Starving the Beast

Greetings again from the darkness. Our founding forefathers have been the focal point of many conversations during this political campaign season, and now Thomas Jefferson and John Adams (along with Abraham Lincoln) are keys to one side of the debate explored by director Steve Mims' latest documentary. The movie kicks off with James Carville's commencement speech at LSU as he reminds the graduating students of the vision each of the three iconic Presidents had for public higher education … visions that are now under attack.

The debate in question boils down to a contrast of philosophies: should public higher education continue to be treated as a societal investment in its citizens, or should students be considered consumers of a commodity (education) with public universities being self-sustained profit centers? It's the ultimate clash between politicians struggling with state budget shortages and those in the world of academia, which has remained mostly unchanged for almost 150 years.

Five highly-respected state research universities form the basis of this research: University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin – Madison, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, University of Virginia (founded by Thomas Jefferson), and Louisiana State University (LSU). We learn about the Morrill Act of 1862, a 500% tuition increase in the thirty years 1980-2010, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's attack on a fundamental core of the education system … tenure for professors. Other topics include CATO Institute, Texas Public Policy Foundation, and "the disruptor" Jeff Sandefer (founder of Acton School of Business) and his "Seven Breakthrough Solutions".

This is a documentary designed to prompt awareness and discussion. Both sides of the debate receive a fair shake, though the filmmaker's stance is pretty obvious. An example of "disruptive innovation" is shown with US Steel and its refusal to adapt to market demands for cheaper, lower quality steel. The point being … market change occurred, but the change made things worse, not better. Pan Am airlines is also a case study in how a company can refuse to adapt to market changes … they held tight to "old ways" until Pan Am no longer existed. Such examples are why there is no easy solution to the question being posed. Arguments can certainly be made that our education system has fallen behind that of other countries, but do we really want a populace where the humanities become a relic of the past since they don't readily fit into the equation for a valuable and productive profession? Disruption for the sake of reformation can be a good thing if the exchange of ideas and beliefs is done in a logical and precise manner. Of course, in our world, logic is often overridden by emotion … money and profit vs. a societal investment in each generation. Is it "immoral" to rob the next generation of this opportunity, and is that even what's happening? Numerous interviews (with some smart folks) and clips are offered to drive home just how complex the topic can be … and the strong mindset for each side.

Producer Bill Banowsky was on hand for a post screening Q&A. He was the founder of Magnolia Pictures, and his father was a University President – so the topic is important and personal to him. Well made social issue documentaries such as this are crucial sources to those of us attempting to cut through the tabloid-style journalism that has overtaken mass media. Conflicting ideologies can make for some terrific discussions, and in this case, it's a subject vital to our societal approach to future generations.

The message being imparted in "Starving The Beast", the recently released documentary examining what is alleged to be a shift in direction among some American public higher education institutions seems to boil down to this: Humanities, liberal arts and other so-called "soft subject" disciplines of study=Good.

Core curriculum courses like math, science and English, often referred to as "hard subjects"=Bad.

At least in regard to a reported reduction in funding for the former versus the hike in financial support for the latter. Granted, this is certainly simplifying what appears to ultimately be the driving point being dispatched by "Beast" writer and director Steve Mims. But having watched his film, I honestly don't believe it is all that far from the general thrust here.

I don't know that there are too many among us in this country who aren't fully aware of the at once concerning and discouraging fact that the rest of the industrialized world's young people are flat-out kicking our kid's ASSES when it comes to global standards of measurement regarding proficiency in both science and math (not to mention technology). This is to most Americans alarmingly unacceptable. At least I would surely HOPE it is at any rate. And it has unequivocally GOT to change. Now. Sh--. YESTERDAY.

This does not mean that a well-rounded education is not highly preferable for the future leaders and shapers of our country. The important components of a well-rounded scholarly experience provided by the humanities remain integral in any civilized society. And yet to expect that these pursuits be endowed with the same level of cash-infusion and emphasis as those departments which are educating and preparing college graduates to get a substantial job and eventually help support a family is not entirely reasonable in a modern world, either. Those academic options outside of a core subject program, lo, degree requirements, will continue to be available to students. And it is exceedingly difficult to imagine that the myriad of universities and colleges throughout the nation which are expressly devoted to liberal arts educations are going anywhere anytime soon.

However, there is a reason that marketers of higher education in the US have begun using the term "value proposition" when they are imploring the virtues of earning a degree from their esteemed institution. It's called making yourself eminently and immediately employable as opposed to living in the basement of your folk's home while you steam somebody's espresso at Starbucks for a paying gig. While a noble craft to be sure, it is likely not what you went to school for to wind up doing with your life on a long-term basis.

I have a liberal arts degree. And I am damn proud to have earned it, too. Hell, my eldest son is majoring in Accounting and is tearing it up in his second year at a top-notch state university. And he just got full course hour credit for taking "The History of Rock and Roll" for crissakes. They didn't even HAVE that when I was a college lad. And had they I'm tellin' you right now that I woulda taken it every damn SEMESTER! The point being that, while I fully understand the concerns presented and explored by Mims in his thought-provoking film (chief among them that we can not forget or ignore history. And who would argue?), by the same token I am also not inspired to embrace the notion that it's reached the level of all-out panic time quite yet.

Perhaps all of us will feel one whole helluva lot better when America is leaving the rest of the planet behind to eat it's dust as we surge past all comers with our explosively prodigious science and math acumen.

And all the while still being abundantly capable of holding our own should the topic at hand turn to 17th-century French literature, buddy.

Starving the Beast was very well-received in its world premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. It is a local product that examines conservative efforts to strangle higher education at public research universities across the country. It starts with Texas, but also examines attacks on major public universities in Louisiana, North Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin. Starving the Beast builds its case through interviews and detailed case studies of different universities. It explains how this fits in with a larger conservative ideology to dismantle public services. The film provides an excellent and detailed introduction to very complicated subject that has been underreported in the media. Because education is a local issue and the details differ from state-to-state it rarely draws national media scrutiny. The education reform agenda, which has been developed by conservative think tanks, has been at work across the county at all levels – including Public K-12 and Community Colleges. Broadly, the idea is to reduce funding, shift the cost of higher education to students, privatize public entities, and where possible censor more progressive ideas. Starving the Beast explores all these themes. It is entertaining and highly provocative. This crucial topic needs much more public scrutiny and debate. I hope it draws a wider audience on campuses and around the country.