Surviving Capitalism (Not) : On Corporate Power Who owns American universities?

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Sunday, September 25, 2011

On Corporate Power Who owns American universities?

Click here to access article by Michael Barker from Ceasefire.

Social incompetence and an individualistic mentality are acquired in the competitive educational system. Collective action, as opposed to personal status climbing, becomes more difficult as a consequence. Cynicism is learned from doing meaningless assignments and busy work. This serves to negate any serious political thought. As long as the worker does not take himself seriously and is cynical about his world, it does not matter much what his politics are.

This article, although very important, only skims the surface of how the capitalist ruling class has taken control of education in the US, particularly higher education. But then, there are references to source materials where one can learn more. Although not addressed in the article, I am particularly interested in the phenomenon of "endowed professorships", also known as "endowed chairs" where foundations sponsor professors in our institutions of higher learning.