2025-03-08

Why universities cost so much

How do left-wing universities drive up costs?

Here is an example:

https://www.ricethresher.org/article/2025/03/rice-rebrands-dei-office-amid-federal-scrutiny

"The [former DEI office, now with a new name] office will add team members dedicated to 
1. religious diversity and pluralism, 
2. university life and freedom of expression, 
3. support for veterans, 
4. resources for community college transfer students and 
5. “LGBTQ+ Thriving,” 
according to [Provost]  Dittmar’s Feb. 28 email."

I was a Rice Owl from September 1963 to June 1967.
AFAIK, Rice didn't have any staff members devoted to any of that, 
aside from chaplains for Protestants and Catholics.
There was also a Hillel House - I don't know who paid for that.

In any case, it sounds like this is yet another excuse to add yet more administrators to the university, 
who have little or nothing to do with what was once the primary mission of the university, teaching and education.
(Great teachers like Ron Sass and Bob Curl, in Chem 120, 
Keith Miller in Math 100,
and Steve Baker in Physics 210.)

One may ask:
Just what will be the impact of this on future tuition?

Do university administrators care?
Do students care?
Does the Rice Thresher care?