The Misuses of the University
Summary
This essay uses Johns Hopkins University's sesquicentennial as a lens to examine how modern universities are governed, funded, and expanded. It portrays a campus awakening to the high cost of prestige: glass-soaked architecture, a decentralized budgeting model replaced by centralized oversight, and a rising reliance on donor-driven programs and private equity-style finance. The essay critiques how AI initiatives and new divisions are funded and staffed, sometimes at the expense of traditional departments and graduate training, and questions whether branding and real estate ventures serve the university's core mission. It also discusses governance, transparency, and the influence of consultants and rankings on strategic decisions, suggesting that some actions amount to conspicuous consumption that may undermine long-term scholarly work and public service.