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Fortune might favour the brave, but bravery is easier for the fortunate
Prof. Jean Fan offers a meditation on University Professors in the Neoliberal Academic Ecosystem [SLYT].
posted by clawsoon on Jun 04, 2026 at 5:14 AM
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For some reason there's a space (%20) before "youtube". I'll contact the mods, thanks for spotting that.
posted by clawsoon at 5:32 AM
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[Fixed Video URL, please carry on]
posted by loup at 6:13 AM
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This cri de coeur in the service of academic solidarity is also hilarious, thanks to Jean Fan's po-faced delivery, her oversized jacket, and the meme-laced retro visual style.
posted by kozad at 6:39 AM
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Reminds me of the satirical article about how university administration will eventually perfect itself into a university with neither students nor professors. Was it originally posted on MeFi?
posted by fiercekitten at 8:03 AM
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A text version of the essay, for those who prefer their own droll voice.
posted by clawsoon at 10:22 AM
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Sadly, very accurate. I love the glasses and jacket, though.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:13 PM
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Former PhD student union member here!
This was a good, dry analysis of university professors - well, research-focused profs, especially in the sciences.
I'm surprised adjuncts and non-tenure-track faculty didn't come up, as they constitute the largest population of the professoriate, and clearly offer neoliberal labor examples.
posted by doctornemo at 4:58 PM
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One more point: seeing neoliberalism as an outside invader to the research university ecosystem isn't the full story.
Remember that some academics helped make neoliberalism happen. We did the research in economics, business, political science, law, and more which gave that political economy its intellectual backing. Those professors also taught the stuff to students who went on to become bankers, CEOs, Congresscritters, think tankers, etc., making neoliberalism happen.
And there's the flip side: campuses becoming more dependent on private donations for operations, hence needing more neoliberal support. That takes the form of philanthropy as well as important foundations and board members.
posted by doctornemo at 5:22 PM
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This was a good, dry analysis of university professors
"ChatGPT, write me a short humorous essay from a biological scientist perspective, describing academia as a distinct ecological habitat."
posted by verstegan at 4:06 AM
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