Create a Caltech

California’s future rests on high technology. San Diego County’s well-being depends on the Navy and defense industry, both of which are in pressing need of advanced science and engineering. North County has a brand-new university; what a unique opportunity for new frontiers.

Unfortunately, judging by a recent statement of Cal State San Marcos Executive Vice President Richard Rush, a constructive contribution is not on the minds of the CSUSM founding faculty. The founders bask in empty phrases, such as global perspectives and multicultural outlook , hardly a convincing answer to monocultural German engineering and Japanese reliability. Revealing are the research priorities: Two “centers” are to be established, one for the “study of aging in Asian cultures” and the other for “Spanish-language literature for and about children.” Incredible!

Just when Sony acquired Columbia Pictures and Mitsubishi grabbed Rockefeller Center, CSUSM bought the Brooklyn Bridge. North County needs a proper university, not a synthetic establishment for social sciences. Let us start afresh, think positive, create another Caltech.

DANUTA TUSZYNSKA

A. TUSZYNSKA

San Diego