“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction” — Ronald Reagan

 

While the edifices still evoke the intellectually exploratory college experience of past generations, enter the classrooms, but today most grads would not recognize their schools. Rather than encouraging free debate and allowing students to test their own thinking without judgment, course curriculums – from the arts to science--are often infused with a drumbeat of political ideology where disagreement  is not tolerated. Listen to find out for yourself. Audit a class or listen in to an online lecture.  Many are not what they say they are, and students can be cancelled in the case if they raise the "wrong" questions.  It is a trying time. 

Free societies are havens for dissent and disagreement. This unfettered open inquiry is required  for groundbreaking problem solving, innovation and mass prosperity.  How do we return this attribute of higher education?  No culture that restricts freedom of inquiry has continued to advance. No government-controlled economy has led to prosperity. Academic freedom, is the catalyst for a prosperous, thriving society. 

We cannot rely on academia to self-regulate. Alumni and Donors Unite is a force for change from outside the academy.  Our model moves from facts on the ground to implications and awareness, all for the customers (students, parents, alumni, donors, and even the professors) to become aware. 

We have found thus far that the awareness is low amongst these groups.  We chose to define cases that have a chance of success, defined as a move forward for academic freedom, in terms of media attention or actual reform on campus.  One thing is certain rarely if ever will an institution reform itself based on input from a few customers.  It will take a unified, strong voice to gain change.  Change can occur based on customer initiatives that they define.   The full 3 phase model is outlined below.  The time to complete these 3 phases is hard to predict.  In an institution that has been woke for sometime or with a large endowment, there is less leverage for the customers.  ADU will select institutions with financial dependence on the customers.

The minimum case is one that can benefit from media attention be shined on its actual policies and culture.  Most woke institutions do not disclose what is really going on internally.   With cancel culture the conditions are assumed to be kept out of the public's eye, until a concern like ADU shines a light on what is really happening.

 

 The ADU reform model is a simple 3 phase model, that is unique: 

The three phase model defined by and for ADU is unique and action oriented, making it a good compliment to other think tanks. 

  • Phase One of ADU’s action process is generating the report and spreading the information to as many customers as possible.  Talk to your colleagues, fellow students, alumni, other parents, donors and faculty to share and discuss your thoughts.
  • Phase Two involves planning appropriate action and rallying the troops to support in ways possible the cry for reform.   It is incumbent upon the customers to act, to leverage their significant power and financial influence and form self-organized groups.   This phase will require more secure communication, which ADU will be developing with the customers, as you start to self-organize in order to build action plans that reflect their concerns.  We will share our experience and contacts and incorporate ideas for change into possible initiatives.  Many want to do something, but what to do?
  • Phase Three is the execution of the customers' unified action plans—speak up loudly and effectively, to be heard and force change. Many voices are required. There is great power—and courage—in numbers! If done well then the influence the levers of power where changes can be made.  Effective solutions are those that can last, and sustainability is possible with a ongoing watchdog function formed in this phase.

Our model can be replicated and used at any other school, answering a vast unmet need throughout higher education in America.

 

 

In 100 years, we have gone from teaching Latin and Greek in high school to teaching remedial English in college” – Joseph Sobran