Corporations Taking Over Academic Life

Regarding “Big ‘Spokesguy’ on Campus” (July 9):

It’s not enough that soda companies purchase exclusive rights to place their vending machines in public schools, and pharmaceutical and technology companies buy access to and influence university science research by funding new research facilities on campus.

Now we have a national bank paying the tuition and college expenses of two university students who will act as the bank’s spokespersons on campus.

The corporate takeover of academia will soon be complete, at which point “ivory tower” will refer to the soap.

STEPHANIE KAVANAGH HARLAN

Yucaipa