Do you think the newspaper is being adversarial or simply preserving its independent, investigative voice?
College sports developed and became very popular during this period. Besides the switch in mascots from "Sun Dodger" to "Husky," what has changed about UW athletic programs since the '20s? There has been some debate in recent years on the proper role of athletics on college campuses. Do you think sports contribute to or detract from the goals and prestige of a large university? What role do college athletics play in the community? If you had your choice of tickets, would you rather attend a Husky or Seahawk football game and why?