The Statement of the Program is the most comprehensive mission statement and (with the
Polity) one of two foundational documents of St. John’s College. It offers a general description
and rationale for our undergraduate and two graduate programs. It has existed in some form
since the founding of “the new program” in 1937 and has been revised and published
continually since. It contains many of the most serious, and therefore most debatable, claims
made on behalf of this education. No one of us would subscribe to everything said in it, as
written, but many of us learn and take inspiration from it and many graduates of the college
say that it was reading the Statement that inspired them to consider and attend the college.
After several years of existing only digitally, we have republished printed copies this year,
which are available to the full community. Tutors Judith Adam, Sarah Davis, Eric Poppele,
Aparna Ravilochan, Nick Starr, and Walter Sterling offer remarks on the Statement.
0:00 - Intro
5:04 - Walter Sterling
13:27 - Nicholas Starr
26:01 - Sarah Davis
31:38 - Aparna Ravilochan
38:45 - Eric Poppele
44:38 - Judith Adam
56:01 - Question Period
