Bailouts for ‘autonomous’ universities? That’s rich, says Barber

Such disingenuous right-wing cant.

Barber conflates a desire for intellectual autonomy, avoidance on political interference, including forcing more emphasis on the impossible to predict 'impact' WITH support required because of financial pressure from the pandemic. Every sector in society is being financially aided. Is Barber suggesting that gov. should now have a greater role in running farms, shops, pubs, etc.? Poor undergraduate level "disingenuous right-wing cant".

If universities were truly autonomous *financially* (we are talking about financial sustainability), then universities should be able to dictate their tuition fees. But wait, universities do not... Hence, the financial situation for universities.

Look how insidiously Barber elides having autonomy in teaching, research and hiring with being privately funded. What he seems to be saying is that if any money comes from government (and 80% comes indirectly, via tuition fees), then that entitles government to dictate how it is used, and if institutions should survive. And notice the disdain for government as a source of support for the institutions which maintain a democratic society. We now see the effects of 40 years of this ideology, and it ends with Trump, populism and autocracy. I'm glad he's leaving.