It's pretty easy to tell that this guy was just searching the newspaper for some reason to bash our modern ways and technological advancements.  In case you didn't know, UWM is trying to build a new engineering campus on the county grounds in Wauwatosa.  They've now hired a new dean, and earmarked for new professors, though its unclear whether they are for this new campus, or for UWM's extensive pre-existing engineering program.

I can understand being against the expansion of the school to Wauwatosa in this area.  UWM is taxpayer funded, and believe me, I'm very understanding of anyone who questions taxpayer outlays that are not necessary.  But he just can't stop there, he goes way beyond with this tripe:

Before the university builds a new engineering school on our land, perhaps it should create a school of thought we could call the School of Putting Universities in Their Place. Such a school would study just how academic research has benefited corporations and the careers of professors at the expense of local communities, rural people, taxpayers, endangered species, world peace– you name it. Such a school would not require much space; a good dean could do most of the work alone.

As one who has taught in several universities, I am not blind to the benefits of higher education. But when education becomes too “high” and specialized, when the applied sciences are given precedence over the humanities, when profit, rather than knowledge and critical thinking, rules, when professors abandon any sense of public obligation, we are all one step closer to living in a world that doesn’t exist. And that, of course, is the stuff of tragedy.

Right... because what this world needs are people who have a major in Literature with a minor in Women's Studies.  I'm sure that certificate in Gay and Lesbian Studies will really help the world too.  And Lord knows that engineering has never helped the poor, the hungry or those in rural areas.

Because the massive engineering feats of the Tennessee Valley Authority didn't help bring water, electricity, and flood control to millions of poor farmers.  Genetically engineered crops have done nothing to increase crop yields which lower food prices so that more poor people can eat better every day.  Of course you can argue that engineers build bombs, but you also have to remember that next to religion, the next biggest cause of war is depravation (usually food or water), and engineers have done more to alleviate that problem than poets.  And those trains and other massive transit options that liberals love to drool over?  Yep... designed by engineers.

To be honest, I don't want to turn this into a "my profession is better than your profession" debate.  But the reality is, we have very advanced and safe infrastructure because of highly specialized training in universities for engineers.  Long gone are the days when engineers could simply learn through apprenticeships and then experiment on the go.  Unlike doctors and lawyers who "practice" their profession, engineers get certified in ours.

I've written on the relationship between Engineering and the humanities before, and I stand by my statements.  Humanities are an invaluable partner in a good Engineering degree, but they are not a replacement, and they are not more important than the specialized learning... at least not if you want to be able to drive over the bridges we build.

Full Disclosure: I have a degree in Computer Engineering from MSOE