The university, once a sanctuary of intellectual exploration and debate, has shifted dramatically from its founding purpose as a beacon of learning and discovery. Plato may not have known the term "university," but his Academy, founded in 387 BCE, is often regarded as one of the first. There, he nurtured a space of dialectical inquiry, structured conversations and probing questions to pursue deeper truths. Fast forward to today, and this ideal of learning has all but vanished, replaced by a corporate-style system that prioritizes administrative control over academic freedom. Universities have drifted from their mission, morphing into ideological factories where administrators, rather than educators, set the tone and agenda.

Growing Bloat and Ideological Drift:

Reflecting on my own experiences, growing up in Fresno with parents dedicated to California State University (CSU), becoming a student, and eventually a professor… I see a disturbing shift. Our universities, once centers for research and teaching, have morphed into bureaucracies driven by administrators with agendas that seem far removed from genuine learning. This administrative bloat is not only costly; it stifles intellectual diversity and drives up tuition, turning students and their families into the financial backers of a system that increasingly values conformity over knowledge.

The Numbers Don’t Lie:

The numbers reveal the extent of this administrative takeover. Between 1993 and 2014, senior management at UCLA swelled by 300%, dwarfing the modest 60% increase in faculty and a 33% rise in student enrollment. Current figures are harder to obtain, but a 2021 report underscores that this trend hasn’t just continued—it’s accelerated, with administrative budgets absorbing an ever-larger slice of university resources.