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In the University of Maine , there are a number of commencements in the mornings and afternoons during the annual graduation ceremonies to accommodate hordes of students and their families.
During these ceremonies, it is the general practice for the faculty to stand on the elevated stage in front of the crowd. They face students and their families to receive the applause they definitely deserve. This is the moment that will be an eye opener for you if you have the capability to notice details.

This is not because there is any sign of disrespect or insincerity in the applause. What you will notice is the way powerbrokers on the stage showing practical disrespect for the faculty. It is a sad situation in our country where many universities and colleges do not regard their faculty to be the heart of their institutions.

As defined by these power brokers, our business leaders, local and state legislators, mayors and governors continue to attack our public higher education claiming it to be far out of touch with public interest. They do this by publishing excellent articles and books.

It is not really necessary to repeat the obsession with programs, practical courses, colleges and departments that initiates these attacks. One of the most dangerous parts of our culture is the way anti-intellectual arguments are rehashed time and again.

Today, you can find many public and private universities and colleges being indifferent and sometimes even contemptuous towards faculty and this is a very disturbing trend. There is a popular sentiment going around which is even invocated several times that professors are not the lofty sages they have always been portrayed as.

Rather, they are the peers of students, both under and post-graduate students. Faculty today are not even considered to be an entity as business and political leaders like the directors, regents and trustees demand submission from them. The entire academic life is run on the lines of corporate and short-term business models wherein faculty members are required to remain compliant and without opinions.

Faculty today operate more along the lines of a robot, carrying out their duties and nodding their heads in affirmation irrespective of whether they think what is happening is right or wrong. If you have been following reports on the Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times, you will no doubt be following the constant conflict between the President of the University of Virginia, former University of Michigan provost and UVA governing board’s head.

As she was on the verge of being fired, Teresa Sullivan, the President of the university, resigned last year after only two years of service. Her resignation sparked a lot of protests which eventually forced the administration to rehire her. Tensions however still persist.

All this is a disturbing trend that points to a direction our education system must definitely not take. Gone are the days when faculty members were given a lot of respect and were treated courteously. Their opinions held value and teaching was a highly regarded profession.