Why not a “Harvard of the South?: The hierarchy of higher education

Higher education is generally considered “the great equalizer” while academic excellence (as well acceptance rates and fees) is highly unequal.

At the pinnacle of this hierarchy are the Ivy League schools (e.g., Harvard, Yale, Princeton).  These universities graduate “elites” who disproportionately own and run some of our most profitable corporations and fill the most influential government positions.

For example, every current Supreme Court justice but one has graduated from an Ivy League university.  Graduates from lesser private and public institutions disproportionately work for Ivy Leaguers and generally staff upper to middle white-collar positions.  Graduates from community colleges tend to fill the lower levels of white-collar positions or become individuals with specialized skills.  Of course, there are exceptions, but the reality is that the more prestigious the education the better the job.

It is, therefore, ironic to find that a significant percentage of “elite” conservatives attained either an undergraduate or graduate degree from the liberal Ivy League schools; George Will, Princeton; Donald Trump, University of Pennsylvania; Mike Pompeo, Harvard; Steve Bannon, Harvard; Ted Cruz, Princeton; Christopher Rufo, Harvard; and Ronald DeSantis, Yale and Harvard.

Evidently, the Ivy League schools with their alleged “woke” ideology have failed in their “indoctrination”.  Rather, the data show that Ivy League universities have instilled within the “elite” conservatives the ability to think rather than what to think.  They are educated empowered individuals.

Currently, these “elites” are instrumental in constructing the narrative as to what it contemporaneously means to be a conservative.  They are the leading ideologues of conservatism who constitute the nation’s exclusive country club of conservatism.  Certainly, this is the case in Florida.  Gov. DeSantis accompanied by Christopher Rufo have constructed the narrative regarding the remaking of higher education in Florida.

They have chosen New College, a previously prestigious liberal arts college, to showcase their restructuring of higher education.  DeSantis et al. have proclaimed that they will turn New College into the “Hillsdale of the South.”  Notably, the original Hillsdale college in Michigan is principally known for its conservative ideology (refusing to accept federal funding) and conservative curriculum.  It is not known for its academic excellence as witnessed by the lack of scholarly prestige of its faculty.  In general, as with most middle to lower rated universities, Hillsdale’s graduates end up working for the educated “elites” in both the private and public sectors.

Therefore, the question that looms over Gov. DeSantis restructuring of New College is why he is creating a “Hillsdale of the South” rather than a “Harvard of the South?”  Why replicate a school with little academic prestige?  There is no doubt that creating a “Harvard of the South” would greatly enhance the prestige of Florida and its higher education system while also providing a steady stream of extremely well-educated individuals who will most efficaciously staff our private and public institutions.  The “Harvard of the South” would empower not indoctrinate.

But wait, could this be the very reason why DeSantis wants to create a lower to middle-rung university with a very narrow curriculum?  DeSantis knows that conservative “elites” need individuals learned in their definition of what it means to be a conservative.  They will add to their “base”.

DeSantis also knows that “elites” need committed individuals who will execute the nuts and bolts of their political agenda.  Thus, I suggest that DeSantis et al. are purposefully building a “New” College that will graduate an endless stream of conservative-leaning individuals who will do the menial labor of executing their grand plans.  In short, Florida’s conservative elites will be assured that the individuals graduating from their “Hillsdale of the South” will enthusiastically want to work at their country club.

I suggest that Floridians demand that DeSantis not create a self-serving university.  But rather, create a “Harvard of the South” that will benefit all Floridians regardless of their political identity.

James Unnever is a noted criminologist who was an educator for more than 40 years, including 15 as a professor of criminology at the University of South Florida.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Why not a “Harvard of the South?: The hierarchy of higher education