How Universities Die

Historically, America’s universities and colleges taught worthwhile skills, from math, sciences, management, and how to think, to economics, law, literature, and medicine. Today, many teach ideology, activism, how to escape responsibility, blame others, and rewrite history. They are dying.

While primary and secondary schools are under siege from politically leftist administrators and state-level leaders, elevating emotionalism and act-out behaviors, catering to unaccountable students and belligerent parents at the cost of outcomes, trades, and skills, colleges are dying.

While there are exceptions to every rule, and some universities are wrestling with this reality, the stark fact is “The Academy’s” leftist leaders – administrators and faculty – are reaping what they sowed.

Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermer just sent up a flare. In a Washington Post interview, he warned that universities that push or tolerate leftist activism dig their own grave. His assessment, as reported: “America’s elite universities are in trouble if they continue to prioritize political activism over their mission of spreading knowledge.”

His exact words: “The fundamental purpose of university is to be a place where you have path-breaking research and a transformative education…You’re not a political party, and you’re not part of a political movement.” Too many elites in higher education have forgotten, and are paying a price.

The Chancellor explained. Using “political litmus tests” in hiring is as bad as putting students in groups where some are then targeted or “socially ostracized” for holding traditional values. “When departments…refuse to hire people based on their scholarly accomplishments, but…there’s a political litmus test, you need to take action as a dean or president”…or perhaps as a Governor.

He noted, much of this is driven by a “small but well-motivated and organized minority,” which raises accountability issues, but “once you enter the political battle, you’re in the political battle …” not any longer about spreading knowledge, inquiry, or multiple views, no critical thinking.

In other words, ironically, the place where openness to all views started – including elevation of reason, history, biology, physics, eastern and western tradition, faith, skills, and facts – is dying. In its place is a breeding ground, a collection of coordinated hot houses, pushing political activism, at times political violence, division in the name of unity, socialism over constitutional republicanism.

The facts show, however, that people – parents, as well as students who later want to work for a living – are getting sick of it. Congressional and administration investigations suggest widespread university tolerance for “antisemitism,” racial division, anti-constitutionalism, and activist Marxism.

Perhaps surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, parents and students are beginning to come of age, deciding that this new “higher learning” – places pushing this slop – are not worth their money, and instead a strong, reliable, quality education, collegiate or in the trades, is their choice.

Nationwide, between 2010 and  2021, college or university enrollment was down 15 percent, with another drop of 10 percent expected by 2030. Meantime, exacerbated by demographic changes, colleges are closing, another 16 in 2025.

Even insiders admit leftist ideology may be killing higher education. City Journal reported last year, “The clearest indicator of higher education’s decline is that fewer and fewer young people want to earn a bachelor’s degree,” and beyond COVID, “there is another, deeper cause: Over the past 15 years, universities have become more ideologically homogenous, more overtly activist, and more .. focused on power and identity.” In other words, why pay for something no one wants?

Even the liberal Pew Foundation reports higher education faces an “uncertain fiscal future.” One interpretation is that, as interest in university activism over outcomes ebbs, “at least 15 states proposed or enacted broad or targeted cuts to public university or college funding.”

Among universities caught out for poor planning, changing demographics, reduced interest and offerings, increased political activism, and fewer post-college opportunities to warrant the expense, the University of Maine faces an $18 million budget shortfall. Not surprisingly, reality hurts.

Nationwide, as life is cyclic, the fate of universities and colleges is on the line. For those who straighten up and fly right, things will be fine. For those intent on fanning activism, antisemitism, dystopian-ism, and Marxism, just beware. Americans are tiring of that slop. Failing to think rationally, failing to think critically about the future, is the modern scourge – and it is also how universities die.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is the National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor (please visit BobbyforMaine.com to learn more)!