I don't see that, for the long-term, there are major issues.

For these students and faculty who are a part of founding this institution, they now have a skill or expertise in building new institutions that is important for all institutions making change. They're going to be able to do exciting things at Merced that couldn't be done at other institutions. I don't think it's a big gamble.

Most of the programs that other colleges and universities are putting in place are very specific programs to attract women, for example, into engineering and hard sciences.

It's certainly more difficult to build an institution from the ground up today. It was very common in the '60s and '70s, when public institutions were expanding.

Pessimistic" is a word for "realistic" that optimists use to make themselves feel better (about their unrealisticness).

Often there are not enough adult bodies in a classroom, which boosts the stress level for everyone. So all of a sudden if a couple of kids are needy, they risk being expelled.