Princeton in the Nation's Service and in the Service of All Nations." Although students recognize this pledge as the University's informal motto, few truly follow it as a guide for action. This trend at Princeton and other universities has created a serious problem nationwide. As our generation fails to enter public service, tomorrow's world runs the risk of being shorthanded with respect to educated leaders.
The Wilson School's new "Scholars in the Nation's Service Program" addresses this problem. Announced on Feb. 24, this scholarship encourages students to enter government service and trains them for their future work.
Beginning next year, all juniors will be eligible to apply to this six-year program. The first two years will be spent finishing studies at Princeton while taking a summer internships in the federal government. After graduation, scholars are placed in a federal agency for two years of service. Finally, they return to the Wilson School to earn a master's in public affairs (MPA).
The program's design is extremely practical. Offering the program to all Princeton juniors instead of just Wilson School students encourages the most qualified and dedicated students to apply regardless of their original choice of major. In addition, the program purports to prefer students with achievement in natural sciences, engineering and less commonly spoken foreign languages. This emphasis encourages candidates with real potential in needy areas to become specialists once in government service.
In response to the program, Bill Robertson '72, who is currently suing the University for misusing Wilson School funds, commented that he was "quite suspicious of anything Princeton does because pretty much everything that they have done in this matter is to improve their litigation position."
Though the intention of the "Scholars in the Nation's Service Program" is beyond this editorial, it is clear that this program goes beyond any publicity stunt. The program is sure to receive a large number of highly qualified candidates and create a group of scholars with a world class education in public service at the Wilson School and real government experience. We are confident that the Wilson School's "Scholars in the Nation's Service Program" will encourage Princeton students to actually be "in the Nation's Service and in the Service of All Nations." Programs like this are an essential part of creating a generation of leaders fit and eager to lead us through tomorrow.
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