The big news over at the the UI is Ikenberry's announcement of furloughs for faculty and staff. Hardly surprising this is, since similar institutions have announced similar methods across the nation.

Given the constant of faculty haughtiness, it is no surprise that some have taken the announcement as an opportunity to voice their contempt and malcontent to the public that feeds them.

At the forefront of the grousing is James Barrett. Let us not forget this is the same faculty blowhard that railroaded money to be invested with the UI through the establishment of the Academy on Capitalism and Limited Government. Why did it fall apart and the UI turn down free money? Because Barrett and like-minded cranks of the professtocracy felt it was a threat to their singular and narrow vision of the Ivory Tower.

Playing also into Barrett's tantrum could very possibly be fear, given his position. A quick look at Barrett's vita shows a lackluster and scant publication record; read or valued by no one outside his own small corner of post-modernist hackademia.

Barrett's tirade seems to make the case for furloughs, rather than dissuade it. In fact, when it comes to spending cuts at the UI, Barrett is the obvious candidate for redundancy.

Posted by Hound No. 8