

John Sailer: a time of troubles in higher education
10 snips May 10, 2025
John Sailer, Director of Higher Education Policy at the Manhattan Institute, dives into the changing landscape of academia. He explores the rise of ideological capture and the backlash against woke politics, particularly under the Trump administration. Sailer reveals how universities have made discriminatory policies apparent and are now facing pressure to adjust or defend their DEI practices. The discussion highlights the growing distrust towards universities and the complexity of navigating political influence and academic freedom in current educational climates.
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Diversity Statements as Ideological Tests
- Universities have used diversity statements heavily in faculty hiring as ideological litmus tests.
- Evaluations often penalize candidates who espouse traditional or colorblind views of equality.
STEM Diversity Drives from Federal Influence
- STEM fields unexpectedly lead in aggressive diversity hiring policies due to federal agency influences.
- NIH and NSF diversity mandates have shifted university hiring and recruitment practices significantly since 2012.
Humanities Activism and Mellon Funding
- Humanities scholarships increasingly focus on activist-oriented identity studies funded by foundations like Mellon.
- Many humanities scholars pursue tendentious research areas such as queer theory, pornography studies, and fat studies.