On 21st century U.S. campuses, is there room for Shakespeare, Sartre and Sondheim?
A declining number of students think so -- a trend that worries leaders at many top universities, where engineers often outnumber humanists.
Seeking to reignite interest in the liberal arts, this week Stanford University is welcoming the class of 2015 with a rich opening volley of literature, film and philosophy designed to elevate freshmen dreams beyond that cool job at Google.
The 1,718 incoming students -- nearly half of whom arrive intending to major in the sciences or engineering -- will hear acclaimed author and physician Abraham Verghese praise the meaning, and opportunities, of a liberal arts education. They'll debate summer reading assignments and get a flier promoting an "Ethics and War" program, led by nuclear disarmament expert Scott Sagan.
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