Jones: Cross’ analogy misses the point

In a recently publicized private memo, University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross compared tenured faculty “who are no longer needed in a discipline” to railway brakemen who, he claimed, demanded “a job for life even when that job was no longer necessary.” Cross’ analogy fails on two counts: First, it’s bad history. Second, and more importantly, it misses the point; Professors are not asking for a “job for life.” We are concerned that shortsighted and misinformed policies threaten to undermine the university and its mission.