Academia’s Problem Is Bigger Than Tenure’s Decline

Tyler Austin Harper, an African American professor, left a secure position at Bates College due to frustration with the campus culture, which he felt prioritized racial issues and diversity over principles and people. He wrote about his experience in The Atlantic, stating that the college had become "deeply, incorrigibly racist" in its pursuit of social justice. Harper's essay sparked controversy and highlighted a broader issue in academia: the decline of tenure is not the only problem facing professors. The culture on many campuses, including Bates, has been criticized for being overly focused on race and diversity, with some arguing that this creates a "racial prop" mentality where individuals are used to further social justice goals rather than being valued as scholars and educators in their own right.