Comments on: The Need For A Dallas-based Research University http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/ FrontBurner® has been called the best blog in Dallas (repeatedly), a snarky celebration of ignorance, and a daily conversation about Dallas among the editors of D Magazine. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:20:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mike http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23300 Mike Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:18:25 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23300 UT-Southwestern should be included, as should the underrated UT-Dallas. No one I knew went to UT-Dallas, as no suburban kid I know wants to go to a commuter school without a football team. However, the classes are excellent. They do good research. And the caliber of students and intensity of courses are significantly greater than at SMU. Also, there are some gems in the Dallas County Community College District. The professors are there to teach, not to do research. Richland in NE Dallas and Northlake in Irving have great, challenging science courses at 1/10 the cost of a public four-year and 1/40 the cost of a private school. UT-Southwestern should be included, as should the underrated UT-Dallas. No one I knew went to UT-Dallas, as no suburban kid I know wants to go to a commuter school without a football team. However, the classes are excellent. They do good research. And the caliber of students and intensity of courses are significantly greater than at SMU.

Also, there are some gems in the Dallas County Community College District. The professors are there to teach, not to do research. Richland in NE Dallas and Northlake in Irving have great, challenging science courses at 1/10 the cost of a public four-year and 1/40 the cost of a private school.

]]> By: DG http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23179 DG Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:48:25 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23179 How does UT-Southwestern fit into this picture? They have world-class research in several areas - how many Nobel prize winners work there? I'd leverage that, or at least make sure not to build something competing in biological or medical research. How does UT-Southwestern fit into this picture? They have world-class research in several areas – how many Nobel prize winners work there? I’d leverage that, or at least make sure not to build something competing in biological or medical research.

]]> By: Eric http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23166 Eric Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:33:05 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23166 UT Arlington is one of the state's fastest advancing up-and-coming research universities. To further this, the university will begin construction on $170 million of new engineering and science research facilities this year alone. UT Arlington should be brought up to Tier 1 status as quickly as possible. In fact, with the largest population of any region in the state, DFW should have TWO major research universities. UT Arlington and Dallas are easily the region's university research leaders; north Texas would do better to cooperate on the politics and build BOTH. UT Arlington is one of the state’s fastest advancing up-and-coming research universities. To further this, the university will begin construction on $170 million of new engineering and science research facilities this year alone. UT Arlington should be brought up to Tier 1 status as quickly as possible. In fact, with the largest population of any region in the state, DFW should have TWO major research universities. UT Arlington and Dallas are easily the region’s university research leaders; north Texas would do better to cooperate on the politics and build BOTH.

]]> By: Buck http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23145 Buck Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:56:22 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23145 Wick, the problem is Dallas' parochialism. Had Dallas supported UTA as the region's Tier One university back before UTD was approved -- back when UTA was the second largest university in the system -- then DFW would have a great research center by now. But no. Dallas didn't support UTA because it wasn't near north Dallas. So the taxpayers of Texas had to build another entire university, and Arlington had to flirt with switching to the A&M system to leverage more UT support, and now we have two half-grrat universities instead of one great one. Wick, the problem is Dallas’ parochialism.

Had Dallas supported UTA as the region’s Tier One university back before UTD was approved — back when UTA was the second largest university in the system — then DFW would have a great research center by now.

But no. Dallas didn’t support UTA because it wasn’t near north Dallas.

So the taxpayers of Texas had to build another entire university, and Arlington had to flirt with switching to the A&M system to leverage more UT support, and now we have two half-grrat universities instead of one great one.

]]> By: Nathan http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23142 Nathan Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:01:02 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23142 A world class research institution would just distract Dallas, and the rest of the state for that matter, from reaching its real goal: turning Texas into a series of truck stops and toll roads. I mean really, if we were to increase the local IQ around here by luring researchers and scientist, who would vote for stupid toll roads so companies like Allen Group can get defective Chinese toys to the shelves at Walmart WITHOUT having to wait in downtown mix-master traffic. A world class research institution would just distract Dallas, and the rest of the state for that matter, from reaching its real goal: turning Texas into a series of truck stops and toll roads. I mean really, if we were to increase the local IQ around here by luring researchers and scientist, who would vote for stupid toll roads so companies like Allen Group can get defective Chinese toys to the shelves at Walmart WITHOUT having to wait in downtown mix-master traffic.

]]> By: Highway 6 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23141 Highway 6 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:00:20 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23141 Wick - Thanks for highlighting this issue again. Candidly, though, I don't think a real solution to this issue is going to emerge unless someone can show that our state needs another such institution. Until then, it'll just be viewed as an item on Dallas's wish list. Wick – Thanks for highlighting this issue again. Candidly, though, I don’t think a real solution to this issue is going to emerge unless someone can show that our state needs another such institution. Until then, it’ll just be viewed as an item on Dallas’s wish list.

]]> By: It'snotpersonal http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23140 It'snotpersonal Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:56:03 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23140 What about installing just a regular ol',all-the-courses state university that local people can attend without having to move transcripts around like a bunch of refugees? Or a school they can drive to or die the bus to in 20 minutes instead of 90? Oh, gosh, we forgot that DISD kids can all afford SMU but choose not to go there. Or do you mean they should be deliriously happy with a chance to attend junior college and learn a trade? Or that single-parent families that can barely afford to send kids to public school should take up a life of crime to send their kids to college? Yep, Dallas -- the place where dumb is encouraged and smart is from somewhere else. What about installing just a regular ol’,all-the-courses state university that local people can attend without having to move transcripts around like a bunch of refugees? Or a school they can drive to or die the bus to in 20 minutes instead of 90?
Oh, gosh, we forgot that DISD kids can all afford SMU but choose not to go there. Or do you mean they should be deliriously happy with a chance to attend junior college and learn a trade?
Or that single-parent families that can barely afford to send kids to public school should take up a life of crime to send their kids to college?
Yep, Dallas — the place where dumb is encouraged and smart is from somewhere else.

]]> By: GMOM http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23138 GMOM Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:51:08 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23138 SMU is a CF. SMU is a CF.

]]> By: Maggie http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23132 Maggie Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:56:32 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23132 This reminds me of when I first moved here, and a friend asked me about Dallas' intellectual climate given the universities around us. I responded with an uncomfortable pause. This reminds me of when I first moved here, and a friend asked me about Dallas’ intellectual climate given the universities around us. I responded with an uncomfortable pause.

]]> By: Jb http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/comment-page-1/#comment-23131 Jb Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:51:17 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/04/07/the-need-for-a-dallas-based-research-university/#comment-23131 It makes you wonder what would have happened if they completed the Super Collider in Waxahachie. BTW, what are they doing with all that now? Undeground go-cart track? Just curious. It makes you wonder what would have happened if they completed the Super Collider in Waxahachie. BTW, what are they doing with all that now? Undeground go-cart track? Just curious.

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