What if the whole world were like a university campus?

When I worked at the University of Dayton, I often mused, as I walked to my office, about what it would be like if the whole world were organized like the campus — a place of beauty and order, open to all ideas and welcoming to everyone. There, trees and shrubs line the walkways, flower beds reflect the seasons, and students engage in lively debates in classrooms and in the central plaza, and invite others onto their porches for community and fun. Knowledge is not just valued but shared freely. It is a place where differences of thought are encouraged, diverse perspectives coexist, and the pursuit of truth is a collective endeavor.

If it is broken, we replace it. If it is messy, we clean it up. The trash disappears and the grass gets cut. The campus is organized to address all problems. Passersby greet one another and all are welcome. University values touch everything.

Beyond the campus environs, however, the world often seems quite different. Division, disorder and conflict dominate the news. People cling to their own viewpoints, sometimes unwilling to listen to others. Public spaces, rather than being places of learning and discourse, often reflect tension and distrust.

What if the world could embrace some of the principles that make the university thrive?

A society modeled on the university campus would prioritize education, open dialogue and respect for diverse perspectives. It would foster curiosity rather than fear, encourage collaboration over competition and cultivate an appreciation for lifelong learning. Cities would be designed with more spaces for discussion and reflection, workplaces would encourage critical thinking and communities would become more inclusive: a world based on the university campus model rather than a business model.

Of course, universities are not perfect, and no single model can fix every societal issue. But the ideals and values the university represents — openness, intellectual curiosity, faith and shared knowledge — are worth sharing. As I walked those shaded paths, observing students eager for learning, I wished the whole world could be a bit more like that — a place where wisdom and understanding, rather than division and strife, shaped the future of humanity.

Brother Phil Aaron, S.M. ’54, is a former UD professor, campus minister and director of Strategies for Responsible Development. He can regularly be found walking through campus among the trees, students and viewpoints.