The visit of this well-known social justice speaker and advocate was not intended as a forum in which answers to the largest social problems in our nation would be speedily given, but rather as an appeal to some of the most advantaged and able young people, our peers, to think about the world beyond our coddled existence within the Wake Forest gatehouses.

Hutton's argument implicitly concedes that disparities exist in the United States; if they didn't, then why would he be searching for answers to the problems that Kozol so eloquently presented?

In fact, Hutton's native New Jersey has admitted to their share of educational evils. In June 1990, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in Abbott v. Burke that inadequate and unequal funding denies students in poor urban districts a thorough and efficient education and requires the state to assure equal funding between rich and poor districts for regular education and supplemental programs designed "to wipe out disadvantages as much as a school district can."

The Court then identified 30 disadvantaged, under-resourced districts and developed a comprehensive plan to promote parity between the qualities of education received by all New Jersey youth, working toward a system in which all of the state's schoolchildren be given the best education possible.

Thus, if America promises "equal opportunity" as Hutton contends, we have fallen completely short of fulfilling that pledge.

Equal opportunity is the ideal of this democratic society, but it remains only that, an ideal that we must work to perfect. It is only when we realize that we, as a generation, are responsible for the future of our nation that the light of hope will not dim.

More troubling, however, is the complete ease and inaccuracy with which Hutton claims to represent all conservatives. It is problematic to label a broadly recognized political persuasion as dispassionate, inhumane and socially stringent on the basis of one's own tempered political views.

To create and sustain a political will, such as one that will work toward the aforementioned ideal of equal opportunity, requires a certain degree of non-partisanship.

This means that those of all political persuasions must work together to eliminate the savage inequalities resultant of educational and other forms of poverty.

In fact, former first Lady Barbara Bush said, "The first (very special choice) is to believe in something larger than yourself, to get involved in some of the big ideas of our time. I chose literacy because I honestly believe that if more people could read, write and comprehend, we would be that much closer to solving so many of the problems that plague our nation and our society."

So much for dispassionate conservatism.

The university Statement of Principle reads: "Wake Forest is a community of men and women that seeks the enlightenment and freedom which come through diligent study and learning.

Its higher goal, however, is to give life to the University Motto, Pro Humanitate, as the passion for knowledge is translated into compassionate service É Wake Forest strives toward a society in which good will, respect, and equality prevail." (Emphasis added.)

I hope that other Wake students will organize events, such as Jonathan Kozol's visit, that will educate, inspire and challenge our community to live up to it's motto.