The panel included UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons, Brown University President Christina Paxson, and University of Oregon President John Karl Scholz. The discussion was moderated by former Stanford President and Chairman of the Board of Alphabet John Hennessy. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) Economic Summit is an annual campus event that brings experts together to discuss the global economy, domestic competitiveness, the future of universities, and other critical issues shaping the future. Public trust in universities has declined in recent years, with some Americans questioning both the education they provide and campus culture. Scholz cited data showing fewer than half of Americans now believe universities are playing a positive role in society – what he called an “existential challenge.” Paxson pointed to a recent Gallup-Lumina poll showing that about 2% of college students feel unwelcome on campus because of their political views. She also said students increasingly choose schools with peers who share their politics. But data alone won’t solve the problem. “Trust doesn’t get built through facts,” she said. “It’s feelings-based.”
