Reed, the chancellor of the California State University system, got in some hot water last year over remarks he made about the CSU system being the educational equivalent to the discount department store Wal-Mart. With the revelation last week that San Jose State University is considering the absurd idea of tearing down Hugh Gillis Hall and replacing it with a hotel, Reed now appears to have hit the nail squarely on the head. The thought of tearing down an academic building and replacing it with a for-profit business is laughable. Just think of the possibilities. Academics is about learning.
Business is about profit.
The two mix like oil and water. Yes, we understand the dilemma universities across the state are facing. Yes, we understand the need to look for new ways to financially maintain our campus. Even with a budget surplus, there is still little money to go around, and by the time everyone has had their share of the pie, there is little left to fix problems, such as infrastructure. But the whorish idea of selling out our integrity to the highest bidder is not the answer.