The Misuses of the University

The article "The Misuses of the University" presents a sharp critique of the contemporary university, using Johns Hopkins as a central case study. It argues that institutions of higher learning have fundamentally altered their priorities, moving away from their traditional roles of education and research to become complex enterprises focused on property development, financial growth, and image cultivation.

• The narrative highlights how universities often engage in costly, architecturally grand building projects, sometimes replacing newer structures, which add to operational expenses without necessarily enhancing academic spaces.
• It underscores the influence of large donations, suggesting they frequently come with strings attached, dictating university initiatives and creating new financial burdens that divert resources from core academic activities.
• The piece laments the growth of administrative bureaucracy and a widening chasm between university leadership and the faculty, leading to decisions that prioritize institutional prestige and financial gain over the well-being of students and quality of scholarship.
• It suggests that the pursuit of rankings and appealing campus aesthetics, rather than academic rigor, has become a primary driver for attracting students, contributing to escalating tuition fees and a diluted educational experience.

The essay concludes with a somber reflection on the university's current trajectory, portraying it as an institution consumed by self-preservation and external pressures, potentially sacrificing its intellectual integrity and societal value in the process.