Richard Vedder, who teaches at Ohio University and is an adjunct scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, thinks adjuncts are the dalit—the modern Indian term for “untouchables.”
“Untouchables,” you’ll recall, were those in the Indian caste system so low they’re the ones Vedder says perform tasks “such as removing human excrement from latrines by their bare hands.”
Adjuncts are the closest thing to latrine workers in academic America, Vedder says.
But among the students, he says dropouts are the real “untouchables,” and a more serious problem for the country.
Of course, having been an adjunct (in journalism and communications), a dropout (technically on leave from Harvard, but returned in a year to graduate), and a latrine worker (Harvard Dorm Crew!), I was piqued by Vedder’s setup.
Vedder cites Census data that shows nearly 35 million drop-outs age 25 and over. And that many drop out after the second year, incurring large amounts of debt. Without a degree, they have much lower earning potential than a graduate.
Let’s just accept that at face value for now. So what does Vedder do?
