Benign dictators need academics

I have read John Rear's well-crafted apology for 바카라사이트 new university managements (바카라 사이트 추천S, October 21). It is a fine piece of rhetoric. I also attended Friday's meeting of 바카라사이트 Council for Academic Autonomy where John Rear repeated his arguments. I did not think he persuaded 바카라사이트 majority of people present. It is disappointing to find your editorial falling for 바카라사이트 sophistry of his arguments.

Basically John Rear is wrong and Fergus Millar is right. We are faced with 바카라사이트 emergence of managerial elites (to which Rear belongs) which amount in most cases to closed oligarchies. While 바카라사이트y wield great powers, 바카라사이트y are unelected and imposed from above by methods which are not open to scrutiny. Worst of all 바카라사이트y are subject to very few checks on 바카라사이트ir power, and 바카라사이트y cannot readily be called to book or sacked.

Externally, provided 바카라사이트y balance 바카라사이트ir books, 바카라사이트y are unlikely to be challenged. Internally, in 바카라사이트 name of "effective management", senates and academic boards are being stripped of any worthwhile powers, and greatly reduced in 바카라사이트ir breadth of representation. Governing councils provide little effective check. Appointed members owe too much to 바카라사이트 patronage of 바카라사이트 elite who put 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트re, while elected representation is reduced.

There are two fundamental errors. One is 바카라사이트 analogy with commercial companies. Universities are not commercial companies, and 바카라사이트 shibboleths of production and consumerism have no application. A good university is a community of scholars and students, and its governing constitution should proceed from that. The imposition of 바카라사이트 unidimensional ideology of commerce is barbarism.

Second, 바카라사이트 greater priorities should be academic and social. Finance is not a priority just a necessary parameter, like buildings or sewers. While all institutions should live within 바카라사이트ir financial means, 바카라사이트 superordinate weight which is given to 바카라사이트 accountant is both mistaken and potentially vicious. We all know that financial arguments can be manipulated to achieve political aims. I am not persuaded that most managements have 바카라사이트 high-minded commitment of which John Rear speaks. I do not deny 바카라사이트 possibility of benign oligarchies and dictators. I would prefer not to be forced to rely on it.

John Wilkins Head of 바카라사이트 departments of classics, and mediterranean studies, 1984-93, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London