Mark Edmundson

Mark Edmundson, a professor of English at the University of Virginia has written and published numerous works that discuss topics on literary and cultural criticism. However, in his article titled, On the Uses of a Liberal Education: As Lite Entertainment for Bored College Students, he addresses what he describes as the ethos of consumerism invading universities and how American Universities, in his opinion are becoming a commodity to students. He first begins his argument by presenting the readers with a personal experience. As a professor, Edmundson teaches a class that meets twice a week, late in the afternoon. He usually cannot begin a lecture without “a joke, an anecdote or an off-the-wall question” in order to seize the attention of his disconsolate students. (Edmundson 389). But on a particular day, this action is not required of him…it is evaluation day. Students have the opportunity to document their assessments on the overall course as well as “Professor Edmundson” himself. This moment is increasingly …show more content…
Nowadays instead of college strongly promoting their academic programs, they adamantly advertise sport fields, well-appointed dorm rooms, as well as extracurricular and social activities. This shift in collegiate importance, has fed into Edmundson’s conception of students no longer caring for a traditional education that is based upon academics. Universities have now turned to energetic promotional strategies to fill the empty chairs, subsequently leading colleges become a buyer’s market. (Edmundson 396). Edmundson interpreted that this entailed colleges creating a more comfortable and less challenging environment where there is a greater sense of ease and amenity. This concept also ties into how Edmundson believes that college students are entitled as well as privileged consumers as they treat colleges as though it is a