We got an email today from our research center director informing us that three of our programmer/analysts have been laid off because of declining grant funding. I don't know the exact ratio, but this has to mean at least one or two fewer grad students and one or two fewer faculty. It also means we must be down at least one grant manager. Since we have fixed costs -- building maintenance, utilities, computer network administrators, receptionists, you name -- those will have to be spread over less grant support which means a downward spiral that will feed on itself.
The current fascist administration wants to destroy the U.S. scientific enterprise because it is a source of truth they cannot suppress or control. Hitler and Stalin did the same thing. When Hitler invaded Poland, he didn't get around to murdering the Jews until he had purged the so-called intelligentsia, the college professors. Stalin had his own pet crank scientists who set back Soviet agriculture and industry by decades. That's what they do. It is happening here.
No comments:
Post a Comment