Why a Former Professor Criticizes Higher Education

America’s colleges have long been at the heart of cultural controversies. Among the critics are individuals who once ardently supported the mission of higher education but have since changed their views after experiencing it firsthand.

In a discussion hosted by Megan McArdle, Tyler Austin Harper, a staff writer at The Atlantic and a former professor at Bates College, shares his insights. Harper outlines how his perspectives on affirmative action and diversity were altered by his experiences in academia.

He came to see some initiatives aimed at inclusion as mere tokenism. The conversation also explores issues such as race and class, ideological conformity, and the erosion of tenure. They discuss the treatment of adjunct faculty and how universities’ social justice narratives often clash with their financial motivations.