America’s Public University System: Corporate Welfare or Education?

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/06/11-0


“Tax-Free NY,” a plan zealously promoted by New York State’s Democratic Governor, Andrew Cuomo.

“Who needs the Cayman Islands?” That’s how a May 22 New York Times article began as it described “Tax-Free NY,” a plan zealously promoted by New York State’s Democratic Governor, Andrew Cuomo.

Under the provisions of his Tax-Free NY scheme, most of the 64 campuses of the State University of New York (SUNY), some private colleges, and zones adjacent to SUNY campuses would be thrown open to private businesses -- businesses that would be exempted from state taxes on sales, property, the income of their owners, and the income of their employees for a period of ten years. According to the governor, this creation of tax havens for private, profit-making companies is designed to create economic development and jobs, especially in upstate New York.

Accompanied by businessmen, politicians, and top SUNY administrators on a tour of the state, Cuomo has embarked on a full court press for his plan. “There are winners and there are losers,” he declared. “And the point of this is to be a winner.” Tax-Free NY, he announced, was “a game-changing initiative that will transform SUNY campuses and university communities across the state.” Conceding that these tax-free zones wouldn’t work without a dramatic “culture shift” in the SUNY system, Cuomo argued that faculty would have to “get interested and participate in entrepreneurial activities.” As he declared in mid-May, the situation was “delicate, because academics are academics. ... But you can be a great academic and you can be entrepreneurial, and I would argue you’d be a better academic if you were actually entrepreneurial.”

Despite the obvious problems this commercial approach raises for intellectual and academic integrity, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher is a strong supporter of the governor’s plan. Only a few years ago, New York State law prohibited businesses from operating on SUNY campuses, but Zimpher arranged for that barrier to be swept away. Also, even if she didn’t approve of a commercial invasion of the university, she -- like individual campus administrators -- would be unlikely to keep her job if she opposed the governor.

[Buzz Clik]

1. Translation: Public universities will be getting even less funding in the future. Good luck.

This quote proves that Cuomo, just like most politicians, knows little about univerisities:

I would argue you’d be a better academic if you were actually entrepreneurial

Don't worry about those classes; busy yourself raising money.

I'm guessing Cuomo's ignorance about the university system doesn't keep him awake at night.

[a la izquierda]

2. Fuck Andrew Cuomo right in the ear.

So now, in addition to slogging through grad school and praying like hell that we get jobs, we also have to whore ourselves out more than many already do?

This country is fucked.

(Sorry for the language...)

[davidpdx]

3. Interesting

SUNY has been working to open campuses here in Korea. I wonder if they are getting a big tax break.

[FarCenter]

4. It works out well in other states

Collocating industrial R&D labs, as well as state and federal activities like EPA, with the universities is a good thing.