Pittsburgh College Students Should Go Away

More hand-wringing about the fact that students who go to college around Pittsburgh don't stay in the region after they graduate. Unlike some writers who worry about keeping Pittsburgh kids at home, John Craig of the P-G wants to see Pittsburgh universities attract more students from around the world, and get those graduates to stay here. I think that wherever our students come from (and especially if they come from Pittsburgh), it's good that they go away. They'll come back, or some large number of them will, and whether they come back or not, they'll be more interesting and productive members of their communities after they've seen something of the world. The ones who study here and settle elsewhere can be ambassadors for the region and for our schools. (One of my very best law students at Pitt took a job with a top law firm in Washington DC three years ago. I'm hoping he makes partner someday: it makes our law school look good.) Pittsburgh doesn't need more 22-year-old college grads (or 27-year-old grad students) looking for jobs here. Pittsburgh needs more 32-year-old people from all over the world, with experience in management, looking to start companies here and create jobs.