Unmaking the Public University

Well, another week has gone by, I intended on going to the Public University in Higher Education conference, but unfortunately couldn't make due to a change in my work schedule. I submitted the final draft for my analytic essay, but it was late as a result of me misreading the terms of the due date. Overall I think it was one of the most interesting topics I've ever written about; that is because as a student of higher education I can relate to the issue. Although I was unable to attend the conference I did do some research on one of the speakers who is a major advocate against the spread of privatization in American public colleges. Christopher Newfield, a University of California English professor, has written and spoken about the intrusion of privatization on public universities. The privatized institution is one that is focused on financial prosperity rather than the quality of education. I came across and article that is basically a criticism of Newfield's book "Unmaking the Public University and seems to explain the key points that Newfield makes while also offering some additional insight on the issue.(http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/140539-unmaking-the-public-university-by-christopher-newfield/P0). As stated in the article Christopher Newfield's 'Unmaking the Public University', "budgets shifted expenses through a reliance on teaching assistants and “visiting” rather than full-time (and tenured) faculty"(Murphy). Quality, educated faculty are being overlooked and cut in an effort for the institution to save money, as a result there are more TA's that get paid a lot less than a full-time professor would. This robs both teachers from their jobs, and students from receiving the best education for their money. Tuition rates are on the rise because state funding is decreasing; tuition rates make up for the loss of state funding, but what is there to show for it?  Technically there should not be a shift in quality if money isn't being lost. Higher education is making the shift to capitalism and it is becoming a business that prays on young students that aspire to gain freedom and opportunity from college. Murphy states, "Universities can’t be capitalist. They need to balance their books, but they need to teach from books, and produce more books, that challenge profit as the price of everything and the value of nothing". Higher education can't just sit on the sidelines and watch as the value of education diminishes, and college becomes more and more difficult for middle to lower class people to attend. College isn't about money, but academics and education; its something that should be attainable by everyone. If public universities are to become privatized the future could very well be grim for higher education, since the majority of people will not be able to attend, and the value of a college degree will all but disappear.