How to Reform the Universities

American universities were once destinations for intellectual enrichment but have devolved into activist factories. Yet those with endowments surpassing the GDPs of small countries will survive the negative press, students will continue enrolling to obtain a snazzy résumé line, and academics will still publish nonsensical ideas that are eventually embraced by mainstream outlets. Since the universities seem destined to endure, how do we fix them?

Recourse to the law is one approach. Nonprofits like the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression fight against free-speech violations, while firms such as the Alliance Defending Freedom have sued schools over interpretations of Title IX that enabled males to participate in women’s sports. The Department of Justice is dragging universities to court, particularly for violating antidiscrimination laws.

About the Author

Abigail Anthony

Abigail Anthony is a staff writer at National Review.

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American universities were once destinations for intellectual enrichment but have devolved into activist factories. Yet those with endowments surpassing the GDPs of small countries will survive the negative press, students will continue enrolling to obtain a snazzy résumé line, and academics will still publish nonsensical ideas that are eventually embraced by mainstream outlets. Since the universities seem destined to endure, how do we fix them?

Recourse to the law is one approach. Nonprofits like the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression fight against free-speech violations, while firms such as the Alliance Defending Freedom have sued schools over interpretations of Title IX that enabled males to participate in women’s sports. The Department of Justice is dragging universities to court, particularly for violating antidiscrimination laws.