Why students are not (just) customers (and other reflections on Life After George)

Abstract

Hannie Rayson’s new play, Life After George, has struck a chord with universities. In a few deft, resonant scenes we see George, the left-wing professor of history, arguing with his ex-wife Lindsay, now dean of the faculty. Facing a funding crisis, Lindsay is moving to close the French department, and replace existing courses with vocational, income-generating courses. She says students want jobs when they graduate, and that as clients they should get what they want. She argues for links with the corporate sector, to generate income. George is outraged. Students aren’t customers, he says. We can’t just give them what they want. They don’t know what they want until after they’ve heard what we have to tell them. We should be producing educated citizens, not corporate fodder! And I won’t work with those corporate bastards! All they care about is business!