Regarding 'Death of the Princeton Renaissance Man' (David Schaengold, Sept. 30):
As a mechanical engineering student, I would like to point out that many engineers at Princeton do have substantial interests outside of their majors and thoroughly enjoy their liberal arts courses. The writer is concerned that engineers no longer appreciate "the trees and the stars," which I translate in its context as a metaphor for awe at the majesty of nature (although their concrete references in the first paragraph actually focus on nomenclature and navigation, both of which are scientific, not spiritual, aspects).
But what about the other side of the coin? Couldn't the same argument be made about the liberal arts, which would benefit from a deeper technical understanding of the processes that govern our world? In any case, the statement that engineers, specifically, are content with a smattering of knowledge in the humanities lends itself too easily to the "meek engineering student" stereotype described in the article. It is one thing to doubt that engineers are receiving a sound liberal arts education, and quite another to claim that they are unquestioning automatons who "swallow the professor's words," unable to even "feel the emotion in. . . music." Spring Berman '05
Engineers don't appreciate music? I don't think so
Regarding 'Death of the Princeton Renaissance Man' (David Schaengold, Sept. 30):I wholeheartedly agree that the "Renaissance Man" is under attack. As ambitions soar, students are forced to over-optimize their courseload for success in all competitive fields, engineering included. However, perhaps the writer should do some research before choosing a patsy on which to place his ridicule.
As a senior in the electrical engineering department, I play alongside several of my classmates in the Princeton University Orchestra. Nearly half of last year's percussion section were ELEs. I studied Fourier theory and built autonomous cars alongside our tuba player, Tom Zychinski. Coincidentally, he is currently an officer in Colonial club — not exactly a "meek engineer." My co-leader on the Outdoor Action trip I lead this fall was, by random pairing, a junior ELE major.
It is all too easy to pick out individuals who reinforce one's personal prejudices; the characterization of engineers as musically impotent is ridiculous. We spend long hours in the E-Quad basement, surely, but that is indicative of hard work, not of social disengagement. The students of Princeton's engineering school are at the very least equals to their A.B. compatriots in intellectual curiosity and extracurricular involvement. Nick Stroustrup '05
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