ThereIsNoExcuseforHowUniversities

TreatAdjuncts
Studentsarepayinghighertuitionthanever.Whycantmoreofthatrevenuegotothepeopleteaching
them?

AgraduatestudentgradesessaysonhiscomputeronthecampusofUCBerkeleyin2011.RobertGalbraith
/Reuters

CarolineFredrickson

Sep15,2015

InearlyJune,CalifornialaborregulatorsruledthatadriverforUber,theappbasedcarservice,was,in
fact,anemployee,notanindependentcontractor,anddeservedbackpay.Thedecisionmadenationalnews,
withexpertspredictingacomingfloodoflawsuits.Twoweekslater,FedExagreedtoa$288million
settlementafterafederalappealscourtruledthatthecompanyhadshortchanged2,300Californiadelivery
driversonpayandbenefitsbyimproperlylabelingthemasindependentcontractors.Thenextmonth,the
companylostanothercaseinafederalappealscourtovermisclassifying500deliverydriversinKansas.
Meanwhile,sinceJanuary,truckingfirmsoperatingoutoftheportsofLosAngelesandLongBeachhave
losttwomajorcourtbattleswithdriverswhoclaimthatthey,too,havebeenrobbedofwagesbybeing
misclassifiedasindependentcontractors.

Ifyouthinkyounoticeapatternhere,youreright.Afteryearsofinertia,courtsandregulatorsarestarting
totakeoncompaniesthatcategorizeemployeesascontractorsinordertoavoidwageandbenefitcosts.
Withinequalityandthedecliningmiddleclassbecomingmajorissuesinthe2016presidentialrace,
politicians(atleastontheDemocraticside)arenowalsovowingtodosomethingabouttheplightof
contingentworkers.Illcrackdownonbosseswhoexploitemployeesbymisclassifyingthemas
contractorsorevenstealtheirwages,HillaryClintonsaidinherbigeconomicpolicyspeechinJuly.

Theranksofthiscontingentworkforcedefinedastemporaryandparttimeworkersandindependent
contractorshavebeengrowingfordecades.From2006to2010,theirnumbersswelledfrom35.3percent
oftheemployedto40.4percent,accordingtodatafromtheU.S.GovernmentAccountabilityOffice.This
trendisntaltogetherbad.Plentyofparttimers,freelancers,andcontractorspreferthefreedomthatcomes
fromitinerantandindependentwork.Andsuchworkisoftentheresultofinnovationsthatlowerbarriersto
entryinotherwiseclosedmarketsthewayUbersapp,forinstance,allowsamateurswithcarstocompete
withlicensedtaxidriversandowners.

Theproblemisthatsucharrangementscanleadtoexploitation:Intheirwinninglawsuit,forexample,the
CaliforniaFedExdriverscomplainedthatthecompanyshiftedhundredsofmillionsofdollarsincostsonto
them,frombuyingandmaintainingtheirFedExbrandedtruckstofollowingFedExschedulesthatdidnt
allowformealbreaksandovertime.Notsurprisingly,contingentworkersingeneralreportlowerjob
satisfaction,lowerpayperhour,andfewerfringebenefitsthanworkersinthesameindustrieswithmore
traditionalemployment,accordingtotheGAO.

1
Thirtyonepercentofparttimefacultyarelivingnearorbelowthefederalpovertyline.

Lessskilledworkerstruckdrivers,hotelmaids,officetempstypicallybearthebruntofthesecontingent
arrangements,butthepracticeisalsomovingintotheprofessionalclasses.Thankstoaglutoflawschool
gradsandaslumpinglegalbusiness,thenumberofattorneysworkingparttimehasgrownfrom2.4percent
in1994to6.1percentin2013.Othereducatedprofessions,fromarchitecturetomainstreamjournalism,
haveseensimilarshifts.

Nowherehastheupclassingofcontingencyworkgonefarther,ironically,thaninoneofthemosteducated
and(backintheday)securesectorsoftheworkforce:collegeteachers.In1969,almost80percentof
collegefacultymembersweretenureortenuretrack.Today,thenumbershaveessentiallyflipped,with
twothirdsoffacultynownontenureandhalfofthoseworkingonlyparttime,oftenwithseveraldifferent
teachingjobs.

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CanThisManSaveThePublicUniversity?

Whythisshouldbesoisnotimmediatelyobvious.Unlikethelegalandthetraditionalnewsindustries,
highereducationhasbeenboominginrecentyears.Nordoeshigheredseemtofollowthepatternofother
industriesbeingtransformedbycontingentemployment.InhisbookTheFissuredWorkplace,DavidWeil
oftheBostonUniversitySchoolofManagement(andcurrentlytheadministratoroftheU.S.Wageand
HourDivisionintheU.S.DepartmentofLabor)writesthatthegrowthofcontingentemploymentisbeing
drivenmostlybyfirmsfocusingontheircorebusinessesandoutsourcingtherestoftheworkto
contractors.Butteachingstudentsisoratleastissupposedtobethecoremissionofhighereducation.
Thatcollegesanduniversitieshaveturnedmoreandmoreoftheirfrontlineemployeesintoparttime
contractorssuggestshowfartheyhavedriftedfromwhattheysaytheyareallabout(teachingstudents)to
whattheyareincreasinglyallabout(conductingresearch,runningsportsfranchises,or,amongforprofits,
deliveringshareholdervalue).

Tobesure,theoldtenuresystemhasitsproblems,andtheriseofthecontingentprofessoriatehasits
advantageschiefamongthemallowingfreshteachingtalentintothehighereducationsystem,often
peoplewithmorerealworldexperiencethantheregularfaculty.Theproblemisthatuniversitiesareusing
theirpowerinwaysthatshortchangebothcontingentteachersand,ultimately,students.Withcourtsand
politiciansincreasinglyquestioningthefairnessandlegalityofcontingentworkinindustrieslike
transportation,institutionsofhigherlearningcouldsoonbefacingscrutiny,too.

***

Sometracethepracticeofhiringparttimeinstructorstoatimewhenmostschoolsdidntallowwomenas
fullprofessors,andthusadjunctpositionswereassociatedwithfemaleinstructorsfromthestart.Eileen
Schell,authorofGypsyAcademicsandMotherTeachers:Gender,ContingentLabor,andWriting
Instruction,notesthatthesecontingentfacultymemberswerereferredtoasthehousewivesofhigher
education.Myparentslivedoutthatexactparadigm.Bothprofessors,myfatherwasfulltimeandtenured
andmymotherwasoriginallytenuretrackuntilamoveaccompanyingmyfathergotheronlyanon
tenuredpositionasaninstructoraspartofapackagecreatedtoluremyfathertoStanford.Theremy
motherworkedwithacohortofparttimefacultywiveswhoweregivenlittlerespectandevenlessin
wages.Womenstillmakeupthemajorityofcontingentteachers,withestimatesashighas61percent.(By
contrast,59percentoffulltimetenuredfacultyaremen.)

2
Aneighborofmine,MitchTropin,teachesatsixdifferentcollegesintheD.C.area.Througha
combinationofperseveranceandgoodkarma,hehasbeenabletoalignhisthreeBaltimoreschoolssohe
teachesthereonthesamedays,allowinghimtominimizecommutingtime.Healwaysaimsfor
employmentatsixschoolsbecause,hesays,Youneverknowwhenaclasswillbecancelledorafulltime
professorwillbumpyouatthelastminute.Sometimesclassesjustdisappear.AnotherD.C.adjunct,
TanyaPaperny,whodoesnthaveacar,hasdonehercommutebybikeandpublictransportation,making
herdaysstretchto13hours.

Tosaythatthesearelowwagejobsisanunderstatement.BasedondatafromtheAmericanCommunity
Survey,31percentofparttimefacultyarelivingnearorbelowthefederalpovertyline.And,accordingto
theUCBerkeleyLaborCenter,oneinfourfamiliesofparttimefacultyareenrolledinatleastonepublic
assistanceprogramlikefoodstampsandMedicaidorqualifyfortheEarnedIncomeTaxCredit.Knownas
theHomelessProf,MaryFaithCerasoliteachesromancelanguagesandprepareshercoursesinfriends
apartmentswhenshecancrashonacouch,orinhercarwhenthefriendscanttakeherin.Whenastudent
askedtomeetwithherduringofficehours,sheresponded,Sure,itsthePontiacVibeparkedonStewart
Avenue.

Whenanadjunctcarriessimilarresponsibilitiesasfulltimestaffbutforlessthanhalfthesalary,colleges
maybeevadingtheirlegalobligationsasemployers.

NaomiWinterfalcon,whoteachesatChamplainCollegeinBurlington,Vermont,ishappythatshewas
abletogetanotherjobthisyearandstayofffoodstampsforthesummer.Arecentstudyshowsthatalarge
portionofuniversitiesandcollegeslimittheiradjunctsteachinghourstoavoidhavingtoprovidethe
healthinsurancenowrequiredforfulltimersundertheAffordableCareAct.

Butapartfromfeelingsorryfortheunderpaidfaculty,whyshouldwecarethatcollegeprofessorshavethe
samejobconditionsasdaylaborers,fastfoodworkers,cashiers,taxidrivers,orhomecareaides?They
did,afterall,choosetopursueacareerinhighered.Administratorsattheseinstitutionsofhigherlearning
arguethattheyneedtouseadjunctsbecauseitistheonlywaytokeeptuitionfromrisingevenfasterthanit
has.Andisntaccesstoeducationthehighergood?

Iftherationaleforusinglowwageprofessoriallaborisaffordablecollege,however,ithasntworked.
Tuitionincreasesinspireaweattheirsizepublicuniversitiescostthreetimeswhattheycostin1980,
privateuniversitiestwiceasmuch.Asuniversitieshaveaddedamenitieslikesquashcourtsandluxury
dorms,theirspendinghasincreasedthreefold,butthestudentteacherratioremainsthesameasitwasin
thepast.Ifyouthinkthesetuitionincreasesresultedfromaninvestmentinprovidingabettereducationfor
thestudentsintheclassroom,considerthegrowthinadministrativestaffandadministrativepay.

Evenwhilekeepingfundingforinstructionrelativelyflat,universitiesincreasedthenumberof
administratorpositionsby60percentbetween1993and2009,10timestherateatwhichtheyadded
tenuredpositions.Intheolddays,differentprofessorswouldtaketheirturnasdeanforthisorthatandthen
happilyescapebacktoscholarshipandteaching.Nowtheadministrationexistsasanendinitselfanda
careerpathdisconnectedfromthefacultyandpursuitofknowledge.Writingafewyearsagoforthis
publication,theJohnsHopkinsprofessorBenjaminGinsbergdescribedcollegesanduniversitiesasnow
beingfilledwitharmiesoffunctionariesvicepresidents,associatevicepresidents,assistantvice
presidents,provosts,associateprovosts,viceprovosts,deans,deanlets,anddeanlings,allofwhom
commandstaffersandassistantswho,moreandmore,directtheoperationsofeveryschool.Sowhile
collegetuitionsurgedfrom2003to2013by94percentatpublicinstitutionsand74percentatprivate,
nonprofitschools,andstudentdebthasclimbedtoover$1.2trillion,muchofthatmoneyhasbeengoingto
ensurehigherpayforaburgeoninglegionofbureaucrats.

Youneverknowwhenaclasswillbecancelledorafulltimeprofessorwillbumpyouatthelastminute.

3
Asadministratorsmakemoreandmorefacultypositionsparttime,allegedlyforcostsavings,theydont
applythatsamelogictothemselves.Whiletheparttimeprofessorisnowthenorm,thepercentageofpart
timeadministratorshasactuallygonedown.Theirsalaries,too,unlikethoseofprofessors,continuetogo
up,increasingby50percentbetween1998and2003evenwhiletuitionwasgoingupandfacultynumbers
weregoingdown.EstimatesputtheincreaseinaveragesalariesforCEOsatpublicinstitutionsat75
percentbetween1978and2013andat170percentatprivateinstitutions.AsGinsbergreported,[I]n
January2009,facing$19millioninbudgetcutsandahiringfreeze,FloridaAtlanticUniversityawarded
raisesof10percentormoretotopadministrators,includingtheschoolspresident.

Evenifthecostofacollegeeducationwerentincreasing,theamountofthemoneyinthebudgetfornon
classroomrelatedactivitieswouldhaveanegativeeffect.In2013,collegesanduniversitiesdevotedless
thanathirdoftheirrevenuetoinstruction,and,in2011,attheendoftherecession,despitegrowthin
revenue,publicandprivateresearchuniversitiescroppedtheireducationrelatedspending.Oneadjunct
teacher,JJ,postingacommentonline,calculatedhis/herpayasanadjunctas$65perstudentpersemester,
addinguptotheprincelysumof$2,000,notingthateachstudentpaid$45,000intuitionandtookabout4
classesasemester.Ithinktheirparentswouldberatherupsettolearnthatonly$65ofthe$45,000went
topayoneprofessorforanentiresemester.

Ofcourse,whatparentsreallycareaboutiswhethertheirstudentsarebenefitingfromthemoneytheyre
spending.Sotherealquestioniswhethertheshifttoadjunctteachinghashelpedorhurteducation
outcomes.Thatturnsouttobeahardquestiontoanswerdefinitively,becausecomprehensivedataon
studentoutcomesishardtocomebyandthevarietyamongadjuncts(parttime,fulltime,graduate
students,andsoon)andschools(selectiveschools,openadmissionsschools)makescomparisonsdifficult
withoutgooddata.Accordingtosomeresearch,adjunctsgethighmarks.Onestudyfoundthatfreshmenat
NorthwesternUniversitylearnedmoreinintroductoryclassestaughtbynontenuredfaculty.Another
study,ofapublicfouryearschoolinOhio,showedthatstudentswhotookscienceandengineeringclasses
fromadjunctsweremorelikelytotakemoreclassesinthosefields,especiallyiftheadjunctswereolder
(theauthorstheorizedthattherealworldindustryexperienceoftheseolderinstructorsmayhavecaptured
thestudentsimaginations).

Otherresearch,however,pointsstronglyintheoppositedirection.Astudyofcommunitycollegestudents
foundthatthosewhohadmoreexposuretoparttimeteacherswerelesslikelytotransfertofouryear
universities.Anotherdetailedstudyofsixpublicuniversitieswithinonestatefoundthatatfourofthose
schools,freshmenwhohadmoretimewithparttimefacultyweresubstantiallylesslikelytoreturn
sophomoreyear.Interestingly,however,attheothertwouniversitiesinthatstate,freshmenwithhigher
exposuretoparttimeteacherswereslightlymorelikelytopersisttosophomoreyear.Thedifference,the
researchersdiscovered,isthatthesetwoschoolsgavetheirparttimeinstructorsmoresupport,including
them,forinstance,innewfacultyorientationprograms.

Thislastfindinggetstothelargerpoint.Asaclass,adjunctsprobablyarentanyworseatteachingthan
tenuredprofessors(who,forthemostpart,arenthiredfortheirteachingability).Whatseemstomakea
differenceishowadjunctsaretreated.Atmostschools,adjunctssimplyarentgettingthetools,training,
support,orevenstatusthattheyneedtodotheirjob.MaryGrabar,whoworkedasanadjunctformany
years,sumsitup:

Considertheharriedparttimerpullinghercartfromthecartotheoffice.Thiswasnecessary,forinmost
placesonecouldexpectatmostpartofafiledrawerforstorage,orifshehadsomeseniorityamong
adjuncts,asmalllockerforhercoatandpapersnexttoacubicleinthehallwayneartheregularfaculty
offices.AtthestateuniversitywehadonelargeroomcalledTheBullpen.Itcontainedcastoffdesksand
chairs.Ifyourofficehourhappenedtonotbeatapopulartime,youwouldbeluckyandgetaplacetosit,
alongwithachairforyourstudent.Iseemedtogetthedeskwiththeworstchair,onewhichrequireda

4
delicatebalancingact,asitwobbledprecipitously.Therewascertainlynoleaningbackintoareverieabout
thepoetryIwasabouttoteach!Thatwastoodangerous.

AndGrabarsaysshecertainlydidnthavemuchtimetospareforstudentswithsimilarreveries,orstudents
whosimplyhadquestions.

Withcontractsthatlastonlyasemester,adjunctsarehardpressedtodomorethanjustfindthenextterms
jobupdatingtheircourses,mentoringstudents,andwritinglettersofrecommendationhastocomeoutof
timeinwhichtheyarewritingtheirownapplicationsortravelingacrosstowntoteachatcampusnumber
three.AsJJcommentedonline,Didmakingsolittlemoneyaffectmyjobperformance?Yes.Imisseda
weekofclassonceduetobeinghospitalizedforstressandexhaustion.Working4050[hoursaweek]fora
grandtotalof$4000overfourmonthsworkingextrajobsontopofthattocovermyrentandtobuymy
healthinsuranceandtakingotherextrajobstocovermystudentloansnearlykilledme.

TheDelphiProjectontheChangingFacultyandStudentSuccess,basedattheUniversityofSouthern
California,studiestherecruitmentandhiringprocessforadjunctinstructors.Adjunctsareoftenhiredjust
daysbeforeaclassbegins,givingthemlittletimeforpreparationororientationtotheschool,thestudents,
orthepoliciesongradingandfacultystudentinteraction.

MyneighborMitchTropinarguesthattheproblemisthatmostadjunctsdoagoodjob,butareputinan
unfairsituation.Inadditiontopovertywages,longhours,andlackofofficespace,theisolationfromother
teacherscanbearealproblem.NaomiWinterfalconatChamplainCollegetoldmethatsheknewfew
peopleinherdepartmentuntiltheadjunctinstructorsunionized.Champlain,sheexplains,useslotsof
adjuncts,butshehadnevermetmostofthem,eventhoseinherdepartment.Oncetheyorganized,
however,theybegantomeeteachotherinunionmeetings.Itmakesabigdifferenceifyouareabletotalk
toeachother.Itallowsustoimproveourselvesacademicallyaswellasourworkingenvironment,she
says,anditfacilitatesbetterteachingtohaveotherswhoareinthesamecircumstancestotalkthrough
problems,shareexperiences,andstrategizehowtosolvethem.

AspokespersonforChamplaindeclinedtocommentonWinterfalcon'saccount,onthegroundsthatthe
collegeiscurrentlyinnegotiationswiththeadjuncts'union.Hedid,however,notethatChamplain's
adjunctshavefacultyrepresentativesinthecollege'sgovernment.

Withoutjobsecurity,adjunctsmaylacktheindependencetheyneedtochallengestudentsbycritiquing
commonlyacceptedideas.

Whatmakesthesituationevenworseisthatadjunctsareoftendisproportionatelyassignedthecourses
filledwiththestudentswhoneedthemostassistance,suchasintroductorycourses,freshmanwriting
classes,orremedialeducation.Incomingstudentsoftenneedbasicgrammarandcompositionskills,which
requiresthekindofintensivehandsonteachingthatisdifficultforaparttimerwithfulltimeteaching
hoursandinsufficientsupporttoprovide.

Andtheresamoresubtledangerlurkingincontingency:Withnojobsecurity,precariousfinancial
situations,andweakinstitutionalsupport,adjunctprofessorsmaylacktheindependenceandstatusthey
needtochallengestudentsbypresentingunpopularpositions,critiquingcommonlyacceptedideas,oreven
givingoutpoorgrades.Academicfreedomdoesntmeanmuchinthesecircumstances.Andwhilewetend
toseeacademicfreedomasprotectionforprovocativescholarship,italsoperformstheevenmore
importantfunctionoffacilitatingdiscussionanddebateintheclassroom.GregLukianoff,thepresidentand
CEOoftheFoundationforIndividualRightsinEducation,findsthepotentialforcensorshipandself
censorshipintheadjunctsystemtroubling,andadds,Ithinkatminimumadjunctsshouldhavecontracts
withbothtermsofseveralyearsandpromisesofacademicfreedom.

5
Whenprofessorsknowthatstudentsassessmentsmaybetheonlyevaluationtheyreceiveandthusarethe
mostsignificantfactorinwhethertheywillbehiredforanothersemester,theyhavelittleincentivetograde
criticallyandinsteadmaygradetoplease,resultingingradeinflationandpermissivenessofstudents
wrongheadedideasordisruptivebehavior.Thesystemgivesstudentsleveragetoattackateachertheymay
notlikeortoavoidtheconsequencesoftheirownacademicfailure.

***

Tenurealsohasitscritics,andnotwithoutreason.Compellingargumentsthatthedecisionmakingprocess
isopaque,allowingbiastogoundetected,andthatsafeguardingpositionsallowsdeadwoodprofessorsto
keeptheirpositions,allmaketenureworthacriticalsecondlook.Myfathersexperiencereflectedthe
upsidesoftheoldregime:Ayoungprofessormoveslaterallytogetatenuretrackposition,getstenure,and
thenjumpsagainformoreprestige,inmyfatherscaseanendowedchair.Hehadanoffice,keptoffice
hours,preparedhisowncurriculum,wasinvitedtofacultyseminarsandprogramsonpedagogical
advances,andhadstaffsupportandotherresourcessohecouldfocusonteachingandscholarshiprather
thanonseekingthenextopeningtoteachacourseanddrivingbetweencampuses.Myfatherservedas
mentor,emotionalsupport,andintellectualguideforseveralgenerationsofyoungscholars,whileatthe
sametimepursuinghisowncuttingedgescholarship.Evenamongthoseacademicswhodidntsharethis
trajectory,80percentwerestillfulltimeandeligiblefortenure.Whiletherearestillprofessorswhoenjoy
thebenefitsoftenureandtheemolumentsthatgoalongwiththatstatus,manyoftheircolleaguesmakeup
theproletariatoftheivorytower,withnohopeofadvancement,abysmalwages,andnojobsecurity.

Someadjunctsarerefusingtoacceptthestatusquo.Acrossthecountry,manyofthemhaveturnedtothe
ServiceEmployeesInternationalUnion,theUnitedAutoworkers,theAmericanFederationofTeachers,
andotherunionstoimprovetheirlot.MaryFaithCerasoliattendsralliesinherHomelessProfvest.In
D.C.,theSEIU,ledbyadjunctsincludingMitchTropin,hassuccessfullypushedforcontractsatAmerican
University,Howard,Georgetown,GeorgeWashington,MontgomeryCollege,and,justrecently,atTrinity,
meaningthatthemajorityofadjunctsintheD.C.areaarenowrepresentedbytheunion.Fightingunderthe
banneroftheFightfor$15,likefastfoodworkers,theyarguethattheyshouldbepaid$15,000per
coursewhichwouldequal$90,000annuallyforaprofessorwiththreecoursespersemester.(Giventhat
theAmericanAssociationofUniversityProfessorsestimatestheaverageearningsforassistantprofessors
at$62,500to$76,900andforassociateprofessorsat$75,220to$91,200,thisfigureistrulyaspirationalat
thispoint.)WhilesomeschoolslikeGeorgetownhaveacceptedunionswithouttoomuchfuss,othershave
adoptedthetacticslongusedbyantilaborbusinesses:falselyaccusinglaborofficialsofearningexorbitant
salaries,hiringlawfirmsthatspecializeinunionbusting,andfiringthoseinvolvedinthecampaign.But
manyadjunctsarecommittedtothefight.TiffanyKraft,whoteachesatfourdifferentinstitutionsinthe
Portland,Oregon,areasays,Whatdowehavetolose?Wevebeenscaredintocomplicityforsolong,but
Ididntgothroughfourteenyearsofhighereducationtobetreatedlikeshit.

Traditionalhigherlearninginstitutionsfaceanotherthreatbesidesunionsandonlinecompetition,inthe
formoflawsuits.TheDelphiProjectsAdriannaKezarcallsonuniversityboardstoexerciseoversight.
WritinginTrusteeshipmagazinefortheAssociationofGoverningBoards,sherecommendsthatcolleges
anduniversitiesexaminetheiruseofadjuncts,becauseoverrelianceoncontingentteachersmayplace
theirinstitutionsatgreaterriskofbecominginvolvedinaclassactionlawsuitrelatedtotheiremployment
practices.

Withcoursesthatneedtobetaughteverysemesterledbyaninterchangeablesetofadjuncts,theschools
seemtobedoingjustwhattruckingcompanies,housecleaningservices,andnowappdrivenbusinesses
suchasUberandLyfthavebeenaccusedofdoing:misclassifyingworkersascontractors.Especiallywhen
ateacherisaskedtocarryoutsimilarresponsibilitiesasfulltimepermanentstaffbutforlessthanhalfthe
salary,theremaybegroundstobelievethatuniversitiesandcollegesareevadingtheirlegalobligationsas

6
employers.Andwiththeoverrepresentationofwomeninthesejobs,itseemspossiblethatmanyofthese
universitiescouldbeviolatingnotonlylaborlawsbutcivilrightslawsaswell.

AlyssaColton,forexample,thesubjectofanNBCNewsstoryearlierthisyear,washiredinitiallyasafull
timeteacherwithbenefitsattheCollegeofSt.RoseinAlbany,NewYork.Thecollegedidnotrenewher
contractfouryearslater,butafterasemesterhadgoneby,itrehiredherasaparttimeinstructorwithout
healthinsuranceorpensioncontributions.Iessentiallytookapaycut,ColtontoldNBC,doingthesame
workforlessmoneyandlessrespect.Becauseherhusbandsbusinesshadfailedacoupleyearsbefore,
Coltonsmovefromfulltimeemployeetoadjunctmeantthatthefamilyhadtogoonfoodstampsand
Medicaid,andtheynowqualifyfortheEarnedIncomeTaxCredit.

Kezarfearsthatthereisnogoingbacktomyfathersera,whenmostpositionsweretenuredortenure
track.Instead,shefavorssimplyadoptinglongercontractswithbenefits,whichwouldbridgethegap
betweenthetenuredfacultyandtherestoftheinstructors.AtGeorgetown,thesocalledhalffullsare
paidarateproportionaltothefulltimersandhavesomemeasureofjobsecurity.

Ifyouhaveanydoubtthatcollegescantreatfrontlineeducatorswellandstilldeliverqualityinstructionat
areasonableprice,considerWesternGovernorsUniversity.AsWashingtonMonthlydetailedin2011,
WesternGovernorsisanonprofitonlineinstitutionthathasdiscoveredawaytoprovideaccreditedcollege
degreesatafractionofthecostoftheircompetitors.Whatsremarkableisthattheyvedonethisusinga
workforcethatprovidesstudentswithacademiccoachingandmentoringfromhomeofficesandkitchen
tablesacrossthecountryandyetenjoysfulltimehoursandgoodbenefits.Clearly,itspossibletodelivera
qualityproductatarelativelylowcostwhilestillpayingyoureducatorsfairly.

Onewayoranother,somethinghastogive.Judgesandregulatorsaretakingaharderlookatcompanies
thatmisclassifytheirworkersascontractors,andDemocraticfrontrunnerHillaryClintonispromisingto
crackdownhardonthepractice.Unionsaremovingintoorganizeadjuncts,withsomesuccess.And
pressurecontinuestobuildonthehighereducationsectortoallowthefederalgovernmenttocollectdata
onstudentoutcomes.Thatsthesinglebestwaytoprovidepolicymakersaswellascollegesand
universitieswiththedatatheyneedtodeterminewhichkindsofinstructors(tenuredoradjunct,parttime
orfulltime)servewhichgroupofstudentsbest,andwhatkindsofsupport(training,officehours,wages)
theyneedtodotheirjobs.

Intheend,itmayallcomedowntoresults.Bycreatinganinferiorproductthatistooexpensiveand
doesntsatisfystudents,parents,employers,oracademics,traditionalinstitutionsareeithergoingtochange
howtheyredoingthingsvoluntarilyandproactivelyortheyllbeforcedintoitbyinnovativecompetitors,
legislators,regulators,andthecourts.

ThispostappearscourtesyofTheWashingtonMonthly.

AbouttheAuthor
CarolineFredricksonispresidentoftheAmericanConstitutionSocietyandauthorofUnderthe
Bus:HowWorkingWomenAreBeingRunOver.

7
 o ConorFriedersdorf

Lastmonth,thelongrunningdebateaboutculturalappropriationwasrekindledwhenseveral
protestsoverapaintingattheWhitneyMuseummadenationalheadlines.OpenCasketdepicted
thebodyofEmmettTill,whose1955lynchinghelpedgalvanizetheCivilRightsMovement.The
artist,DanaSchutz,saystheinspirationforthepaintingofthemurdered14yearoldcamefrom
listeningtointerviewswithhismother,whodisplayedherlateson'sbodyduringhisfuneralto"let
thepeoplesee."Detractorsarguedthatawhitewomanoughtnotrendersuchasubject.Anda
petitioncalledforthepaintingtoberemovedfromtheexhibitanddestroyed.

Asdebateraged,IaskedJonathanBlanks,aresearcherattheCatoInstitute'sProjectonCriminal
Justice,ifhewouldcorrespondwithmeaboutwhatconstitutesculturalappropriation,whether
engaginginitiswrong,andhisfrustrationwiththewaysomeontherightareexploitingthe
backlashagainstculturalappropriationclaims.

ContinueReading

TheUnfitPresident

o StephanieHayes

WhenTeddyRooseveltwasinoffice,hehadtheWhiteHousebasementcoatedwithmats.An
avidmartialartist,the26thpresidentwantedtobeabletograppleandpracticejudothrows
withoutleavinghishome.Thentheyoungestmantoassumethepresidency(hewas42),he
injectedacertainvigorintotherole:HeinvitedaccomplishedboxerstotheWhiteHousetospar
withhim,heledambassadorsonintensehikes,andheoncelivenedupaformalluncheonby
tossingaSwissministertothefloortodemonstrateajudohold.Thrice.

Rooseveltwastheonlymartialartisttooccupytheovaloffice,buthisenthusiasmforexercisefits
apatternthatsbecomemoremarkedamongrecentpresidents.Itsnothardtoseetheappealofan
activepresidenttoconstituents:Beingtheleaderofthefreeworldisademandingjob,andits
comfortingtoknowthepersonfillingitwillmakeittothefinishline.Thesameclearlyholdsfor
SupremeCourtjustices,asevidencedbywidespreadliberalconcernaboutRuthBaderGinsburgs
bonedensityandkaleintake.(Arecentarticledocumentingtheoctogenariansworkoutregimea
twiceweekly,hourlongcircuitinvolvingpushups,planks,andweightsseemstohaveallayed
someworries).

ContinueReading

8
 TheRepublicanIdentityCrisis

o McKayCoppins

TheseareconfusingtimestobeaRepublican.

Forthepastseveraldecades,membersoftheGOPhavemappedtheideologicalrangefound
withintheirpartyontoafairlystraightforwardspectrumonethatrunsfrommoderateto
conservative.Theformulationwassimplistic,ofcourse,butitprovidedausefulshorthandin
assessingpoliticians,andinexplainingonesownpoliticalorientation.

AsmallgovernmentculturewarriorinArizonawouldbesituatedonthefarrightendofthe
spectrum;aprochoiceChamberofCommercetypeinMassachusettsmightplacehimselfonthe
otherend.Andacrossthecountry,thereweremillionsofpeoplefromofficeholderstoordinary
Republicanvoterswhoidentifiedsomewherebetweenthosetwopoles.

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It'sNotOverYetforDonaldTrump

o DavidFrum

Inthelatefallof1995,thecolumnistBenWattenbergontourtopromoteanewbookreceived
aphonecallfromanadmiringreader.ThereaderwasPresidentBillClinton.Overthenexthour,
ClintonpraisedWattenbergsworkasthemostaccuratecriticismofhisadministrationtodate.

InhissyndicatedcolumntobepublishedThursday,Mr.WattenbergquotesMr.Clinton
assayingthathewasinitiallytoointerestedinthe"legislativescorecard,ratherthanin
philosophy,"focusinglikeaprimeministeronshepherdinghisparty'slegislation,instead
ofusingthebullypulpitlikeachiefexecutive.ThecolumnsaysMr.Clintonsaidhewas
"soanxioustofixtheeconomy"thathe"changedphilosophicallyandmissedtheboat."

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JusticeThomas'sDoubtsAboutCivilForfeiture

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 o MattFord

TheU.S.SupremeCourtreceivesthousandsofappealsfromthenationslowercourtseachyear.It
declinestohearalmostallofthem.ButforJusticeClarenceThomas,oneofthoserejectedcases
earlierthismonthgavehimthechancetochallengeawidelycriticizedpolicepractice:civil
forfeiture.

Leonardv.TexasreachedtheCourtafterLisaLeonardsoughttooverturnTexassseizureof
roughly$200,000incashfromasafeinhersonscar.In2013,LibertyCountypoliceofficers
pulledhimandhisgirlfriendoveralongwhatthestatedescribedasaknowndrugcorridor,a
lawenforcementtermthatcanbeappliedtomostmajorinterstatehighways.Officersseizedthe
moneyandarguedinlocalcourtsthatthestatecouldkeepit,allegingitwaslikelytheprofitsfrom
drugsales.

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PutinLikestoPretend1917NeverHappened

o MikhailZygar

Justover100yearsago,RussianEmperorNicholasIIabdicatedhisthroneandhisvastempire
ceasedtoexist,settingoffdecadesofworldshakingchange.Yetthisyear,notasingleRussian
televisionstationmarkedtheanniversary.Thedecisiontoignorethecentennialarosefroma
meetingattheKremlinlastyear,inwhichRussianPresidentVladimirPutintoldhisadvisorsthat
itwouldbeunnecessarytocommemorateit.Instead,theoccasionshouldbediscussedonlyby
experts,hereportedlysaid.Thatis,lettheexperts,thehistorians,discusstheRevolution;therest
ofRussiashouldntconcernitselfwithsuchmatters.

ThisorderwasthenconveyedbySergeiKirienko,theKremlinsnewpoliticalstrategist,tothe
directorsofRussiasstatemediacompanies.Russiadoesntneedrevolutionsitneedsstability,
hesaid,accordingtothosewhoattendedthesemeetings.Thecollapseofempirehadbecome
tabooforRussianmedia,andapparentlyanegligiblehistoricalfootnoteforPutin.

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TheManagementMyth

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 o MatthewStewart

DuringthesevenyearsthatIworkedasamanagementconsultant,Ispentalotoftimetryingto
lookolderthanIwas.Ibecameprettygoodatfurrowingmybrowandputtingonsomber
expressions.ThosewhosawthroughmydisguiseassumedImadeupformyyouthwitha
fabulouseducationinmanagement.Theywerewrongaboutthat.IdonthaveanM.B.A.Ihavea
doctoraldegreeinphilosophynineteenthcenturyGermanphilosophy,tobeprecise.BeforeI
tookajobtellingmanagersoflargecorporationsthingsthattheyarguablyshouldhaveknown
already,myworkexperiencewaslimitedtoparttimegigstutoringsurlyundergraduatesinthe
waysofHegelandNietzscheandtoahandfulofsummerjobs,mostlyinthelessappetizingends
ofthefastfoodindustry.

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ThereIsNoExcuseforHowUniversitiesTreatAdjuncts

o CarolineFredrickson

InearlyJune,CalifornialaborregulatorsruledthatadriverforUber,theappbasedcarservice,
was,infact,anemployee,notanindependentcontractor,anddeservedbackpay.Thedecision
madenationalnews,withexpertspredictingacomingfloodoflawsuits.Twoweekslater,FedEx
agreedtoa$288millionsettlementafterafederalappealscourtruledthatthecompanyhad
shortchanged2,300Californiadeliverydriversonpayandbenefitsbyimproperlylabelingthemas
independentcontractors.Thenextmonth,thecompanylostanothercaseinafederalappealscourt
overmisclassifying500deliverydriversinKansas.Meanwhile,sinceJanuary,truckingfirms
operatingoutoftheportsofLosAngelesandLongBeachhavelosttwomajorcourtbattleswith
driverswhoclaimthatthey,too,havebeenrobbedofwagesbybeingmisclassifiedasindependent
contractors.

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TheProblemofBingeingonSTown

o MattThompson

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Giventhemarketdynamicsofmediain2017,Iexpectthatthisverymoment,somewherein
America,theinvisiblehandispenninganepictakedownofSTown.Thesevenpartseriesfrom
themakersofThisAmericanLifeandSerialispopularenoughthatbacklashisnearinevitable.
Already,manyfolkshavecommentedontheshowsmilieu,aperfectfitforAmerica'spolitical
zeitgeistinthesamewaythatJ.D.VancesHillbillyElegywasin2016.Betweenthatcontextand
theinherentproblematicsofanyshowthatdivessodeeplyintothecomplexinnerlivesand
tragediesofitssubjects(seealso:Serial,MakingaMurderer,MissingRichardSimmons),thisisa
showthatislikelytorubatleastafewlistenersthewrongway.Butitsarichenoughendeavor
thatnomatterhowyoufeelaboutit,itoffersmanyfootholdsforconversation.

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