Currently back at Uni for another go (sort of, it's complicated), and it's amazing to see how much the place has declined, after Covid, but even since the start of the year...
This particular Uni keeps scrapping student amenities and aspects of the student "experience", from free stuff at O Week through to removing the last remaining ATM on campus (!!), through to killing off most campus food vendors, and then, most importantly, massively reducing staffing numbers and quality, which affects everything from course offerings through to, of course, teaching quality. Hell, they've even sacked most of their "student interface" staff, which means that if we need to, say, sort out an enrolment issue, it is nearly impossible to get seen in person to have it dealt with... It's fucked.
The University in my home city (which is, for the most part, much better than the one I am currently at. Or at least it used to be) is even worse. They've unironically scrapped most of the food vendors and the University textbook shop entirely, from their main campuses, with view to forcibly closing all their main campuses in five years or so, and moving the student body into the city centre, against the wishes of students, the community, and even local businesses. But the Uni doesn't give a fuck.
What are students meant to do in the meantime? Lol, get fucked, essentially. Like, quite literally, they've hollowed out the campus, and left them with nowhere to go, and yet still the international students flood in...
I've been around these campuses, across Australia and elsewhere, for long enough now to know that this shit is not sustainable. Like, how long until (domestic) student bodies wake up and realise that they are being taken for a complete ride? Student fees haven't declined, they've only increased, as more and more facilities are scrapped, and as the teaching becomes little more than Youtube videos. And yet, because we are continually told "a degree is the only way to get a good-paying, middle class job", still the kids stream in.
I honestly just wonder how long it will be before people finally realise what a fucking Ponzi scheme this all is, if ever...
"Expensive day care for middle class adults" while also functioning as a degree mill for immigrants is a complete fucking joke, even compared to what this "system" was like a decade ago...
Of course, this varies by country, and Australia is worse than most, but the US system is at least equally fucked, if for different reasons...
Funny thing is, I have to pass two "transgender flag" road crossings, to leave the campus tonight. Because that's what this University spends money on. Rubbing that shit in your face at every possible opportunity.
Try speaking up, though? Yeah, you're gonna face some pretty severe consequences...
Lol, fuck this entire system.
The university bubble was kept afloat last decade by promising to keep people out of the economic downturn half the US was suffering. Many teachers used that to promote their insanity and move up. There is a University near my parents house that has spent more money than they have, gotten rid of the computer science degrees, and promoted the usual danger hair stuff. The entire thing has only continued because upper middle class people are disconnected from the lower middle class.
Meanwhile the point of university dies. Like you mentioned the bookstore and library suffer because students can find those books online for cheaper. The use of academia databases doesn't work because so many have figured out ways around it, or better scans of articles. Why do a lecture the traditional way when we have YouTube? Does the professor even know how that works? Who cares.
If students don't need to physically be on campus to study, why do they need food and culture? Make sure the stadium for sports works, and tear down the rest. But students demand culture? Give them DEI paid for culture. That's cheap and easy to do.
So long as the major donors are appeased, and the school can own patents on student made work, the money will continue. Yes, schools own patents which they hope make money. All this AI race is based on schools trying to be the leader on the subject. The school itself doesn't actually need to exist.
Then the teachers see their nice office, the school bubble, and the way things are run. They think this is how socialism works. So, DEI money makes them proudly declare their intentions.