<p>Oxy’s new president Jonathan Veitch has said that the college takes justifiable pride in Barack Obama’s attendance there because he so clearly expemplifies the habits of mind that are produced by a fine liberal arts education- he reads broadly and deeply, he writes clearly and expressively, he does not shy away from asking questions or consulting the opinions of people whose views are different from his own. I agree with Mr. Veitch- Oxy can rightfully say that Mr. Obama demonstrates why a broad liberal arts background is so valuable- and I think Mr. Obama would agree.</p>