Universities as Corporate Entities

The reason we all attend university is to gain a further education in a certain field that enables us to be more efficient contributors to society. We come to learn from people more knowledgable than us not only how to do well on a paper or an exam but to think critically and further our own ideas and learning by examining that of others. Universities have always been considered institutions of great learning, but it seems that they are now going toward a greedy capitalistic model of running things. Laurier in particular seems to have adopted this ideal and is making every move to not only further their initiatives but also conceal that they are doing so. The administration seems to present a front of things being 'status quo' and for the nurturing of faculty and students. In reality they take steps each year to cut down costs at great expense to the quality of education students receive and the appropriate compensation the contract faculty receive.

To me this type of corruption is the same that runs our political systems. Since when did someone who paid to have their name on a building also get to decide who sits on the board and makes executive decisions about the universities inner workings. Laurier claims to be at a deficit in order to have reason for the large amount of cuts to staff and faculty over the last few years, but there is much speculation whether they simply say that and then spend money on acquiring property. The university owns pretty much all the student housing buildings on Ezra street. If the school were in an extremely dire financial situation as they claim, then they would not be spending 60 million on buying apartment buildings. Why should Max Bluow, the president of the university be making almost 400, 000$ a year while most staff(being contract workers) be below the average poverty line making 22, 000, AFTER they have completed three degrees and have their doctorate. To me that seems insane, that those people exploiting staff and cutting back on student experience, can sleep at night while they line their pockets and spend the schools money on real estate. Students are leaving university 30, 000 in debt and barely have job prospects...but Laurier doesn't care as long as they are making more money and staying on top of the MacLean's top schools lists.